cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Boldio: A hybrid and resilient burst-buffer over lustre for accelerating big data I/O

The limitation of local storage space in the HPC environments has placed an unprecedented demand on the performance of the underlying shared parallel file systems. This has necessitated a scalable solution for running Big Data middleware (e.g., Hadoop) on HPC clusters. In this paper, we propose Boldio, a hybrid and resilient key-value storebased Burst-Buffer system Over Lustre for accelerating I/O-intensive Big Data workloads, that can leverage RDMA on high-performance interconnects and storage technologies such as PCIe-/NVMe-SSDs, etc. We demonstrate that Boldio can improve the performance of the I/O phase of Hadoop workloads running on HPC clusters; serving as a light-weight, high-performance, and resilient remote I/O staging layer between the application and Lustre. Performance evaluations show that Boldio can improve the TestDFSIO write performance over Lustre by up to 3x and TestDFSIO read performance by 7x, while reducing the execution time of Hadoop Sort benchmark by up to 30%. We demonstrate that we can significantly improve Hadoop I/O throughput over popular in-memory distributed storage systems such as Alluxio (formerly Tachyon), when high-speed local storage is limited.
Fast circuit modeling of heat transfer in photonic integrated circuits

We demonstrate a fast method of modeling heat transfer in photonic integrated circuits by simple thermal resistance circuits that use a conical surface area approximation for effective thermal resistance. We show, with Spectre simulations, accuracy to laboratory measurements within about 2 K.
Some Observations on Dynamics and Control of Spacecraft Formations

Abstract We investigate the simplest dynamical models of a formation of spacecraft in orbit, and develop the stability conditions for the equivalent virtual structure. These stability conditions represent a first step towards an understanding of how to control these formations. The concept of generalized formation joint is also introduced, using multibody dynamics concepts, and its use for formation reconfigurations is also demonstrated. Finally, the concept of the virtual structure is extended to swarms with stochastic distributions.
Latent classes and cumulative impacts of adverse childhood experiences

Studies of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have gauged severity using a cumulative risk (CR) index. Few studies have focused on the nature of the context of adversity and their association with psychosocial outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the patterning of ACEs and to explore the resultant patterns' association with HIV risk-taking, problem drinking, and depressive symptoms in adulthood. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify homogeneous, mutually exclusive "classes" of 11 of the most commonly used ACEs. The LCA resulted in four high-risk profiles and one low-risk profile, which were labeled: (1) highly abusive and dysfunctional (3.3%; n = 1,983), (2) emotionally abusive alcoholic with parental conflict (6%, n = 3,303), (3) sexual abuse only (4.3%, n = 2,260), (4) emotionally abusive and alcoholic (30.3%, n = 17,460), and (5) normative, low risk (56.3%, n = 32,950). Compared to the low-risk class, each high-risk profile was differentially associated with adult psychosocial outcomes even when the conditional CR within that class was similar. The results further our understanding about the pattern of ACEs and the unique pathways to poor health. Implications for child welfare systems when dealing with individuals who have experienced multiple forms of early childhood maltreatment and/or household dysfunction are discussed.
Stand composition and aspect are related to conifer regeneration densities following hazardous fuels treatments in Colorado, USA

Abstract Hazardous fuels reduction treatments often reduce the likelihood of undesirable fire behavior (e.g. crown fire) through some combination of tree thinning and surface fuel reduction. However, fuels treatment effectiveness declines over time as fuels re-accumulate and new tree cohorts of trees establish and grow. Fuels treatment longevity therefore depends in part on post treatment tree regeneration rates, which vary depending on characteristics of sites and treatments as well as on stand composition. We used a chronosequence of 3–12 year old fuels treatments to investigate the impact of site (“wet” north aspects versus “dry” south aspects), treatment type (thinning with and without follow up slash burning), and stand composition on conifer regeneration following treatments in stands of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Lawson & C. Lawson) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco var. glauca [Beissn.] Franco) in Colorado, USA. We found conifer regeneration density was >500 trees ha−1 on average by 10 years post treatment. While stands on north aspects had twice the regeneration density of those on south aspects, the rate of increase since treatment was similar. Instead, there was significantly more regeneration on north aspects because these stands contained a considerable amount of Douglas-fir, which was largely absent on south aspects. Ponderosa pine regeneration density increased with time since treatment, while Douglas-fir regeneration density did not, which suggests that treatments promoted reproduction of ponderosa pine. Conversely, Douglas-fir regeneration density was related to the amount of Douglas-fir basal area in stands, which was not the case for ponderosa pine, probably because all stands had ample amounts of ponderosa pine basal area. There was no difference in regeneration density between burned and unburned stands. Our results highlight the influence of stand composition and site characteristics on tree regeneration following fuels treatments. In this study, fuels treatments acted much like shelterwood regeneration treatments for ponderosa pine, pairing favorable establishment environments for this species with a seed source. This resulted in ponderosa pine trees establishing even on relatively dry south aspects, while Douglas-fir regeneration may have been inhibited by seed availability and was largely confined to wetter north aspects. Despite similar tree regeneration rates across aspects, fuels treatment effects may nonetheless deteriorate more quickly on north aspects because of this Douglas-fir regeneration, much of which predated treatments. Indeed, advance regeneration was common in all of our stands, suggesting the longevity of fuels treatment effects will depend substantially on whether these trees are eventually able to release.
Geometry- and Appearance-Based Reasoning of Construction Progress Monitoring

