cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SIMULATING THE INFLUENCES OF VARIOUS FIRE REGIMES ON CARIBOU WINTER HABITAT

Caribou are an integral component of high-latitude ecosystems and represent a major subsistence food source for many northern people. The availability and quality of winter habitat is critical to sustain these caribou populations. Caribou commonly use older spruce woodlands with adequate terrestrial lichen, a preferred winter forage, in the understory. Changes in climate and fire regime pose a significant threat to the long-term sustainability of this important winter habitat. Computer simulations performed with a spatially explicit vegetation succession model (ALFRESCO) indicate that changes in the frequency and extent of fire in interior Alaska may substantially impact the abundance and quality of winter habitat for caribou. We modeled four different fire scenarios and tracked the frequency, extent, and spatial distribution of the simulated fires and associated changes to vegetation composition and distribution. Our results suggest that shorter fire frequencies (i.e., less time between recurring fires) on the winter range of the Nelchina caribou herd in eastern interior Alaska will result in large decreases of available winter habitat, relative to that currently available, in both the short and long term. A 30% shortening of the fire frequency resulted in a 3.5-fold increase in the area burned annually and an associated 41% decrease in the amount of spruce-lichen forest found on the landscape. More importantly, simulations with more frequent fires produced a relatively immature forest age structure, compared to that which currently exists, with few stands older than 100 years. This age structure is at the lower limits of stand age classes preferred by caribou from the Nelchina herd. Projected changes in fire regime due to climate warming and/or additional prescribed burning could substantially alter the winter habitat of caribou in interior Alaska and lead to changes in winter range use and/or population dynamics.
Self-Tuning, Bandwidth-Aware Monitoring for Dynamic Data Streams

We present SMART, a self-tuning, bandwidth-aware monitoring system that maximizes result precision of continuous aggregate queries over dynamic data streams. While prior approaches minimize bandwidth cost under fixed precision constraints, they may still overload a monitoring system during traffic bursts. To facilitate practical deployment of monitoring systems, SMART therefore bounds the worst-case bandwidth cost for overload resilience. The primary challenge for SMART is how to dynamically select updates at each node to maximize query precision while keeping per-node monitoring bandwidth below a specified budget. To address this challenge, SMART’s hierarchical algorithm (1) allocates bandwidth budgets in an ear-optimal manner to maximize global precision and (2) selftunes bandwidth settings to improve precision under dynamic workloads. Our prototype implementation of SMART provides key solutions to (a) prioritize pending updates for multi-attribute queries, (b) build bounded fan-in, load-aware aggregation trees to improve accuracy, and (c) combine temporal batching with arithmetic filtering to reduce load and to quantify result staleness. Our evaluation using simulations and a network monitoring application shows that SMART incurs low overheads, improves accuracy by up to an order of magnitude compared to uniform bandwidth allocation, and performs close to the optimal algorithm under modest bandwidth budgets.
Functional Requirements for the Lysosomal Thiol Reductase GILT in MHC Class II-Restricted Antigen Processing

Ag processing and presentation via MHC class II is essential for activation of CD4 + T lymphocytes. γ-IFN-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) is present in the MHC class II loading compartment and has been shown to facilitate class II Ag processing and recall responses to Ags containing disulfide bonds such as hen egg lysozyme (HEL). Reduction of proteins within the MHC class II loading compartment is hypothesized to expose residues for class II binding and protease trimming. In vitro analysis has shown that the active site of GILT involves Cys 46 and Cys 49 , present in a CXXC motif that shares similarity with the thioredoxin family. To define the functional requirements for GILT in MHC class II Ag processing, a GILT-deficient murine B cell lymphoma line was generated and stably transduced with wild-type and cysteine mutants of GILT. Intracellular flow cytometric, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence analyses demonstrated that wild-type and mutant GILT were expressed and maintained lysosomal localization. Transduction with wild-type GILT reconstituted MHC class II processing of a GILT-dependent HEL epitope. Mutation of either Cys 46 or Cys 49 abrogated MHC class II processing of a GILT-dependent HEL epitope. In addition, biochemical analysis of these mutants suggested that the active site facilitates processing of precursor GILT to the mature form. Precursor forms of GILT-bearing mutations in Cys 200 or Cys 211 , previously found to display thiol reductase activity in vitro, could not mediate Ag processing. These studies demonstrate that the thiol reductase activity of GILT is its essential function in MHC class II-restricted Ag processing.
Outcomes for adolescent Hispanic hemodialysis patients: findings from the ESRD Clinical Performance Measures Project.

