cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ChIPXpress: using publicly available gene expression data to improve ChIP-seq and ChIP-chip target gene ranking

ChIPx (i.e., ChIP-seq and ChIP-chip) is increasingly used to map genome-wide transcription factor (TF) binding sites. A single ChIPx experiment can identify thousands of TF bound genes, but typically only a fraction of these genes are functional targets that respond transcriptionally to perturbations of TF expression. To identify promising functional target genes for follow-up studies, researchers usually collect gene expression data from TF perturbation experiments to determine which of the TF targets respond transcriptionally to binding. Unfortunately, approximately 40% of ChIPx studies do not have accompanying gene expression data from TF perturbation experiments. For these studies, genes are often prioritized solely based on the binding strengths of ChIPx signals in order to choose follow-up candidates. ChIPXpress is a novel method that improves upon this ChIPx-only ranking approach by integrating ChIPx data with large amounts of Publicly available gene Expression Data (PED). We demonstrate that PED does contain useful information to identify functional TF target genes despite its inherent heterogeneity. A truncated absolute correlation measure is developed to better capture the regulatory relationships between TFs and their target genes in PED. By integrating the information from ChIPx and PED, ChIPXpress can significantly increase the chance of finding functional target genes responsive to TF perturbation among the top ranked genes. ChIPXpress is implemented as an easy-to-use R/Bioconductor package. We evaluate ChIPXpress using 10 different ChIPx datasets in mouse and human and find that ChIPXpress rankings are more accurate than rankings based solely on ChIPx data and may result in substantial improvement in prediction accuracy, irrespective of which peak calling algorithm is used to analyze the ChIPx data. ChIPXpress provides a new tool to better prioritize TF bound genes from ChIPx experiments for follow-up studies when investigators do not have their own gene expression data. It demonstrates that the regulatory information from PED can be used to boost ChIPx data analyses. It also represents an important step towards more fully utilizing the valuable, but highly heterogeneous data contained in public gene expression databases.
Reduced rate of fat oxidation: A metabolic pathway to obesity in the developing nations

The purpose of this article is to document the metabolic and environmental factors associated with the increased frequency of obesity in the developing nations. While the prevalence of obesity in the developed countries is caused by the increased consumption of calorie-dense foods, in the developing nations, because obesity coexists with undernutrition, additional factors are necessary to account for it. The evidence suggests that an important contributing factor for obesity in the developing nations is a reduced fat oxidation and increased metabolism of carbohydrate that has been brought about by the chronic undernutrition experienced during prenatal and postnatal growth. This shift toward a preferential metabolic use of carbohydrate rather than of fat results in an increased deposition of body fat. This tendency, along with the general decrease of energy expenditure in physical activity associated with urbanization, and the culturally mediated acceptance of fatness leads to obesity among populations from the developing nations. A joint effect of these factors is that in the developing nations obesity is associated with short stature resulting from developmental undernutrition, while in the developed countries obesity is associated with tall stature. It is hoped that future research will address the mechanisms whereby undernutrition increases the tendency toward obesity. Understanding how to modify fat oxidation could affect our ability to prevent weight gain among undernourished populations of the developing nations. Therefore, future research on the interaction of undernutrition and the development of obesity is of prime importance for anthropology concerned with the origins of human variability.
Tectonic Setting and Source Parameters of the September 19, 1985 Michoacan, Mexico Earthquake

Analysis of body waves and long-period surface waves from the September 1985 earthquake in coastal Michoacan, Mexico shows that the event was an interplate subduction event with a low dip angle fault plane (δ=9°) striking parallel to the Mid-America trench (ϕ=288°) and a small component of left lateral motion (λ=72°) with a point source depth of 17 km, and a seismic moment in excess of 1 × 10^(28) dyn cm. The earthquake was a multiple event, with a second source of identical moment, fault geometry, and depth occurring approximately 26 s after the first. Directivity in the body wave time function indicates that the second event occurred roughly 100 km to the southeast of the first. This suggests that the earthquake first broke the northern portion of the Michoacan gap, propagated with low moment release through the rupture zone of the 1981 Playa Azul earthquake, and then broke the remaining asperity in the southern section of the gap. The seismic moment determined from Rayleigh and Love waves is between 1.0 - 1.7 × 10^(28) dyn cm (M_W = 7.9 - 8.1), the largest moment determined to date for a Mexico subduction earthquake. Comparison of seismograms at Pasadena with records of other large Mexico events shows that the Michoacan earthquake is basically the same size as the 1932 Jalisco, Mexico earthquake, and clearly larger than other significant events in Mexico since 1932. The seismic moment and the time since the last large earth-quake in Michoacan (in 1911) fit an empirical relation between moment and recurrence time found for the Guerrero-Oaxaca region of the subduction zone. The large aftershock on September 21 (M_s=7.5) has the same geometry as the mainshock, a somewhat larger source depth (22 km), a simple time function, and a seismic moment between 2.9 - 4.7 × 10^(27) dyn cm (M_w = 7.6 - 7.7).
Saw Palmetto Berry in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