AbstractAlthough adherence to project schedules and budgets is most highly valued by project owners, more than 53% of typical construction projects are behind schedule and more than 66% suffer from...
Decoding Signal Processing at the Single-Cell Level

The feedforward circuitry regulating ERK-dependent early response genes acts as a signal integrator rather than a signal persistence detector.
Touring the “Burning Times”: The Rhetoric of Witch-Hunting Films, 1968–1973

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, numerous heritage-horror films surfaced about early modern witch-hunting. These films combine fiction with historical information to guide tourists through tense reflective experiences concerning religion, counter-religion, and spirituality. This chapter examines specific rhetorical methods found in these films, including emotional appeals, audience identification, voyeurism, and the use of poetics. Ultimately, these strategies help tourists subjectively interpret the role of religious ideology in relation to their own contemporary post-modern situation.
Horizontal drilling, changing patterns of extraction, and piecemeal participation: Urban hydrocarbon governance in Colorado

Abstract Research on unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development has focused so intently on hydraulic fracturing that it has overlooked “fracking's” partner technology, horizontal drilling (HZD), which now enables operators to drill more than 2.5 miles. This innovation merits examination because it generates opportunities and challenges – in tension – for regions experiencing UOG development. HZD allows operators to condense their surface impacts by drilling multiple wells per pad. This consolidation benefits the many in a given extractive area, but at the expense of the few who live near intensified sites. HZD also allows operators to more flexibly position these large well pads. Combined, these drilling innovations are further splintering an already fragmented UOG governance space and creating novel procedural fairness challenges, especially in cities. This study offers the concept of “piecemeal participation” to describe these challenges, drawing from a case study in Colorado. Piecemeal participation occurs when governments structure public input on a site-by-site basis, while operators, leveraging HZD's reach and flexibility, plan drilling and weigh alternative drilling locations at the scale of the city. The analysis evaluates piecemeal participation using standard procedural fairness criteria, generating findings of broader relevance as urban areas anticipate UOG development and HZD worldwide.
THE CUPRIC COMPLEXES OF GLYCINE AND OF ALANINE

The following report is the first of a projected series of studies of the physical chemistry of the compounds of the heavy metals, particularly of copper and of iron, with substances of biological importance. These studies are invited by the accumulation in recent years of examples of the importance of the heavy metals in biological chemistry.
Pediatric EEG Abnormalities

EEG is an important tool in pediatric neurology and EEG abnormalities occur in many different disorders. EEG abnormalities are nonspecific and do not make a specific diagnosis. However, the EEG is especially useful in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, classification, and management of seizures and epileptic syndromes. Once the diagnosis of epilepsy is established, specific EEG patterns help to define specific epileptic syndromes.
Special Aspects of Childhood Sarcomas

Soft-tissue sarcomas in infants and children are unusual tumors, representing the fourth most common malignant disease in patients under 15 years of age (Table 13-1) (42). They represent a significant percentage of the solid neoplasms arising in children and frequently present both diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. In recent years a great deal of interest has centered on the marked improvement in disease control that has resulted from combined-modality treatment of rhabdomyosarcomas. Other forms of soft-tissue sarcoma arising in childhood are much less common, less is known, about their natural history, and combined-modality therapy trials for these lesions are nonexistent. This chapter will review the sarcomas arising in childhood and the differences when compared with adult sarcomas. The main thrust of this chapter will be the discussion of the emerging data on rhabdomyosarcomas.
Representation and Subjectivity in Modern Literature

Whereas representatives of impressionist1 and phenomenological background see language as the expression of self and world, the new novelists and structuralists of the last fifteen years recognize the converse of this: that self and world are shaped by the structure of language. It seems to me that these two intuitions, radically inadequate when treated disjunctively, operate in conjunction with each other.
The Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and their Shared History, 1400-1900

From 1400 to 1900 the Atlantic Ocean served as a major highway, allowing people and goods to move easily between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. These interactions and exchanges transformed European, African, and American societies and led to the creation of new peoples, cultures, economies, and ideas throughout the Atlantic arena. The Atlantic World provides a comprehensive and lucid history of one of the most important and impactful cross-cultural encounters in human history. Empires, economies, and trade in the Atlantic world thrived due to the European drive to expand as well as the creative ways in which the peoples living along the Atlantic's borders adapted to that drive. This comprehensive, cohesively written textbook offers a balanced view of the activity in the Atlantic world. The 40 maps, 60 illustrations, and multiple excerpts from primary documents bring the history to life. Each chapter offers a reading list for those interested in a more in-depth look at the period.
Bonds and Other Investments