Background: There is limited information regarding outcomes of dialytic care for Hispanic adolescent hemodialysis patients. Methods: Ethnicity information was collected for all adolescent in-center hemodialysis patients for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2000 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Clinical Performance Measures Project. Associations between intermediate outcomes and Hispanic ethnicity were determined. Associations of ethnicity and other demographic/clinical variables with hospitalization and transplantation during the 12-month follow-up period were examined. Results: Twenty-two percent of patients were identified as Hispanic; 40%, as non-Hispanic black; and 32%, as non-Hispanic white. Hispanic patients were younger and more likely to have congenital/urological causes of ESRD. More Hispanic patients had a mean single-pool Kt/V of 1.2 or greater compared with non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites (87% versus 73% and 79%; P = 0.036). More Hispanic patients had a mean serum albumin level of 3.5/3.2 g/dL (bromcresol green/bromcresol purple method) or greater (≥35/32 g/L; 91% versus 82% and 76%; P = 0.017). More Hispanic patients compared with non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites were dialyzed with a catheter for 90 days or longer (30% versus 21% and 23%; P = 0.027). In the final multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, Hispanic patients were at a slightly decreased risk for hospitalization compared with non-Hispanics (adjusted hazard ratio [adjHR], 0.63; P = 0.031) and were as likely to undergo a first transplantation as non-Hispanic whites (adjHR, 0.56; P = 0.099). Conclusion: Adolescent Hispanic hemodialysis patients experience equivalent or better intermediate outcomes of dialytic care than non-Hispanics. They experienced a decreased risk for subsequent hospitalization and are as likely to undergo transplantation within 12 months as non-Hispanic whites.
Spatio-temporal view interpolation

We propose a fully automatic algorithm for view interpolation of a completely non-rigid dynamic event across both space and time. The algorithm operates by combining images captured across space to compute voxel models of the scene shape at each time instant, and images captured across time to compute the "scene flow" between the voxel models. The scene-flow is the non-rigid 3D motion of every point in the scene. To interpolate in time, the voxel models are "flowed" using an appropriate multiple of the scene flow and a smooth surface fit to the result. The novel image is then computed by ray-casting to the surface at the intermediate time instant, following the scene flow to the neighboring time instants, projecting into the input images at those times, and finally blending the results. We use our algorithm to create re-timed slow-motion fly-by movies of dynamic real-world events.
Behavioral response and kinetics of terrestrial atrazine exposure in American toads (Bufo americanus).

Amphibians in terrestrial environments obtain water through a highly vascularized pelvic patch of skin. Chemicals can also be exchanged across this patch. Atrazine (ATZ), a widespread herbicide, continues to be a concern among amphibian ecologists based on potential exposure and toxicity. Few studies have examined its impact on the terrestrial juvenile or adult stages of toads. In the current study, we asked the following questions: (1) Will juvenile American toads (Bufo americanus) avoid soils contaminated with ATZ? (2) Can they absorb ATZ across the pelvic patch? (3) If so, how is it distributed among the organs and eventually eliminated? We conducted a behavioral choice test between control soil and soil dosed with ecologically relevant concentrations of ATZ. In addition, we examined the uptake, distribution, and elimination of water dosed with 14C-labeled ATZ. Our data demonstrate that toads do not avoid ATZ-laden soils. ATZ crossed the pelvic patch rapidly and reached an apparent equilibrium within 5 h. The majority of the radiolabeled ATZ ended up in the intestines, whereas the greatest concentrations were observed in the gall bladder. Thus, exposure of adult life stages of amphibians through direct uptake of ATZ from soils and runoff water should be considered in risk evaluations.
Influence of band structure on the large thermoelectric performance of lanthanum telluride

We investigate the carrier density and temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient of La_(3−x)Te_4 via density-functional calculations and Boltzmann transport theory. The pertinent band structure has light bands at the band gap and heavy degenerate bands with band minima near energies corresponding to the experimentally determined optimum carrier density. Heavy bands increase the energy dependence of the density of states, which increases the magnitude of the Seebeck coefficient in an itinerant conduction regime, while the light bands provide a conduction channel that works against carrier localization promoted by La vacancies. The net result is thermoelectric performance greater than current n-type materials above 1000 K.
Studies in chemical ionization mass spectrometry:Steroidal ketones

The CH4 chemical ionization (CI) spectra of several keto-steroids are reported as well as the H2 and C3H8CI spectra of a few keto-steroids. [M + H H2O]+ is an abundant ion in the CH4CI spectrum of 5α-androstane-17-one and the water loss from the [M + H]+ ions does not involve the hydrogens on C-18 and only involves the C-16 hydrogens to about 10%. The major loss process has not been determined.3-Keto and 17-Keto steroids are readily distinguished by their CH4CI spectra. The effectiveness of substituents for directing attack by [CH5]+ and [C2H5]+ can be estimated:carboxyl > methoxy ≃ carbonyl > bromo ≃ chloro > hydroxy. Significant differences are observed in the H2CI spectra of two 5α-vs. 5β-steroids. Propane CI Spectra are similar to methane CI spectra, but show generally less fragmentation.
Calcium wave propagation by calcium-induced calcium release : an unusual excitable system