AbstractPhytotherapeutic agents are widely used for treating the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Saw palmetto berry (SPB) is the most widely studied of these agents. It's mechanism of action is poorly understood. It does not have 5-alpha-reductase activity. The active ingredient in this extract is also unknown.There is much controversy concerning the efficacy of SPB. The double-blind trials, although usually favorable, do not show usual placebo response as seen in other BPH studies. Because of the variability of the natural history of BPH, the uncontrolled studies of these agents contribute little to determine efficacy. Further well-design placebo-controlled trials are necessary to establish the safety and efficacy of phytotherapy in the treatment of BPH.Phytotherapeutic agents have enjoyed widespread use, especially in Europe, for the treatment of BPH. With the recent proliferation of nutrition and vitamin stores in the United States, use of these agents has greatly increased.(2) Although...
The Myth of the Superiority of Concurrent Combined Treatments for Anxiety Disorders

[Clin Psychol Sci Prac 17: 107–111, 2010] The treatment of anxiety disorders with combined cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacological treatments has been an ongoing topic of discussion. Combined treatments have failed to demonstrate additive benefits despite their continued use in practice. Otto, McHugh, and Kantak (2010) suggest that concurrent use of medication and CBT affects the acute release of cortisol during the extinction phase of exposure therapy and, in turn, interferes with memory consolidation. This commentary expands on some of the psychological aspects of combined treatments for anxiety disorders to consider along with this new biochemical perspective.
The role of behavior in tern conservation

Behavioral research has long had an important role in the conservation of terns (Aves: Sternidae). Habitat management and restoration of breeding colony sites depends on knowledge of the cues used to select colony and nest sites. For example, conspecific attraction with playback and decoys is commonly used to bring terns to suitable colony sites and habitat modification is often used to increase the availability of suitable nest sites. Tern colonies are interconnected by dispersal, and a metapopulation approach is needed for effective management. Population dynamics are therefore affected by behaviors that influence the frequency of movement among colony sites: site fidelity, natal and breeding dispersal, and group adherence. The monogamous breeding system of terns should keep effective population size similar to census population size, but variation in sex ratios (likely resulting from sex differences in behavior) and in parental quality can result in a smaller than expected effective population size. In addition to the behavior of terns, knowledge of the behavior of predators on terns contributes to management plans, because predator be- havior can sometimes be manipulated and predation is often performed by only a few specialized individuals. Other examples of links between tern behavior and conservation are also briefly reviewed, such as behavioral toxicology research and studies of be- havioral responses to human disturbance and manmade structures. More work is needed on the behavior of migratory terns at staging sites, stopover sites and wintering grounds, and on the behavior of less well-studied species and species in less well-studied geographic regions (Current Zoology 60 (4): 500-514, 2014).
The relationship between intraspecific assortative mating and reproductive isolation between divergent populations

The term ‘assortative mating’ has been applied to describe two very different phenomena: (1) the tendency for individuals to choose phenotypically similar mates from among conspecifics; or (2) the tendency to prefer conspecific over hete-rospecific mates (behavioral reproductive isolation). Both forms of assortative mating are widespread in nature, but the relationship between these behaviors remains unclear. Namely, it is plausible that a preference for phenotypically similar conspecifics incidentally reduces the probability of mating with phenotypically divergent heterospecifics. We present a model to calculate how the level of reproductive isolation depends on intraspecific assortative mating and the phenotypic divergence between species. For empirically reasonable levels of intraspecific assortment on a single trait axis, we show that strong reproductive isolation requires very substantial phenotypic divergence. We illustrate this point by applying our model to empirical data from threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus and Darwin’s Finches ( Geospiza spp ). We conclude that typical levels of intraspecific assortment cannot generally be extrapolated to explain levels of interspecific reproductive isolation. Instead, reproductive isolation between species likely arises from different mate choice behaviors, or multivariate assortative mating.
Electronic Structure and Magnetic Properties of Nd5Fe17

The Nd5Fel compound has attracted some attention lately as a possible permanent-magnet material. This compound has a very complicated crystal structure (264 atoms per unit cell with 14 and 7 different Fe and Nd sites respectively!) Using linear-muffin-tin-orbital method, self-consistent spin-polarized studies of NdFe1 - have been carried out to determine the electronic structure, magnetic moments, and the Curie temperature. The results show strong effect of the local environment on the magnetic properties of individual Fe sites. The calculated moments are compared with the magnetization data. The Curie temperature estimated for the iron sublattice using the mean-field approximation is in a reasonable agreement with the experimental result.
Ubiquitous crowdsourcing