This chapter describes a bond as a long-term obligation of a corporation or government, given in return for a loan of money by the investor. The investor is paid interest during the term of the bond, and at the end of the term, the loan is repaid. Mutual funds, real estate, life insurance, or savings certificates can be used as investments. Investing in bonds differs from investing in stocks. The bondholder seeks a regular income from the interest, while the stockholder seeks a gain on the sale of a rising stock, in addition to varying dividends. A bondholder is a creditor of a corporation and is paid, in the event of the corporation's failure, before the stockholder. The terms yield and effective rate are similar in all types of investment. It is the effective rate that the investor must consider when comparing investment choices.
Bicycling Simulator Calibration: Proposed Framework:

Bicycling simulation allows for the low-risk experimental study of human factors within transportation environments. A cyclist pedals on a stationary bike trainer, which is instrumented to detect t...
A Queue-Aware Discrete Scheduling Simulator for Full-Duplex OFDMA Wireless Networks

With the promise of doubling a wireless net-work's capacity, researchers on full-duplex wireless networks need to address multiple issues such as user equipment pairing, power control, and the availability of channel state information. In this paper, we propose a discrete simulator for scheduling and power allocation proposals in full-duplex orthogonal frequency division multiple access networks. Our simulator is queue-aware and adaptable to different scheduling objectives. It enables varying the path-loss model, user distribution, noise conditions, and throughput demands. Additionally, it permits the calculation of packet level performance metrics such as the waiting delay.
Blunted serum 25(OH)D response to vitamin D3 supplementation in children with autism.

Introduction: Data suggest a potential role for vitamin D in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevention and treatment. It is likely that the serum response to vitamin D supplementation contributes t...
Adolescent methylmercury exposure: Behavioral mechanisms and effects of sodium butyrate in mice

Abstract Methylmercury (MeHg), an environmental neurotoxicant primarily found in fish, produces neurobehavioral impairment when exposure occurs during gestation. Whether other developmental periods, such as adolescence, display enhanced vulnerability to the behavioral effects of MeHg exposure is only beginning to be explored. Further, little is known about the effects of repeated administration of lysine deacetylase inhibitors, such as sodium butyrate (NaB), on operant behavior. In Experiment 1, male C57BL6/n mice were exposed to 0, 0.3, and 3.0 ppm MeHg (n = 12 each) via drinking water from postnatal days 21 to 60 (murine adolescence). As adults, mice were trained to lever press under an ascending series of fixed-ratio schedules of milk reinforcement selected to enable the analysis of three important parameters of operant behavior using the framework provided by Mathematical Principles of Reinforcement. Adolescent MeHg exposure dose-dependently increased saturation rate, a measure of the retroactive reach of a reinforcer, and decreased minimum response time relative to controls. In Experiment 2, the behavioral effects of repeated NaB administration both alone and following adolescent MeHg exposure were examined. Male C57BL6/n mice were given either 0 or 3.0 ppm MeHg during adolescence and, before behavioral testing, two weeks of once daily i.p. injections of saline or 0.6 g/kg NaB (n = 12 in each cell). Adolescent MeHg exposure again increased saturation rate but did not significantly alter minimum response time. NaB also increased saturation rate in both MeHg exposure groups. These data suggest that the behavioral mechanisms of adolescent MeHg exposure and NaB may be related to the impact of reinforcement on prior responses. Specifically, MeHg and NaB concentrated the effects of reinforcers onto the most recent responses.
Quantum Circuit Design of a T-count Optimized Integer Multiplier

Quantum circuits of many qubits are extremely difficult to realize; thus, the number of qubits is an important metric in a quantum circuit design. Further, scalable and reliable quantum circuits are based on fault tolerant implementations of quantum gates such as Clifford+T gates. An efficient quantum circuit saves quantum hardware resources by reducing the number of T gates without substantially increasing the number of qubits. This work presents a T-count optimized quantum circuit for integer multiplication with only $4 \cdot n + 1$4·n+1 qubits and no garbage outputs. The proposed quantum multiplier design reduces the T-count by using a novel quantum conditional adder circuit. Also, where one operand to the conditional adder is zero, the conditional adder is replaced with a Toffoli gate array to further save T gates. Average T-count savings of $46.12$46.12, $47.55$47.55, $62.71$62.71 and 26.30 percent are achieved compared to the recent works by Kotiyal et al., Babu, Lin et al., and Jayashree et al., respectively.
Method for Generating a Minimal-Rank $\mathcal{H}^{2}$ -Matrix from FMM for Electrically Large Analysis

In this work, we develop an efficient method to generate a rank-minimized $\mathcal{H}^{2}$ -matrix to represent electrically large integral operators for a prescribed accuracy. We first generate an $\mathcal{H}^{2}$ -matrix using the Fast Multipole Method (FMM), and hence the complexity for $\mathcal{H}^{2}$ -construction is as low as $O ({NlogN})$ for solving electrically large surface integral equations. We then convert the FMM-based $\mathcal{H}^{2}$ -matrix whose rank is full asymptotically to a new $\mathcal{H}^{2}$ -representation, whose rank is minimized based on accuracy. Numerical experiments demonstrate a significantly reduced rank with prescribed accuracy satisfied.
Validation of the LACE Index (Length of Stay, Acuity of Admission, Comorbidities, Emergency Department Use) in the Adult Neurosurgical Patient Population.