We discuss in detail the behaviour of a model, proposed by Goldbeteret al. (1990.Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. 87, 1461–1465), for intracellular calcium wave propagation by calcium-induced calcium release, focusing our attention on excitability and the propagation of waves in one spatial dimension. The model with no diffusion behaves like a generic excitable system, and threshold behaviour, excitability and oscillations can be understood within this general framework. However, when diffusion is included, the model no longer behaves like a generic excitable system; the fast and slow variables are not distinct and previous results on excitable systems do not necessarily apply. We consider a piecewise linear simplification of the model, and construct travelling pulse and periodic plane wave solutions to the simplified model. The analogous behaviour in the full model is studied numerically. Goldbeter's model for calciuminduced calcium release is an excitable system of a type not previously studied in detail.
Nongays' Perceptions of Gays

Using labelling theory it was predicted that nongays would perceive gays not only as "deviant" with respect to sexual preference but in ways totally unrelated to sex. A total of 107 respondents (72 nongays and 35 gays) completed a questionnaire about various behaviors, attitudes and values. Results provided support for the hypothesis. The majority of gays were viewed as needing counseling and as being at least occasional users of drugs. Almost half were perceived as having no religious identification and almost three in ten as having no political identification. Additionally, gays were believed to have both less satisfaction with, and less control over, their lives than an actual sample of gays indicated. Finally, using Rokeach's Terminal Values Survey, nongays considered themselves to be different from gays in terms of the values which they found important in life.
Efficacy of venlafaxine in geriatric depression

Geriatric patients with major depression present clinical challenges not encountered in younger individuals, including a greater incidence of medical comorbidity, higher rates of multiple medication use, changes in drug metabolism due to age or physical illness, and increased sensitivity to antidepressant side effects. Nevertheless, successful treatment of depressive disorders in the elderly improves mental and physical functioning, decreases morbidity and perhaps mortality, and enhances quality of life. Recent research indicates that newer antidepressants are effective for late life depression and safer for older individuals. Among newer antidepressants, venlafaxine has a pharmacological profile that makes it an attractive choice for geriatric patients. It has limited potential to interact with other medications because it only weakly inhibits the cytochrome P450 system and binds to plasma proteins at a low level. Dosing may have to be adjusted for patients with renal failure, but typically not for those with liver disease or other medical conditions. Data from three double-blind and four open clinical trials support the safety and efficacy of venlafaxine for geriatric depression. Patients may experience transient, generally tolerable side effects such as insomnia, nausea, agitation, or dry mouth early in treatment, but more serious problems such as falls or cardiac rhythm disturbances seem to be rare. Treatment emergent hypertension occurs in a small percentage of older patients, generally at doses above 150 mg/day. Finally, emerging data suggest that venlafaxine may be effective for conditions such as stroke, anxiety, and neuropathic pain that frequently accompany depressive disorders in the elderly.
Individual, Social, and Neighborhood Influences on the Launch of Adolescent Antisocial Behavior:

This study attempts to develop further insight into the initiation and continuance of antisocial behavior during adolescence using a "launch" perspective in conjunction with several risk/protective factor measures from prior research on substance use and delinquency. Data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) were analyzed using multilevel latent growth curve models across three waves for three age cohorts (n = 2,130 youth; 78 neighborhoods). After considering typical trends and their variation, the relationships between covariates and different characteristics of the growth curves were analyzed. Implications of the findings for understanding developmental trends and prevention strategy are considered. Language: en
A test generation approach for systems-on-chip that use intellectual property cores

In this paper, we propose a hierarchical automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) framework that can generate custom tests for full-scan systems-on-chip (SOCs) containing intellectual property (IP) cores without revealing much IP. The proposed ATPG is shown to be correct and complete and its average and worst case complexities are shown to be comparable with those of classical ATPG. The proposed ATPG reduces DFT overheads and test application costs. It also enables utilization of a range of test methodologies at the SOC level.
Suicide Studies Today. Where Do We Come From? Who Are We? Where Are We Going?

A mysterious painting hangs in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Painted in 1887, Paul Gauguin’s masterpiece “D’ou venons nous? Que sommes nous? Ou allons nous?” is fi lled with enigmatic women, lurking creatures, and brooding color. “Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?” The editor of Crisis has posed some similar if narrower questions to us: How are suicide research and prevention to be perceived today? What has been achieved? What is missing? What remains to be done? What can never be done? The authors of this paper are all clinicians. We come from the background of general psychiatry and clinical psychology. All of us are psychoanalysts, and committed to treatment of suicidal patients. Suicidology, as refl ected by what is published in the major journals, has changed over the years. While something has clearly been gained by an increasing emphasis on empirical research, something also has been lost. It is with this lens, and a wish to correct this imbalance, that we have agreed to offer a comment on the state of our fi eld. Suicide studies expanded rapidly after the establishment of the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center in 1958. There are now three active print journals concerned with suicide studies and one on-line journal. Many of the articles published in the 1960s dealt with suicide risk assessment, and to a lesser extent, this trend continues today. A survey of the different sorts of papers now being published refl ects an expanding number of topics and interests. Whereas in the 1960s publications emphasized suicide prevention, now we have more and more articles dealing with broader classes of patients of different types. The populations described have changed. Some years ago the emphasis was on psychiatric and other clinical phenomena, drawn mostly from the US. It is now quite usual to fi nd population reports from around the world. Each type of research into aspects of suicide makes its own contribution, but what interests one group of readers differs radically from what commands the attention of others.
Emerging science in paediatric heart transplantation: donor allocation, biomarkers, and the quest for evidence-based medicine