Web 2.0 provides the technological foundations upon which the crowdsourcing paradigm evolves and operates, enabling networked experts to work on various problem solving and data-intensive tasks. During the past decade crowdsourcing grew from a number of purpose-built initiatives, such as Wikipedia and Mechanical Turk, to a technique that today attracts and engages over 2 million people worldwide. As the computing systems are becoming more intimately embedded in physical and social contexts, promising truly ubiquitous computing, crowdsourcing takes new forms. Increasingly, crowds are engaged through mobile devices, to capture, share and validate sheer amount data (e.g. reporting security threats or capturing social events).This workshop challenges researchers and practitioners to think about three key aspects of ubiquitous crowdsourcing. Firstly, to establish technological foundations, what are the interaction models and protocols between the ubiquitous computing systems and the crowd? Secondly, how is crowdsourcing going to face the challenges in quality assurance, while providing valuable incentive frameworks that enable honest contributions? Finally, what are the novel applications of crowdsourcing enabled by ubiquitous computing systems?
Material Property Manipulation of Photopolymer Vibration Energy Harvesters

The inefficiency in converting naturally occurring vibration frequencies (sub-100 Hz) to electrical energy continues to be a major obstacle for miniaturized vibration energy harvesters. In a recent work, we addressed this issue by introducing photopolymer-based designs, using projection microstereolithography which exhibited 61 Hz resonant frequencies due to low elastic moduli and low flexural rigidity using a three-dimensional, helical coil design. In this paper, we extend upon those findings to report on a post-process technique which uses ultraviolet exposure time to manipulate the material properties of photopolymer-based vibration energy harvesters. The results show with 1–3 minutes of post-exposure, an effective elastic modulus variation from 399–904 MPa and a parasitic damping change from 0.0595–0.0986 kgs−1. Likewise, resonant frequency shifts of 53.5–805 Hz and power output increase from 56.5 to 120.4 μW (when excited at a constant acceleration of 6.06±0.06 ms−2) are achieved, without geometry changes and using the same photopolymer material.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Excretion of Mercury Following Administration of Mercurial Diuretics with and without Theophylline

It has recently been shown that the addition of theophylline to the mercurial diuretics Mercurin and Salyrgan practically prevents their local toxic action12 and promotes their absorption after intramuscular injection.3 Although Mercupurin (Mercurin with theophylline) has been found to have a somewhat greater diuretic efficiency than Salyrgan,4567 it remains to be proven unequivocally, however, that theophylline exerts any influence after the drug has reached the circulation. It was therefore decided to study the excretion of mercury by laboratory animals after the administration of these diuretics with and without theophylline. It is fully realized that results thus obtained cannot necessarily be referred to man. Nevertheless, it was felt that information concerning the pharmacology of drugs of this type could more readily be obtained by using animals whose food, salt and water ingestion could be kept perfectly constant.A total of 24 albino rabbits weighing between 2 and 3 kg were used in these experimen...
Flow field inside a whirling labyrinth seal

A 3D LDV was used to measure the velocity field inside a whirling labyrinth seal operating at a whirl ratio of one, an eccentricity ratio of 0.5, a Taylor number of 6600, and a Reynolds number of 24,000. The instantaneous velocity measurements were phase averaged to determine the mean velocity and Reynolds stress tensor for various rotor positions. The mean axial velocity reached both its maximum and minimum values in the throughflow region at the seal inlet. The maximum occurred on the suction side and the minimum on the pressure side. The wide variance in axial velocity magnitude decreased as the flow progressed through the seal then increased again near the exit, with the maximum axial velocity occurring on the pressure side and the minimum on the suction side. The azimuthal velocity steadily increased from the inlet to the exit with the circumferential variation decreasing from the inlet to the exit. The azimuthal velocity within a cavity was maximum over the upstream half of the cavity. The turbulence kinetic energy levels were largest when the axial velocity was maximum and when the variation between the fluid's azimuthal velocity and the rotor surface were maximum. (Author)
Towards a critical visual pedagogy: a response to the ‘end of poverty’ narrative

In this article, the author calls for a critical visual pedagogy as a means to challenge visually constituted ‘grand narratives’ of poverty and suffering. In the first half, he situates images of poverty in India within a global development discourse termed the ‘end of poverty’, which functions as the rationale for social interventions in the global south and sustains a circuit of ‘poverty capital’. The author critically analyzes the visual aesthetic that accompanies the ‘end of poverty’ narrative, focusing on the visual choices that reinforce difference and promote the perception that marginalized populations need ‘saving’. Using images from his fieldwork with students in a village school in Karnataka, India, about 50 km south of Bangalore, he proposes an alternative visual aesthetic, grounded in visual ethnography, which may serve to counter the ‘end of poverty’, and grand narratives like it, while impacting how and why we participate in poverty alleviation efforts.
Market institutions and income inequality