Background The LACE index (Length of stay, Acuity of admission, Comorbidities, Emergency department use) quantifies the risk of mortality or unplanned readmission within 30 d after hospital discharge. The index was validated originally in a large, general population and, subsequently, in several specialties, not including neurosurgery. Objective To determine if the LACE index accurately predicts mortality and unplanned readmission of neurosurgery patients within 30 d of discharge. Methods We performed a retrospective, cohort study of consecutive neurosurgical procedures between January 1 and September 29, 2017 at our institution. The LACE index and other clinical data were abstracted. Data analysis included univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Results Of the 1,054 procedures on 974 patients, 52.7% were performed on females. Mean age was 54.2 ± 15.4 yr. At time of discharge, the LACE index was low (1-4) in 58.3% of patients, moderate (5-9) in 32.4%, and high (10-19) in 9.3%. Rates of readmission and mortality within 30 d were 7.0, 11.4, and 14.3% in the low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. Moderate-risk (odds ratio [OR] 1.62, 95% CI 1.02-2.56, P = .04) and high-risk LACE indexes (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.15-4.19, P = .02) were associated with greater odds of readmission or mortality, adjusting for all variables. Additionally, longer operations (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.21, P = .02) had greater odds of readmission. Specificity of the high-risk score to predict 30-d readmission or mortality was 91.2%. Conclusion A moderate- or high-risk LACE index can be applied to neurosurgical populations to predict 30-d readmission and mortality. Longer operations are potential predictors of readmission or mortality.
Behavior of transition metal salts during the electrospray ionization process

Abstract A study of the behavior of transition metal salts during the electrospray ionization (ESI) process using a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer and novel ion source is reported. The unique results in both positive and negative modes for multiple salts of 28 different cations are discussed. In positive mode, the metal cations formed clusters with the solvents, following the pattern [M + (solvent)n]+, with maximum observed values for n of 5. In general, transition metals with more than one oxidation state, such as iron, cobalt, and chromium, produced more complicated mass spectra, because the ions formed also included multiples of the anion. In negative mode, the cations formed clusters with the anions of the salts, following the pattern [My + Xn]-. The relationship between y and n correlates to the oxidation state of the cation, with maximum observed values for y and n of 3 and 7, respectively. For some environmental applications, studies in negative mode demonstrate an alternative to specialized elemental analysis instrumentation such as ICP/MS or AMS, as well as complicated sample preparation, such as the use of chelating complexes. This is especially applicable for the analyses of mercury and lead, as these species form only a few, predictable ions. For instance, mercury present in seawater forms a single ion, [Hg + Cl3]-, which can be readily isolated from the sodium chloride clusters in the background with a non-specialized ion trap mass spectrometer using ESI, and can be verified by its characteristic isotopic pattern.
Closed manipulation under anesthesia for pediatric post-traumatic elbow arthrofibrosis.

Background Post-traumatic elbow arthrofibrosis (PEA) and its associated limitations to elbow range of motion (ROM) are a recognized consequence of trauma to the pediatric elbow. Closed manipulation under anesthesia (CMUA) of the elbow can be performed in pediatric patients as a nonoperative attempt to improve dysfunctional ROM. Minimal outcome data to support CMUA exist. The study evaluates the efficacy of CMUA for PEA in pediatric patients. Methods Patients younger than 18 years who underwent CMUA (Current Procedural Terminology code 24300) for PEA between 2005 and 2015 at 3 institutions were included. A retrospective chart review was performed to collect demographic data and ROM premanipulation and at last follow-up. Paired 2-tailed t tests were used to compare pre- and postmanipulation elbow ROM. Results Thirteen patients with a mean age of 12.2 ± 2.6 years (range 6.7-15.6 years) met the inclusion criteria. Median time to CMUA from initial surgery was 4.2 months (interquartile range [IQR] 3.6-8.4, range 1.4-19.7 months). Median follow-up time was 6 months with an IQR of 3.3-10.0 months. At last follow-up, there was significant improvement in elbow flexion of 22° ± 17° (P Conclusion CMUA appears to be a valuable alternative and reliable procedure for improving PEA in pediatric patients who exhaust nonoperative interventions.
Interferon Sensitivity of Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus

Two strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus, which differ in virulence for mice, have been studied for their production of and sensitivity to chick and mouse interferon. Little interferon was produced by chick cells in response to the virulent Trinidad strain or the attenuated TC-83 strain without either aging or priming the cultures. Consistent differences in the production of chick interferon were not found between the two strains. Plaque variants of the Trinidad strain produced higher titers of mouse interferon than the TC-83 strain in both primed and control L-cell cultures. The TC-83 strain was found to be more sensitive than the Trinidad strain to the inhibitory effects of interferon. The greater sensitivity of the TC-83 strain was observed at both high and low multiplicities and for both chick and mouse interferons. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that interferon sensitivity may have a role as a determinant of virulence in some virus-host systems.
Methods of the Michigan State University Motor Performance Study

The Michigan State University Motor Performance Study (MPS) was initiated in 1967 and lasted 32 years. Three central components existed: 1) Educational component, in which students experienced appl...
Lateral Trochlear Inclination Angle: Measurement via a 2-Image Technique to Reliably Characterize and Quantify Trochlear Dysplasia.