Heart transplantation offers excellent survival benefit to children with end-stage heart failure. With its success, the number of potential recipients continues to exceed the number of available donors. Developing strategies to safely increase donor utilisation is crucial to decreasing wait-list mortality. A new paediatric heart allocation policy is set to be implemented with the goal of prioritising the most urgent listed candidates. Owing to excellent outcomes of ABO-incompatible heart transplantation, the sickest infants will soon receive priority for heart offers irrespective of blood group. Allosensitisation poses unique challenges within the paediatric population; ongoing multi-centre studies are poised to refine our understanding of key risk factors and optimal treatment strategies. Biomarkers for acute cellular rejection, such as donor-specific cell-free DNA, and cardiac allograft vasculopathy, such as VEGF-A, may lead to a decreased need for invasive screening. Ultimately, well-designed and executed randomised control trials of post-transplant immunosuppression are required to improve long-term outcomes after paediatric heart transplantation.
Meningioma after radiotherapy for malignancy

Complications of radiation exposure have gained importance with increasing cancer survivorship. Secondary malignancies have been associated with cranial radiation exposure. We present our experience with intracranial radiation-induced meningioma (RIM) and discuss the implications of its presentation and natural history for patient management. Patients diagnosed with meningioma who had received radiation therapy between 1960 and 2014 were identified. Records were retrospectively reviewed for details of radiation exposure, previous malignancies, meningioma subtypes, multiplicity and pathologic descriptions, treatment and follow-up. Thirty patients were diagnosed with RIM. Initial malignancies included acute lymphocytic leukemia (33.3%), medulloblastoma (26.7%) and glioma (16.7%) at a mean age of 8.1years (range 0.04-33years). The mean radiation dose was 34Gy (range 16-60Gy) and latency time to meningioma was 26years (range 8-51years). Twenty-one patients (70%) underwent surgery. Of these, 57.1% of tumors were World Health Organization (WHO) grade I while 42.9% were WHO II (atypical). The mean MIB-1 labeling index for patients with WHO I tumors was 5.44%, with 33.3% exhibiting at least 5% staining. Mean follow-up after meningioma diagnosis was 5.8years. Mortality was zero during the follow-up period. Meningioma is an important long-term complication of therapeutic radiation. While more aggressive pathology occurs more frequently in RIM than in sporadic meningioma, it remains unclear whether this translates into an effect on survival. Further study should be aimed at delineating the risks and benefits of routine surveillance for the development of secondary neoplasms after radiation therapy.
Letter: Thermal Decomposition of Methyltrichlorosilane, Dimethyldichlorosilane and Methyldichlorosilane by Flash Pyrolysis Vacuum Ultraviolet Photoionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry:

The thermal decompositions of methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) (CH3SiCl3), dimethyldichlorosilane (Si(CH3)2Cl2), and methyldichlorosilane (SiHCH3Cl2) were studied at temperatures from -1000 K to 1500 K on a short timescale of 20 μs to 100 μs using flash pyrolysis vacuum ultraviolet single-photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The pyrolysis of MTS proceeds primarily via Si-C bond homolysis to form the SiCl3 and methyl radicals. At elevated temperatures, SiCl2 production from secondary decomposition of SiCl3 becomes more important, and other pyrolysis pathways of MTS, including C-H bond fission and HCl elimination make minor contributions. The pyrolysis of Si(CH3)2Cl2 occurs mainly by the sequential loss of methyl radicals, ultimately forming a significant amount of SiCl2. Si(CH3)2Cl2 also has two minor decomposition channels at higher temperatures, molecular elimination of CH4 to form SiCH2Cl2 and of CH3Cl to form SiCH3Cl. The pyrolysis of SiHCH3Cl2 mainly undergoes sequential CH3 and H loss and/or molecular elimination of CH4 to form SiCl2, while molecular elimination of HCl to form SiCH3Cl also contributes. SiCl2 is produced in significant concentrations in the pyrolysis of all three molecules, suggesting that it is an important intermediate in SiC chemical vapor deposition from chloroorganosilanes.
Synthesis and Evaluation of a Library of Fluorescent Dipeptidomimetic Analogues as Substrates for Modified Bacterial Ribosomes