Some economic analysis concludes that capitalist institutions tend to produce growing income inequality. Piketty (2014 Capital in the Twenty-First Century., Cambridge: Harvard University Press) is a recent example. This paper uses two different datasets on income shares of the top 10% to analyze the effect of market institutions on income inequality. The same empirical specifications give different results for the two datasets. This empirical investigation suggests that whether market institutions generate income inequality is an open question.
Evaluation of molecular dynamics simulation methods for ionic liquid electric double layers

We investigate how systematically increasing the accuracy of various molecular dynamics modeling techniques influences the structure and capacitance of ionic liquid electric double layers (EDLs). The techniques probed concern long-range electrostatic interactions, electrode charging (constant charge versus constant potential conditions), and electrolyte polarizability. Our simulations are performed on a quasi-two-dimensional, or slab-like, model capacitor, which is composed of a polarizable ionic liquid electrolyte, [EMIM][BF4], interfaced between two graphite electrodes. To ensure an accurate representation of EDL differential capacitance, we derive new fluctuation formulas that resolve the differential capacitance as a function of electrode charge or electrode potential. The magnitude of differential capacitance shows sensitivity to different long-range electrostatic summation techniques, while the shape of differential capacitance is affected by charging technique and the polarizability of the electrolyte. For long-range summation techniques, errors in magnitude can be mitigated by employing two-dimensional or corrected three dimensional electrostatic summations, which led to electric fields that conform to those of a classical electrostatic parallel plate capacitor. With respect to charging, the changes in shape are a result of ions in the Stern layer (i.e., ions at the electrode surface) having a higher electrostatic affinity to constant potential electrodes than to constant charge electrodes. For electrolyte polarizability, shape changes originate from induced dipoles that soften the interaction of Stern layer ions with the electrode. The softening is traced to ion correlations vertical to the electrode surface that induce dipoles that oppose double layer formation. In general, our analysis indicates an accuracy dependent differential capacitance profile that transitions from the characteristic camel shape with coarser representations to a more diffuse profile with finer representations.
Industrial timberland: current situation, holding rationale, and future development.

In contrast to the slight decline in timber assets owned by major companies, timberland held by the entire forest products industry has expanded to over 70 million acres. It also appears that given the existing industry characteristics, holding timberland, as an integral part of the overall operations, is an important option for business success.
Obstacle avoidance and path intersection validation for UAS: A B-spline approach

A planar path planner for a persistent surveillance application in the presence of static obstacles is developed for a team of homogeneous unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The role of the team is to provide complete coverage (sensor data or image acquisition) of a user designated area within a specified period. A two stage planner is chosen so that vehicle maneuver constraints can be satisfied in a computationally efficient manner. The solution uses a combination of a graph search and B-spline parametric curve construction. The rationale for the selection of a B-spline framework over other parametric polynomial-based curves is presented. While the solution is not optimal, it satisfies constraints for UAS while navigating around obstacles and providing sufficient image/data resolution, coverage, and refresh timing. Metrics are introduced to assess its bounds on sub-optimality.
Time Resolved Line Focus Acoustic Microscopy of Composites

Acoustic microscopy has been used to measure material properties since the 1980s [1–4]. The velocity of the leaky surface wave can be accurately determined from the V(z) curve which is formed by the interference between the leaky surface wave and specular reflection. By fitting the leaky wave velocity or the V(z) curve itself, Kim et al. [4] reconstructed the material properties (elastic constants and mass density). Another approach is time-resolved acoustic microscopy [5–8]. In this method, the leaky surface wave and the specular reflection are separated in the time domain and the velocity is determined from the time of flight. For a graphite/epoxy composite, due to the complexity of the reflected signal and the absence of Rayleigh wave excitation, it is impractical to determine material properties from the V(z) curve. In time-resolved acoustic microscopy, the different reflection signals are separated in the time domain and the velocity measurement is simplified. For graphite epoxy composite materials, due to their low density and significant fluid loading, the acoustic microscopy response is significantly different from that for higher density materials. To model the time domain acoustic microscopy response for a mutilayered composite, we applied the global matrix method in the form similar to that of Mal [9], thus avoiding the numerical instability at high frequency.
Nanotechnology in Batteries

A relatively new field, nanotechnology has expanded to almost every scientific sector since its origin in the 1980s. This chapter focuses on the potential of nanotechnology in batteries, in particular, with a review of the current and past developments in the field. At the forefront of the rechargeable portable energy industry, lithium-ion batteries have endured as the primary contender for powering up electronic devices. They are ubiquitous and have been so for more than 30 years. Carbonaceous materials, though deemed unpromising by some due to cycling and safety concerns, are actually still very commonly studied and ventured to improve. Energy and power densities are considered two of the main factors in truly gauging a battery's potential, along with cycling ability. They reflect not just what a battery may offer in terms of stored electric potential, but for how long, and how well.
Infected Iliac Pseudoaneurysm after Cardiac Catheterization Complicated by Girdlestone Pseudoarthroplasty for Recurrent Infection of Hip Prosthesis