Background:Trochlear dysplasia (TD) is a risk factor for patellar instability (PI). The Dejour classification categorizes TD but has suboptimal reliability. Lateral trochlear inclination (LTI) is a...
Characterizing reduced scattering coefficient of normal human skin across different anatomic locations and Fitzpatrick skin types using spatial frequency domain imaging

Significance: Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI), a noncontact wide-field imaging technique using patterned illumination with multiple wavelengths, has been used to quantitatively measure structural and functional parameters of in vivo tissue. Using SFDI in a porcine model, we previously found that scattering changes in skin could potentially be used to noninvasively assess burn severity and monitor wound healing. Translating these findings to human subjects necessitates a better understanding of the variation in “baseline” human skin scattering properties across skin types and anatomical locations. Aim: Using SFDI, we aim to characterize the variation in the reduced scattering coefficient (μs′) for skin across a range of pigmentation and anatomic sites (including common burn locations) for normal human subjects. These measurements are expected to characterize baseline human skin properties to inform our use of SFDI for clinical burn severity and wound healing assessments. Approach: SFDI was used to measure μs′ in the visible- and near-infrared regime (471 to 851 nm) in 15 subjects at 10 anatomical locations. Subjects varied in age, gender, and Fitzpatrick skin type. Results: For all anatomical locations, the coefficient of variation in measured μs′ decreased with increasing wavelength. High intersubject variation in μs′ at visible wavelengths coincided with large values of the melanin extinction coefficient at those wavelengths. At 851 nm, where intersubject variation in μs′ was smallest for all anatomical locations and absorption from melanin is minimal, significant intrasubject differences in μs′ were observed at the different anatomical locations. Conclusions: Our study is the first report of wide-field mapping of human skin scattering properties across multiple skin types and anatomical locations using SFDI. Measured μs′ values varied notably between skin types at wavelengths where absorption from melanin was prominent. Additionally, μs′ varied considerably across different anatomical locations at 851 nm, where the confounding effects from melanin absorption are minimized.
Undergraduate Analytical Laboratory Experiment: Determination of Arsenic in Rice with Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and a Novel Digestion Method

By focusing on food and a pervasive contaminant, this experiment engages student interest and effort while providing essential instruction and experience. As institutions are challenged by existing and emerging budgetary constraints, this experiment offers a determination approach employing commonly available instrumentation, the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. The module provides a broad range of experiences: it introduces the lyophilizer, offers practice in a multistep novel digestion method, presents the theoretical foundation and practical application of atomic absorption spectroscopy, and provides an opportunity to record, calculate, and report findings. Students whose math skills are in development can complete it successfully because algebraic calculations are used at each stage of the materials’ examination. Finally, when their reports align with extensive international research, the lab offers students assurance of their growing scientific competence.
A qualitative inquiry of communication based barriers to the diagnosis of pediatric cancer: Perceptions of primarily Spanish-speaking caregivers

Background Primarily Spanish-speaking cancer patients and caregivers often experience non-congruence with healthcare providers about beliefs, values, and knowledge of cancer. Our goal was to describe how communication related to the diagnosis of cancer was influenced by culture and language among primarily Spanish-speaking caregivers of pediatric cancer patients. Methods Caregivers participated in three focus groups about their experiences with their child's diagnosis, communication issues, and understanding of their child's diagnosis and treatment plan. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and qualitatively analyzed using interpretive description. Results Three themes emerged: 1) Negative experiences and barriers during the cancer diagnosis and treatment, 2) Miscommunication and system complexity, and 3) Language barriers throughout the diagnostic process. Due to barriers and negative experiences, some caregivers reported that their child's diagnosis was delayed, that providers sometimes used dehumanizing language, and that they were confused about diagnostic testing and treatment. Conclusion Cultural and linguistic disparities in pediatric oncology must be systematically addressed at the provider, clinic, and system level. Practice implications High-quality cancer care delivered by oncologists and cancer care teams should include cultural humility when discussing the cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
#MeToo Online Disclosures: A Survivor-Informed Approach to Open Science Practices and Ethical Use of Social Media Data:

With social media data widely available, researchers are increasingly incorporating tweets, posts, and blogs in their work. While easily accessible, the use of “public” posts raises important quest...
Catching mono- and poly-ADP-ribose readers with synthetic ADP-ribose baits.