Described herein are the synthesis and photophysical characterization of a library of aryl-substituted oxazole- and thiazole-based dipeptidomimetic analogues, and their incorporation into position 66 of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in lieu of the natural fluorophore. These fluorescent analogues resemble the fluorophore formed naturally by GFP. As anticipated, the photophysical properties of the analogues varied as a function of the substituents at the para position of the phenyl ring. The fluorescence emission wavelength maxima of compounds in the library varied from ∼365 nm (near-UV region) to ∼490 nm (visible region). The compounds also exhibited a large range of quantum yields (0.01–0.92). The analogues were used to activate a suppressor tRNACUA and were incorporated into position 66 of GFP using an in vitro protein biosynthesizing system that employed engineered ribosomes selected for their ability to incorporate dipeptides. Four analogues with interesting photophysical properties and reasonable su...
UO 2 Oxidative Corrosion by Nonclassical Diffusion

Using x-ray scattering, spectroscopy, and density-functional theory, we determine the structure of the oxidation front when a ${\mathrm{UO}}_{2}$ (111) surface is exposed to oxygen at ambient conditions. In contrast to classical diffusion and previously reported bulk ${\mathrm{UO}}_{2+x}$ structures, we find oxygen interstitials order into a nanoscale superlattice with three-layer periodicity and uranium in three oxidation states: IV, V, and VI. This oscillatory diffusion profile is driven by the nature of the electron transfer process, and has implications for understanding the initial stages of oxidative corrosion in materials at the atomistic level.
Ab initio molecular dynamics investigations of low-energy recoil events in Ni and NiCo.

Low-energy recoil events in pure Ni and the equiatomic NiCo alloy are studied using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. We found that the threshold displacement energies are strongly dependent on orientation and weakly dependent on composition. The minimum threshold displacement energies are along the [1 1 0] direction in both pure Ni and the NiCo alloy. Compared to pure Ni, the threshold displacement energies increase slightly in the NiCo alloy due to stronger bonds in the alloy, irrespective of the element type of the PKA. A single Ni interstitial occupying the center of a tetrahedron formed by four Ni atoms and a split interstitial is produced in pure Ni by the recoils, while only the split interstitial is formed in the NiCo alloy. Compared to the replacement sequences in pure Ni, anti-site defect sequences are observed in the alloy, which have high efficiency for both producing defects and transporting energy outside of the cascade core. These results provide insights into energy transfer processes occurring in equiatomic alloys under irradiation.
Sharing the mantle of primary female care: physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.

Objective To examine the role that nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) play in women's health care as part of a larger study assessing the use of NPs and PAs as primary care practitioners. Methods We conducted qualitative key informant interviews with providers and administrators at nine managed care organizations and multispecialty clinics. Results Respondents indicated that although there were a number of reasons these institutions began to hire NPs and PAs, the shortage of women health care providers was an important contributing factor. Many women patients prefer to see same-sex providers, but there are not enough female physicians to meet this demand. NPs and PAs were more interested in preventive care than physicians were. For these reasons, NPs and PAs came to play a central role in the delivery of women's primary care within these institutions. Conclusion Although the number of female physicians is increasing, there is no indication that the importance of NPs and PAs is waning. Rather, they have become valued members of the health care team. Women physicians will most likely be expected to provide primary care in teams with NPs and PAs.
Prenatal detection of cystic fibrosis.

Previous studies in our laboratory have suggested that measurement of methylumbelliferylguanidinobenzoate (MUGB) reactive proteases in midtrimester amniotic fluid is potentially of value for the intrauterine detection of cystic fibrosis. Thirty-nine pregnancies of obligate heterozygotes of cystic fibrosis and 12 cases where one parent has a sib with cystic fibrosis. have been prospectively monitored by means of quantitative and qualitative measurements of MUGB in amniotic fluid. In all but one case the diagnosis was accurately ascertained in the midtrimester and confirmed after delivery. The measurement of MUGB reactivity in midtrimester amniotic flud by three different procedures—quantitative analysis, polyacrylamide isoelectric focusing, and column filtration—appears to provide a practical and reliable approach for the intrauterine detection of cystic fibrosis.
Assessment of Soil Treatment for Pest Control