We report a massive infected pseudoaneurysm of the right external iliac artery in the setting of Girdlestone pseudoarthroplasty (GSA) for chronic infection. Around the time of her GSA, the patient underwent cardiac catheterization with resultant pseudoaneurysm formation. Infection was likely due to spread from her previous chronic infection. Delay in presentation occurred due to attribution of her symptoms to her GSA. The patient underwent ligation of the right external iliac artery and hip disarticulation and was discharged on antibiotics. At follow-up, she had significantly reduced pain. Although vascular complications from orthopedic procedures are well described, this case seems to have been caused by secondary infection of her iatrogenic external iliac artery pseudoaneurysm.
Hormonal Coordination of the Processes Leading to Cell Fusion in Algae: A Glycoprotein Hormone from Red Algae

In a number of algae and fungi, sexual reproduction, including the induction of sexuality, the meeting of gametes, and gamete fusion, have been shown to be coordinated by specialized morphogenetic substances. These substances differ widely in their chemical composition. Among the fungi, substances which induces sexual morphogenesis include oligopeptides in some Ascomycete and Basidiomycete yeasts [1, 9, 12], steroids in the watermold Achlya [6], and carotenoids in Mucoralean fungi [2]. In the water mold Allomyces, a cyclic sesquiterpenediol has been identified as a sexual attractant [5]. Among the algae, inducers of sexual morphogenesis have only been identified in the colonial green alga Volvox. Within this genus, a glycoprotein male inducer has been characterized from V. carteri [3, 10], while in V. capensis a single amino acid, L-glutamic acid, has been shown to trigger sexual development [11]. Among the brown algae a number of simple volatile hydrocarbons have been shown to act as species-specific sexual attractants; in some cases these may also serve as inducers of sperm release [4, 7, 8].
Oscillations and Multi-Species Interactions with Delays

The main purpose in this chapter is to explore the possibility that sustained oscillations about an equilibrium can be caused by delays in growth rate responses of one or more members in a multi-species community. Taking a hint from the single species case studied in the previous Chapter 5, we will study this question as a bifurcation problem using the inherent, unrestrained growth rate bi of each species as system parameters or equivalently, after choosing a time scale in which the “delay” T in the system is of unit length, using the dimensionless parameters biT. A typical case of the type we will investigate would be that of a community of two or more species whose stable equilibrium densities become unstable as the parameter biT of one or more species passes through a critical value at which point the species densities then exhibit periodic oscillations about the now unstable equilibrium. We will give a method to find these critical values as well as the period of the resulting oscillation.
Systemic antimiR-337-3p delivery inhibits cerebral ischemia-mediated injury

Modulation of miRNA expression has been shown to be beneficial in the context of multiple diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine if an inhibitor of miR-337-3p is neuroprotective for hypoxic injury after tail vein injection. We evaluated miR-337-3p expression levels and in brain tissue in vivo before and after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) in mice. Subsequently, a custom locked nucleic acid (LNA) antimir-337-3p oligonucleotide was developed and tested in vitro after induction of oxygen glucose-deprivation (OGD) and in vivo by injection into the mouse tail vein for 3 consecutive days before pMCAO. Ischemic lesion volume was measured by TTC staining. We show that systemically administered LNA antimir-337-3p crosses the blood brain-brain-barrier (BBB), penetrates into neurosn, downregulates endogenous miR-337-3p expression and reduces ischemic brain injury. The findings support the use of similar antimir-LNA constructs as novel therapies in neurological disease.
Formal verification of stability and chaos in periodic optical systems

Abstract Optical systems are widely used in a wide range of safety, cost and mission-critical applications including biomedical devices and high-speed communication networks. Therefore, modeling and verification of such high-consequence systems is crucial for both theoretical and application viewpoints. In this paper, we propose a formal methods based approach to model and verify the properties of periodic optical systems which allow a cyclic passage of light through a sequence of optical components. We focus on two important properties namely stability and chaotic map generation which ensure the confinement of light and chaos generation, respectively. We use higher-order logic as a specification and reasoning framework and develop a library of necessary notions of periodic optical systems. Consequently, we demonstrate the utilization and effectiveness of our development by a couple of case studies: a Fabry Perot resonator with fiber-rod lens and a phase-conjugated ring resonator.
Clinician’s Guide to Nutritional Therapy Following Major Burn Injury

This article provides a clinician's guide to nutritional support of the burn patient. The authors review the assessment and management of the needs of the thermally injured patient and provide recommendations on replacement and supplementation with calories, protein, carbohydrates, lipids, fluids, and minerals. Furthermore, the authors compare and contrast enteral versus parenteral delivery of nutrition.
Walnut consumption increases activation of the insula to highly desirable food cues: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over fMRI study.