ADP-ribosylation is an essential post-translational modification that comes in two varieties: mono-ADP-ribosylation (MAR) and poly-ADP-ribosylation (PAR). Modular interaction domains that read MAR and PAR modifications are critical for interpreting the language of ADP-ribosylation. Kliza et al. (2021) use a chemical biology approach to identify distinct MAR and PAR readers.
Ceramics: Microstructural Toughening (Excluding Transformation Toughening, Whisker Toughening, and Continuous Fiber Toughening)

The enhancement of fracture toughness in ceramic materials can occur over a broad range of length scales. The length scale that has received the greatest attention in structural ceramic materials is the microstructural scale, that of the grain dimensions that normally vary from 1 µm to 20 µm. In single-phase materials, weak grain boundaries or residual stresses resulting from thermal expansion anisotropy perturb the propagation of a crack. The same is true for grain boundary phases or particulate reinforcements in multiphase materials.
Photothermal microresonator absorption microscopy with backscatter detection

The extreme temperature sensitivity of whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microresonators holds great promise as a detection strategy for single-particle photothermal microscopy and spectroscopy. The detection limit is currently partially constrained by frequency noise from the laser used to probe the cavity resonance wavelength. We present a measurement technique capable of simultaneously detecting backscattered and transmitted light from a wavelengthlocked optical microresonator, with laser intensity noise and frequency noise partitioned into the two independent detection channels. Photothermal mapping of single absorbing nano-objects demonstrates that both methods are capable of high signal/noise, exceeding 30,000:1 in the backscattering channel for a photothermally-induced microresonator resonance shift of 93 fm.
Expression of blood clot-dissolving proteins in transgenic plant (LB852)

Introduction: The formation of a blood clot in the circulatory system can cause heart attack or stroke. Lumbrokinases, found in earthworms, and Nattokinase, found in Bacillus subtilis for soybean fermentation, can dissolve fibrin clots without causing excessive bleeding. Our goal was to clone Lumbrokinase and Nattokinase, to transiently and stably express the proteins in tobacco plants and to prove these recombinant proteins retain anti-thrombolytic activity. Methods: Codon-optimized and wild-type gene fragment of Lumbrokinases (PI293) and Nattokinase (GenBank: AF368283.1) were isolated and inserted into a single-vector DNA replicon system for transient expression in plant and plant expression vector pCambia2300-Phas1470-Nos, for stable plant transformation and expression. We tested gene expression and function of the transient expression vector using fibrin dissolving assay. Results: We optimized Lumbrokinase and Nattokinase gene codon respectively for tobacco codon usage bias. Upon codon optimizatio...
Specific human cellular immunity to bcr-abl oncogene-derived peptides

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells are characterized by a t(9;22) translocation, which can encode one of two chimeric P210 bcr-abl fusion proteins, comprising products of either the b2a2 or the b3a2 exon junction. The junctional sequences represent potentially immunogenic tumor-specific antigens. Despite their intracellular location, the fusion proteins might be recognized immunologically by T lymphocytes if peptides, derived from these unique sequences, are capable of presentation by the major histocompatibility complex molecules. We previously found that four peptides, 9 to 11 amino acids long, spanning the b3a2 CML breakpoint bind with high or intermediate affinity to purified HLA class I molecules A3, A11, B8, or both A3 and A11. We tested the ability of these peptides to elicit specific class I restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in vitro in HLA-matched healthy donors. In addition, a longer b3a2 CML-breakpoint-derived peptide, 25 aminoacids in length (b3a2-25), was studied for its ability to induce peptide-specific, class II-mediated, T-cell proliferation. In four of four HLA-A3 donors tested, CML-A3/A11-peptide specific CTLs were induced that killed an allogeneic HLA-A3-matched peptide pulsed leukemia cell line. In two of three HLA-A3 donors, the CML-A3/A11 peptide was able to induce killing of autologous and allogeneic HLA-matched peptide-pulsed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). CML-A3 peptide induced peptide specific CTLs in one of the four HLA A3 donors tested. No killing was observed in two HLA-B8 and two HLA-A11 donors. PBMC from seven donors were also tested for anti b3a2-25 peptide proliferation in a thymidine incorporation assay. Specific proliferation was detected in three donors, all of the HLA-DR11 haplotype. These data represent the first evidence of a cytolytic human immune response against CML bcr-abl oncogene-derived peptides and provide a rationale for developing peptide-based vaccines for this disease.
Inter-class MLLR for speaker adaptation

This paper examines the use of interdependencies of parameter classes in transformation-based speaker adaptation algorithms such as maximum likelihood linear regression (MLLR). In transformation-based adaptation, increasing the number of transformation classes can provide more detailed information for adaptation, but at the expense of greater estimation error with small amounts of data. In this paper we introduce a new procedure, inter-class MLLR, which utilizes the relationship between different classes to achieve both detailed and reliable transformation-based adaptation using limited data, In this method, the inter-class relation is given by a linear regression which is estimated from training data. In experiments using non-native English speakers from the Spoke 3 data in the 1994 DARPA Wall Street Journal evaluation, inter-class MLLR provided a relative reduction in word error rates of 11.3% compared to conventional MLLR.
Physiologically based pharmacokinetic study on suramin