The use of microwave energy has been proposed frequently as an alternative method for controlling pests in the soil, such as weed seeds, insects, nematodes, and soil-borne plant pathogens. The use of radio frequency dielectric heating was also considered for sterilizing soils for use in greenhouses. Since the question of the practicability of using microwave energy for soil treatment to control pests has been raised so often, an assessment of its potential is presented in this chapter. Basic principles governing the absorption of microwave energy and microwave heating are presented, and a review of pertinent literature is included. Upon considering the basic principles of microwave energy absorption by dielectric materials and the experimental work that has been reported, there appears to be little probability for the practical application of microwave power for field use in controlling agricultural pests in the soil.
Selective removal of deletion-bearing mitochondrial DNA in heteroplasmic Drosophila.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) often exists in a state of heteroplasmy, in which mutant mtDNA co-exists in cells with wild-type mtDNA. High frequencies of pathogenic mtDNA result in maternally inherited diseases; maternally and somatically acquired mutations also accumulate over time and contribute to diseases of ageing. Reducing heteroplasmy is therefore a therapeutic goal and in vivo models in post-mitotic tissues are needed to facilitate these studies. Here we describe a transgene-based model of a heteroplasmic lethal mtDNA deletion (mtDNA^Δ) in adult Drosophila muscle. Stimulation of autophagy, activation of the PINK1/parkin pathway or decreased levels of mitofusin result in a selective decrease in mtDNA^Δ. Decreased levels of mitofusin and increased levels of ATPIF1, an inhibitor of ATP synthase reversal-dependent mitochondrial repolarization, result in a further decrease in mtDNA^Δ levels. These results show that an adult post-mitotic tissue can be cleansed of a deleterious genome, suggesting that therapeutic removal of mutant mtDNA can be achieved.
A Graph Approach to Mining Biological Patterns in the Binding Interfaces

Protein-RNA interactions play important roles in the biological systems. Searching for regular patterns in the Protein-RNA binding interfaces is important for understanding how protein and RNA recognize each other and bind to form a complex. Herein, we present a graph-mining method for discovering biological patterns in the protein-RNA interfaces. We represented known protein-RNA interfaces using graphs and then discovered graph patterns enriched in the interfaces. Comparison of the discovered graph patterns with UniProt annotations showed that the graph patterns had a significant overlap with residue sites that had been proven crucial for the RNA binding by experimental methods. Using 200 patterns as input features, a support vector machine method was able to classify protein surface patches into RNA-binding sites and non-RNA-binding sites with 84.0% accuracy and 88.9% precision. We built a simple scoring function that calculated the total number of the graph patterns that occurred in a protein-RNA interface. That scoring function was able to discriminate near-native protein-RNA complexes from docking decoys with a performance comparable with that of a state-of-the-art complex scoring function. Our work also revealed possible patterns that might be important for binding affinity.
Karachi weds Lahore: The performance of ethnolinguistic identities in Pakistani TV comedy

This paper investigates the mixing of Urdu and Punjabi language elements in a comic television serial – Larka Karachi Ka Kuri Lahore Di – that aired during the month of Ramzan (Urdu for Ramadan) in 2012. The serial features exaggerated depictions of a Punjabi Lahori family and a muhajir (Urdu-speaking) Karachiite family. Of particular interest is the way marked phonological features and lexical items are deployed to highlight panjabiyat (‘Punjabi-ness’). This study explores relationships between the humorous performance of language mixing and language ideologies in Pakistan. Even in places where panjabiyat is strongly emphasized, the lexico-grammatical choices made by the characters still render the language maximally understandable to an Urdu-speaking (rather than Punjabi-speaking) audience. Using theories of ‘mixed language,’ this study seeks to address the importance and implications of these ways of performing ethnolinguistic identity.
Girls Behaving Badly? Race, Gender, and Subjective Evaluation in the Discipline of African American Girls.

School disciplinary processes are an important mechanism of inequality in education. Most prior research in this area focuses on the significantly higher rates of punishment among African American boys, but in this article, we turn our attention to the discipline of African American girls. Using advanced multilevel models and a longitudinal data set of detailed school discipline records, we analyze interactions between race and gender on office referrals. The results show troubling and significant disparities in the punishment of African American girls. Controlling for background variables, black girls are three times more likely than white girls to receive an office referral; this difference is substantially wider than the gap between black boys and white boys. Moreover, black girls receive disproportionate referrals for infractions such as disruptive behavior, dress code violations, disobedience, and aggressive behavior. We argue that these infractions are subjective and influenced by gendered interpret...
Objectivity and reliability

Scanlon’s Being Realistic about Reasons is a beautiful book – sleek, sophisticated, and programmatic. One of its key aims is to demystify knowledge of normative and mathematical truths, realistically construed – i.e. construed, roughly, as being true relevantly independent of minds and languages, when interpreted at face-value. In this article, I develop an epistemological problem that Scanlon fails to explicitly address. I argue that his ‘metaphysical pluralism’ can be understood as a response to that problem. However, it resolves the problem only if it undercuts the objectivity of normative and mathematical inquiry.
Legal Checks on Fertility Clinics Lacking, as Cases Against Industry Expected to Grow

Parents have brought a wave of lawsuits against the sperm bank that's alleged to have misrepresented the criminal, educational, and mental health history of a donor used to conceive 36 children. This article discusses this novel litigation in the context of legal protections in the United States and abroad. It incorporates insights from an interview with Professor Dov Fox, whose article entitled “Reproductive Negligence,” 117 Columbia Law Review 149 (2017) elaborates on the significance of wrongdoing that imposes, deprives, and confounds procreation.
Experimental Study of the Influence of Periodic Boundary Conditions: Effects of Finite Size and Faster Cooling Rates on Dissimilar Polymer–Polymer Interfaces