Aims The use of walnuts is recommended for obesity and type 2 diabetes, although the mechanisms through which walnuts may improve appetite control and/or glycaemic control remain largely unknown. Materials and Methods To determine whether short-term walnut consumption could alter the neural control of appetite using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial of 10 patients who received, while living in the controlled environment of a clinical research center, either walnuts or placebo (using a validated smoothie delivery system) for 5 days each, separated by a wash-out period of 1 month. Results Walnut consumption decreased feelings of hunger and appetite, assessed using visual analog scales, and increased activation of the right insula to highly desirable food cues. Conclusions These findings suggest that walnut consumption may increase salience and cognitive control processing of highly desirable food cues, leading to the beneficial metabolic effects observed.
Cyclometalated platinum-containing diketopyrrolopyrrole complexes and polymers: Photophysics and photovoltaic applications

A series of organometallic complexes and polymers has been synthesized with an objective of studying their fundamental photophysical properties together with their organic photovoltaic and organic field-effect transistor properties. The metal chromophores consist of a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) core, end functionalized with cyclometalated platinum “auxochrome”. The photophysical properties of the metal complex and polymers are compared with the unmetalated chromophore DPP-C8-Th-Py. The polymers Poly-DPP-Th-Pt and Poly-DPP-Ph-Pt differ structurally in their cyclometallating ligands, where they consist of 2-thienylpyridine and 2-phenylpyridine, respectively. Efficient solar spectrum coverage was observed for all chromophores; specifically, the polymer Poly-DPP-Th-Pt has an onset of absorption at ∼900 nm with an optical band gap of 1.4 eV. The triplet excited state was detected for all chromophores and probed by both nanosecond and picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Both polymers were employed as ...
Poster abstract: A synchronized wireless sensor network for monitoring the structural health

We present the design, development, and deployment of an inexpensive, power-efficient, clustered, and scalable wireless sensor network (WSN) testbed. The testbed operates in a harsh environment in which neither GPS nor Internet connectivity are available. We use this testbed to collect real-time data during football games and other major events at Bobby Dodd stadium at Georgia Tech. The sensing devices in the testbed are synchronized without GPS or beacons, yet achieve sufficient accuracy to support modal analysis and detect if the stands are experiencing torsion. We have also developed a cognitive radio backhaul link to establish communication between the WSN in the stadium and a server in our lab. We present in detail the architecture, hardware components, and embedded software of the structural health monitoring platform. We demonstrate that crowd behavior, such as rhythmic stomping, can be detected during a game.
First observation of the effect of the layer printing sequence on the molecular structure of three-dimensionally printed polymer, as shown by in-plane capacitance measurement

Abstract The layer printing sequence in three-dimensional (3D) printing affects the molecular structure of the printed layers, as shown for bottom-up stereolithography printing using an ultraviolet-curable acrylate ester resin. The first printed layer has less molecular alignment than the last printed layer, due to the longer ultraviolet exposure and consequent more curing in the former. Increasing the layer thickness from 12.4 to 26.3 μm decreases this effect, due to the greater molecular alignment for a smaller layer thickness. These results are obtained by measuring the in-plane capacitance for the two opposite surfaces of the printed material. The technique is unprecedented in 3D printing.
How should we sequence and combine novel therapies in CLL

With the recent approval of several effective and well-tolerated novel agents (NAs), including ibrutinib, idelalisib, venetoclax, and obinutuzumab, patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have more therapeutic options than ever before. The availability of these agents is both an important advance for patients but also a challenge for practicing hematologist/oncologists to learn how best to sequence NAs, both with respect to chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) and to other NAs. The sequencing of NAs in clinical practice should be guided both by an individual patient's prognostic markers, such as FISH and immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV)-mutation status, as well as the patient's medical comorbidities and goals of care. For older, frailer patients with lower-risk CLL prognostic markers, NA monotherapy may remain a mainstay of CLL treatment for years to come. For younger, fitter patients and those with higher-risk CLL, such as del(17p) or unmutated IGHV, combination approaches may prove to be more valuable than NA monotherapy. Trials are currently evaluating the efficacy of several such combination approaches, including NA plus anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, NA plus NA (with or without anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody), and NA plus CIT. Given the tremendous efficacy of the already approved NAs, as well as the promising data for next generation NAs, the development of well-tolerated, highly effective combination strategies with curative potential for patients with CLL has become a realistic goal.
An experimental platform for triaxial high-pressure/high-temperature testing of rocks using computed tomography