3991 Purpose: Suramin failed in multiple clinical trials as a chemotherapeutic agent. However, it was proved to be a chemosensitizer at low or non-toxic concentrations (10 to 50 μM) (Villalona-Calero MA, et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 2003, Aug 15; 9(9): 3303-11), which are 4 to 20 fold lower than the normal clinically desired plasma concentration (200μM). Present study aims to understand the suramin distribution characteristics in this low or non-toxic concentration range at its action site: tissues. Method: Suramin distribution in blood was done with ultracentrifuge method. And a series of tissue disposition kinetic study was performed in nude mice after 10, 30, or 200 mg/kg i.v. bolus dose. Plasma and tissue concentrations were measured with HPLC. Results: Extensive tissue binding and extremely long tissue retention of suramin were found in most tissues. Although plasma pharmacokinetics showed a dose linear pattern, suramin distribution in tissues is very likely dose nonlinear in many organs (kidney, skin, muscle, liver, and gut), where higher dose generates a lower normalized AUC value (AUC/dose). Accordingly, apparent volume of distribution decreases at higher dose (2165.8 ml at 10 mg/kg dose, 1754.3 ml at 30 mg/kg dose, and 545.0 ml at 200 mg/kg) and the saturable binding is possibly the cause. A whole-body physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was therefore established to better understand this process. The tissue distribution is best described with either a Michaelis-Menten kinetics based tissue binding model (heart, muscle, kidney, gut, spleen, and skin; model 1), a linear model with deep tissue binding sub-compartment (liver; model 2), or a Michaelis-Menten kinetics based tissue binding model with a supplemental tissue binding sub-compartment (lung; model 3). Simulation results agree well with experimental results in plasma and all organs. Extremely high drug binding capacity was found in kidney (BM = 1482 μg-eq/ml), spleen (BM = 1213 μg-eq/ml), and gut (BM = 3317 μg-eq/ml). The model was then up-scaled to human beings by modifying physiological parameters, protein binding value and elimination clearance. The simulated plasma concentration profiles correlate closely to experimentally measured values from our phase I clinical trial, further suggesting the validity of current model. Conclusions: Overall, the PBPK model provides a powerful tool to quantitatively link preclinical and clinical data.
Bradford H. Hager Receives 2013 Inge Lehmann Medal: Response

Thank you, Jerry, for your very kind words. I am delighted, surprised, and honored. I have been very lucky to be in the right places at the right times and with the right people all my career. I can't think of another person blessed with as many exceptionally talented and passionate students and postdocs as well as fantastic faculty colleagues. I wish that I had the space to do each of you justice here. Thank you all.
The Energetics of Natural Garnet Solid Solution

Approximate mixing properties of the dominant calcium silicate end-member components of natural garnets, namely grossularite, andradite and uvarovite, have been derived through theoretical thermodynamic and crystal chemical analysis, and appropriate reduction of the available experimental data. The stability of the solid solution with respect to phase separation in the ternary system has been analyzed. Finally, a general model is presented as to the approximate mixing properties of multicomponent natural garnet solid solution involving substitutions in both eight and six coordinated sites.
Reflections On Service-Learning, Critical Thinking, And Cultural Competence

In today’s increasingly multicultural society, students need to be prepared for the work world they will encounter. Well-developed critical thinking skills appear essential to needed cultural competence. With its focus on community involvement, deep reflection and civic engagement, the possibility that Service-Learning (SL) could improve students’ critical thinking abilities, and thus contribute to students’ intellectual development and cultural competence, was explored. The critical thinking abilities of a group of 4 th and 5 th year university students were measured before and after 12 weeks of community-based experiences. The 4 th year students were involved in an integrated SL course. The 5 th year students had completed the SL course the previous year. There was a significant difference between the two groups with the 5 th year students better able to think critically, particularly in deducing conclusions and evaluating arguments. Both quantitative and qualitative data from the two groups revealed a non-linear developmental trajectory of skills that provide insights for professionals in higher education.
Market Integration of Distributed Resources Through Coordinated Frequency and Price Droop

Given the appropriate control strategies and market rules, distributed energy resources (DER) organized into microgrids have the potential to be active participants in regional energy and ancillary services markets. This paper integrates a price-based control mechanism into the conventional frequency droop control mechanism to present an integrated droop-based control framework that could facilitate greater DER penetration in the power system and electricity markets. The proposed control framework makes use of the concept of “price droop,” and introduces the idea of a “system frequency elasticity”. These two concepts combine the power system control concept of frequency droop and the economic concept of own price elasticity. The framework consists of a centralized agent-based learning process and a decentralized operational response. The applicability of the proposed control mechanism is demonstrated through a series of case studies. Results highlight the need to consider the dynamics of the existing system in the design of new technical and market strategies to allow for the integration of DER and microgrids into the power system.
Relationship between vitamin C and plasma concentrations of testosterone in female rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.