Building on our recent work that mapped the profile in local glass transition temperature Tg(z) across a single polystyrene (PS)/poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PnBMA) interface, we explore the impact of limiting domain size and increasing cooling rate. This study is motivated by traditional computational approaches employed to overcome computer-power limitations, extrapolating short time scales and using periodic boundary conditions that introduce repeating interfaces. Using a localized fluorescence method, we find addition of a second PS/PnBMA interface perturbs the local PS Tg(z) at a distance of z = 100 nm from the first interface when the second interface approaches a distance closer than 300 nm. The local Tg(z) profile across a finite PS domain size of 300 nm for a range of cooling rates shows that limiting domain size and increasing cooling rate (faster time scales) diminishes and truncates the broad asymmetric Tg(z) profile, weakening the confinement effect for dissimilar polymer–polymer interfaces, c...
Non-singleton colors are not attended faster than categories, but they are encoded faster: A combined approach of behavior, modeling and ERPs

Abstract The visual system is able to detect targets according to a variety of criteria, such as by categorical (letter vs digit) or featural attributes (color). These criteria are often used interchangeably in rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) studies but little is known about how rapidly they are processed. The aim of this work was to compare the time course of attentional selection and memory encoding for different types of target criteria. We conducted two experiments where participants reported one or two targets (T1, T2) presented in lateral RSVP streams. Targets were marked either by being a singleton color (red letter among black letters), being categorically distinct (digits among letters) or non-singleton color (target color letter among heterogeneously colored letters). Using event related potential (ERPs) associated with attention and memory encoding (the N2pc and the P3 respectively), we compared the relative latency of these two processing stages for these three kinds of targets. In addition to these ERP measures, we obtained convergent behavioral measures for attention and memory encoding by presenting two targets in immediate sequence and comparing their relative accuracy and proportion of temporal order errors. Both behavioral and EEG measures revealed that singleton color targets were attended much more quickly than either non-singleton color or categorical targets, and there was very little difference between attention latencies to non-singleton color and categorical targets. There was however a difference in the speed of memory encoding for non-singleton color and category latencies in both behavioral and EEG measures, which shows that encoding latency differences do not always mirror attention latency differences.
DRG migration: A novel measure of inefficient surgical care in a value-based world.

Abstract Background Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) migration, DRG 331 to 330, is defined by the assignment to a higher cost DRG due only to post admission comorbidity or complications (CC). Methods We assessed the 5% national Medicare data set (2011–2014) for colectomy (DRG's 331/330), excluding present on admission CC's and selecting patients with one or more CC's post-admission to define the impact on payments, cost, and length of stay (LOS). Results The incidence of DRG migration was 14.2%. This was associated with statistically significant increases in payments, hospital cost, and LOS compared to DRG 331 patients. Conclusions When DRG migration rate was extrapolated to the entire at risk population, the results were an increase of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) cost by $98 million, hospital cost by $418 million, and excess hospital days equaling 68,669 days. These negative outcomes represent potentially unnecessary variations in the processes of care, and therefore a unique economic concept defining inefficient surgical care.
Mass Incarceration: Pauline Problems and Pauline Solutions:

The growing realization that the United States today is characterized by mass incarceration has begun to influence the interpretation of the Bible. This essay will focus on the influence of Paul’s ...
Pattern Formation in Directional Solidification: The Nonlinear Evolution of Cellular Melt/Solid Interfaces

The formulation of moderate amplitude two-dimensional cellular interfaces arising in directional solidification of a binary alloy is probed by finite element analysis coupled with computer-implemented perturbation methods for tracing families of interface shapes. Results for a “one-sided” solidification model show stable finite amplitude cells irrespective of whether the initial evolution from the planar state is subcritical or supercritical with respect to changes in the applied temperature gradient. At large amplitude a discontinuous change in the stable interface morphology causes a halving of the spatial wavelength. The occurrence of this transition is linked to the existence of second-order critical points for bifurcation from the planar form. Grain angles which mark the boundaries of individual crystals are imperfections to the bifurcations from the planar front and cause the transition to cellular forms to occur smoothly over a range of temperature gradient.
Theory and Simulation of Colloid and Interface Science in Supercritical Fluids

The unique density dependence of fluid properties makes supercritical fluids attractive as solvents for colloids including microemulsions, emulsions, and latexes, as discussed in recent reviews [1–4]. The first generation of research involving colloids in supercritical fluids addressed water-in-alkane microemulsions, for fluids such as ethaneaed propane[2, 5]. The effect of pressure on the droplet size, interdroplet interactions[2] and partitioning of the surfactant between phases was determined experimentally [5] and with a lattice fluid self-consistent field theory[6]. The theory was also used to understand how grafted chains provide steric stabilization of emulsionsaed latexes.
Unintentional Injury, Supervision, and Discourses on Childproofing Devices.