A conventional high-pressure/high-temperature experimental apparatus for combined geomechanical and flow-through testing of rocks is not X-ray compatible. Additionally, current X-ray transparent systems for computed tomography (CT) of cm-sized samples are limited to design temperatures below 180 °C. We describe a novel, high-temperature (>400 °C), high-pressure (>2000 psi/>13.8 MPa confining, >10 000 psi/>68.9 MPa vertical load) triaxial core holder suitable for X-ray CT scanning. The new triaxial system permits time-lapse imaging to capture the role of effective stress on fluid distribution and porous medium mechanics. System capabilities are demonstrated using ultimate compressive strength (UCS) tests of Castlegate sandstone. In this case, flooding the porous medium with a radio-opaque gas such as krypton before and after the UCS test improves the discrimination of rock features such as fractures. The results of high-temperature tests are also presented. A Uintah Basin sample of immature oil shale is heated from room temperature to 459 °C under uniaxial compression. The sample contains kerogen that pyrolyzes as temperature rises, releasing hydrocarbons. Imaging reveals the formation of stress bands as well as the evolution and connectivity of the fracture network within the sample as a function of time.
A Viral Receptor Complementation Strategy to Overcome CAV-2 Tropism for Efficient Retrograde Targeting of Neurons

Retrogradely transported neurotropic viruses enable genetic access to neurons based on their long-range projections and have become indispensable tools for linking neural connectivity with function. A major limitation of viral techniques is that they rely on cell-type-specific molecules for uptake and transport. Consequently, viruses fail to infect variable subsets of neurons depending on the complement of surface receptors expressed (viral tropism). We report a receptor complementation strategy to overcome this by potentiating neurons for the infection of the virus of interest-in this case, canine adenovirus type-2 (CAV-2). We designed AAV vectors for expressing the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) throughout candidate projection neurons. CAR expression greatly increased retrograde-labeling rates, which we demonstrate for several long-range projections, including some resistant to other retrograde-labeling techniques. Our results demonstrate a receptor complementation strategy to abrogate endogenous viral tropism and thereby facilitate efficient retrograde targeting for functional analysis of neural circuits.
P159 Evaluation of differing methods for calculating cpra for kidney allocation

Aim Currently, there are two different approaches to calculating cPRA. The first, used in USA since 2009, is the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. The second, utilized in Europe/Canada, is to simply observe the percentage of donors with a particular antigen (“count method”). Recently, the UNOS/OPTN Histocompatibility Committee has been re-evaluating the optimal method for determining cPRA. This has been driven by the need to consider incorporating DP (and other) locus antibodies. The benefit of the EM method, based on haplotype frequencies, is to estimate population frequencies that would include unobserved, rare phenotypes. However, because DP is not in linkage disequilibrium, it may no longer be feasible to use. Here, we evaluate the use of the count method in comparison with the EM approach for determining HLA antigen frequencies in the U.S. donor population. Methods Using the UNOS/OPTN data, we evaluated HLA typings from 39,568 deceased donors from 1/2015–1/2018. We then compared the observed antigen frequencies (count method) with those derived from the UNet cPRA calculator (EM method). Results See table. Download : Download high-res image (81KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions There was high concordance between the two methods of calculating cPRA in antigen frequencies within the A, B, and DR loci. Instances where there were large discrepancies were primarily due to parent antigens that were subsequently split; the UNet cPRA was based upon a pool of donors from 2007–9. This suggests, at the very least, that updates to the cPRA calculator are needed. Since DPB is not in linkage disequilibrium with the other loci, thereby negating our ability to use the EM algorithm, we suggest a new updated cPRA calculator be based upon the count method of calculating antigen frequencies.
CUDA au Coq: A Framework for Machine-validating GPU Assembly Programs

A prototype framework for formal, machine-checked validation of GPU pseudo-assembly code algorithms using the Coq proof assistant is presented and discussed. The framework is the first to afford GPU programmers a reliable means of formally machine-validating high-assurance GPU computations without trusting any specific source-to-assembly compilation toolchain. A formal operational semantics for the PTX pseudo-assembly language is expressed as inductive, dependent Coq types, facilitating development of proofs and proof tactics that refer directly to the compiled PTX object code. Challenges modeling PTX’s complex and highly parallelized computation model in Coq, with sufficient clarity and generality to tractably prove useful properties of realistic GPU programs, are discussed. Examples demonstrate how the prototype can already be used to validate some realistic programs.
The stereospecific Barbier reaction between (Z)- and (E)-1-iodopentafluoropropenes, zinc and aldehydes

Abstract The Zn/Barbier reaction of acid-washed zinc or zinc/silver couple with ( Z )- or ( E )-CF 3 CFCFI and aromatic aldehydes in DMF stereospecifically gives the ( Z )- or ( E )-allylic alcohol, CF 3 CFCFCH(OH)C 6 H 5 . Substituted aromatic aldehydes, which contain an electron-withdrawing group, undergo Barbier addition reaction. Substituted aromatic aldehydes, which contain an electron-releasing group, fail to undergo Barbier addition reaction. Aliphatic aldehydes, such as butanal, which contain an α-H, fail to undergo Barbier addition and significant amounts of CF 3 CFCFH are formed. When the addition reaction is carried out in the presence of 1,4-dinitrobenzene, no reaction is observed. Mechanistically, the Zn/Barbier addition of CF 3 CFCFI to aromatic aldehydes is best explained by formation of the [CF 3 CFCF] ⊖ anion which adds to the aldehyde and is not adequately explained by formation and addition of an unsolvated zinc reagent, CF 3 CFCFZnI (unsolvated).
A Resilient Program technical baseline framework for future space systems