Two-year old rainbow trout females were fed diets containing 0, 30, 110, 220, 440 and 870 mg kg-1 ascorbyl-2-monophosphate Mg+ salt (groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively) from August until March. At the time of spawning (February–March) blood was sampled and the ovulating females were hand stripped. Estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) concentrations in plasma, and ascorbic acid (AA) concentrations in plasma and eggs were determined. The mean plasma concentrations of T were higher in group 4, 5, or 6 than in group 2 or 3 (p < 0.05). Moreover, the average plasma concentration of T in fish fed the diets with AA level below National Research Council (NRC) recommendations (groups 1, 2 and 3) was significantly lower (p<0.01) than the average plasma concentration in fish fed diets with AA level above NRC recommendations (groups 4, 5, and 6). These data are consistent with the hypothesis that AA can influence production of steroids in female rainbow trout.
Electrocatalysis: past, present and future

Abstract The word “electrocatalysis” was first used by Grubb[1] in 1963 in connection with the investigations of fuel cells. However, the first interpretation of electrocatalysis came before that in a famous paper by Horiuti and Polanyi[2]. In this paper, examples of application of this theory will be given in the form of recent progress made and then the discussion will change to a presentation of near future tasks. Finally, an attempt will be made to predict some possible electrocatalytic situations beyond 2050.
Ammonium-Nitrogen in Green River Formation Oil Shale

It has been assumed that all of the nitrogen in oil shale from the Green River Formation is present as organic nitrogen and that the nitrogen in spent shale from retorting is present in the char or coke. In fact, from 41 to 84 percent of the nitrogen is present as ammonium fixed within silicate minerals in five samples of raw oil shale and between 46 and 69 percent of the nitrogen is similarly fixed in two samples of spent shale. Both organic nitrogen and fixed ammonium-nitrogen are lost during retorting by the Fischer assay procedure; the loss of organic nitrogen is greater.
Race, Class, and Violence: Research and Policy Implications:

A public health approach to preventing interpersonal violence involving perpetrators and victims is laudable, but fraught with social and political pitfalls. The concept of "race" is little understood and is being exploited by both academics and the media, putting racial minorities--particularly blacks, who tend to be overrepresented in data on reported violence--at further risk. Though race is acknowledged as an ambiguous concept, some dangers nonetheless persist in linking racial minorities to dysfunctional and antisocial behavior within both cultural and biological constructs. Recommendations are given to help ameliorate the effects of such contextual linking, particularly given the present mood of U.S. political conservatism. Language: en
GAIN-ENHANCED ELECTRONICALLY TUNABLE MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNA

This paper presents an electronically tunable microstrip patch antenna with improved radiation characteristics. The directive gain of the antenna is improved by as much as 5.5 dB, by the addition of a high dielectric superstrate, with a thin air gap interspersed between the dielectric layers. Three different high-dielectric sheets have been tested, and it is observed that the gain improvement is the maximum for the highest dielectric. The air gap is experimentally adjusted to optimize for the best gain of the antenna, without degrading its input characteristics. The total addition to the thickness is only 3.2 mm for an antenna operating at about 850 MHz. The resonant frequency of the antenna shifts toward low with the addition of the superstrate layers. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 23: 368–370, 1999.
Color, orientation and cytochrome oxidase reactivity in areas V1, V2 and V4 of macaque monkey visual cortex

Abstract Color and orientation processing in the macaque monkey first segregates into cytochrome oxidase (CO)-rich blobs and -poor interblobs of area V1, from where the two streams flow through areas V2 and V4. This parallel representation is believed to enhance processing speed by compartmentalizing tasks of similar kinds, though our knowledge of the mechanisms is still elementary. We have examined the interaction and separation of color and orientation processing in neurons ( n =569) of the macaque visual cortex (V1, V2, V4) on the basis of microelectrode recordings. In all three areas, neurons selective for midspectral (MS) colors (e.g., yellow, green) were also found to be more orientation selective than those preferring endspectral (ES) colors (e.g., blue, red). The majority of achromatic (AC) cells responsive to bright stimuli were also orientation selective. When locations of cells and penetration columns were correlated with cytochrome oxidase (CO) landmarks in V1 and V2, V1 interblob and V2 interstripe cells were found to be predominantly midspectral and oriented, while V1 blob and V2 thin stripe cells were found to be predominantly endspectral and non-oriented. Cells preferring dark colors were found to cluster in thick stripes in V2, and in columns in V4. Separate clustering of midspectral (MS) and endspectral (ES) systems in V4 was also noted. With the results shown in a companion paper ( Behav. Brain Res. , 76 (1996) 51–70), the present data indicate that the visual system appears to optimize color and spatial acuity by separating chromatic information into non-oriented endspectral and oriented midspectral components.