Recent Better Buying Power (BBP) initiative for improving DoD’s effectiveness in developing complex systems includes "Owning the Technical Baseline" (OTB). This paper presents an innovative approach for the development of a "Resilient Program" Technical Baseline Framework (PTBF). The framework provides a recipe for generating the "Resilient Program2" Technical Baseline (PTB) components using the Integrated Program Management (IPM) approach to integrate Key Program Elements (KPEs)3 with System Engineering (SE) process/tools, acquisition policy/process/tools, Cost and Schedule estimating tools, DOD Architecture Framework (DODAF) process/tools, Open System Architecture (OSA) process/tools, Risk Management process/tools, Critical Chain Program Management (CCPM) process, and Earned Value Management System (EVMS) process/tools. The proposed resilient framework includes a matrix that maps the required tools/processes to technical features of a comprehensive reference U.S. DOD "owned" technical baseline. Resilient PTBF employs a new Open System Approach (OSAP) combining existing OSA4 and NOA (Naval Open Architecture) frameworks, supplemented by additional proposed OA (Open Architecture) principles. The new OSAP being recommended to SMC (Space and Missiles Systems Center) presented in this paper is referred to as SMC-OSAP5. Resilient PTBF and SMC-OSAP conform to U.S. DOD Acquisition System (DAS), Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), and DODAF processes. The paper also extends Ref. 21 on "Program Resiliency" concept by describing how the new OSAP can be used to align SMC acquisition management with DOD BBP 3.0 and SMC’s vison for resilient acquisition and sustainment efforts.
From Humanism to Hobbes: studies in rhetoric and politics: by Quentin Skinner, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2018, xiv + 432 pp., £22.99 (paperback), ISBN 9781107569362

Quentin Skinner has authored some dozen books and has edited seventeen. Further, he has mentored an astounding number of influential scholars. Known as a founder of the “Cambridge School” of politi...
Delamination Resistant Composite Concepts

Delamination is the most prevalent life-limiting failure mode in advanced composite structures and is a fundamental issue in their evaluation for both durability and damage tolerance. Consequently, the attainment of improved delamination resistance and, in turn, more damage tolerant composite structures has been a major goal of a significant number of materials development activities. One approach to more delamination resistant composites is a laminate construction concept in which materials are utilized in a composite construction that is tailored for maximum resistance to interlaminar forces. The double cantilever beam (DCB) test was used as a convenient method for evaluating and ranking the Mode I delamination resistance of these construction concepts since the interlaminar crack growth region of the test coupon could easily be altered and characterized as to its influence on Mode I delamination behavior. Hercules' ASI/3502 graphite/epoxy was chosen as a baseline material and the construction of the interlaminar crack growth region in the mid-plane of the laminate was varied using inner-layer materials that have previously demonstrated the potential for resisting matrix crack growth-a rubber toughened epoxy adhesive, organic fiber mats, and glass fiber mat and scrim. Resultant laminates were characterized as to their Mode I behavior using the DCB test and were also subjected to compression testing. Fractured surfaces were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results show that significant improvements in delamination resistance can be achieved by specifically tailoring the construction of the laminate.
Secure Assay Execution on MEDA Biochips to Thwart Attacks Using Real-Time Sensing

Digital microfluidic biochips (DMFBs) have emerged as a promising platform for DNA sequencing, clinical chemistry, and point-of-care diagnostics. Recent research has shown that DMFBs are susceptible to various types of malicious attacks. Defenses proposed thus far only offer probabilistic guarantees of security due to the limitation of on-chip sensor resources. A micro-electrode-dot-array (MEDA) biochip is a next-generation DMFB that enables the real-time sensing of on-chip droplet locations, which are captured in the form of a droplet-location map. We propose a security mechanism that validates assay execution by reconstructing the sequencing graph (i.e., the assay specification) from the droplet-location maps and comparing it against the golden sequencing graph. We prove that there is a unique (one-to-one) mapping from the set of droplet-location maps (over the duration of the assay) to the set of possible sequencing graphs. Any deviation in the droplet-location maps due to an attack is detected by this countermeasure because the resulting derived sequencing graph is not isomorphic to the original sequencing graph. We highlight the strength of the security mechanism by simulating attacks on real-life bioassays. We also address the concern that the proposed mechanism may raise false alarms when some fluidic operations are executed on MEDA biochips. To avoid such false alarms, we propose an enhanced sensing technique that provides fine-grained sensing for the security mechanism.