Unintentional injury prevention research focuses on parental supervision as critical to reducing toddler injury. We examine how the promotion of childproofing—as a mode of supervision—sells mothers “peace of mind” while also increasing “intensive mothering” and the “privatization of risk.” Drawing on the childproofing literature and meaning centered interviews with mothers of toddlers and childproofing business owners, we argue that the connection made by these groups between childproofing and “good parenting” ultimately obscures how this form of harm reduction economically and socially individualizes responsibility for child care.
A Game Theoretic Model for Aggregate Bypassing Behavior of Vehicles at Traffic Diverges

Vehicle bypassing is known to negatively affect delays at traffic diverges. However, due to the complexities of this phenomenon, accurate and yet simple models of such lane change maneuvers are hard to develop. In this work, we present a macroscopic model for predicting the number of vehicles that bypass at a traffic diverge. We take into account the selfishness of vehicles in selecting their lanes; every vehicle selects lanes such that its own cost is minimized. We discuss how we model the costs that are experienced by vehicles. Then, taking into account the selfish behavior of vehicles, we model the lane choice of vehicles at a traffic diverge as a Wardrop equilibrium. We state and prove the properties of Wardrop equilibrium in our model. We show that there always exists an equilibrium for our model. Moreover, unlike most nonlinear asymmetrical routing games, we prove that the equilibrium is unique under mild assumptions. We discuss how our model can be easily calibrated by running a simple optimization problem. Using our calibrated model, we validate it through simulation studies and demonstrate that our model successfully predicts the aggregate lane change maneuvers that are performed by vehicles for bypassing at a traffic diverge. We further discuss how our model can be employed to obtain the optimal lane choice behavior of vehicles, where the social or total cost of vehicles is minimized.
Sources of lead exposure in various countries

This review evaluates the sources of lead exposure worldwide. Studies from searches relating to sources of lead exposure in various countries within different regional zones were reviewed. Results indicated that in Nigeria, exposure sources include electronic waste, paint and batteries. In Mexico exposure sources include glazed ceramics, lead contaminated utensils and lead contaminated water, for India lead sources include cosmetics and traditional medicines. Sources of lead exposure in China include e-waste, traditional medicines and industrial emissions. In France, exposure sources included lead paint from older homes, imported ceramics and cosmetics and industrial emissions. Australia's exposure sources include paint, dust, imported toys and traditional medicines. Finally, in the United States exposure sources included paint, the industrial legacy of lead exposure and batteries. In high-income countries (HICs) the legacy of lead exposure keeps populations continuously exposed. In lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs), in addition to the legacy of lead exposure, lack of regulations or the inability to enforce regulations keeps populations exposed. In all, evidence suggests that lead exposure remains an issue of public health significance in both HIC and LMIC.
Monte Carlo modeling of thin GaAs photocathodes

A Monte Carlo model was developed to simulate electron transport and emission from thin GaAs photocathodes with different active layer thicknesses and dopant concentrations. The simulation accurately predicts expected behavior, namely, quantum efficiency (QE) is enhanced for thicker GaAs photocathodes and for higher dopant concentrations. More significantly, the simulation predicts that electrons excited to the conduction band of the GaAs can be reflected by the band bending regions of the AlGaAs barrier layer, which contributes to enhance QE. The simulation also predicts that electrons in the conduction band suffer more scattering for thicker GaAs photocathodes and for higher dopant concentration, leading to longer emission response time. This Monte Carlo model will improve our understanding and predicting of the performance of more complicated GaAs-based heterojunction structures composed of multiple thin layers.
YM155 sensitivity in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

9555 Background: Despite advances in treatment and outcomes in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, there continue to be subsets of patients that are refractory to standard intensive chemotherap...
Learning in public

This essay offers an extended consideration of Cherrie Moraga and Amber Hollibaugh’s dialogue “What We’re Rollin Around in Bed With” to investigate questions about collectivity and consensus, durat...
On the value of economic growth

Must a society aim indefinitely for continued economic growth? Proponents of economic growth advance three central challenges to the idea that a society, having attained high levels of income and w...
Neuron-based high-content assay and screen for CNS active mitotherapeutics.

Impaired mitochondrial dynamics and function are hallmarks of many neurological and psychiatric disorders, but direct screens for mitotherapeutics using neurons have not been reported. We developed a multiplexed and high-content screening assay using primary neurons and identified 67 small-molecule modulators of neuronal mitostasis (MnMs). Most MnMs that increased mitochondrial content, length, and/or health also increased mitochondrial function without altering neurite outgrowth. A subset of MnMs protected mitochondria in primary neurons from Aβ(1–42) toxicity, glutamate toxicity, and increased oxidative stress. Some MnMs were shown to directly target mitochondria. The top MnM also increased the synaptic activity of hippocampal neurons and proved to be potent in vivo, increasing the respiration rate of brain mitochondria after administering the compound to mice. Our results offer a platform that directly queries mitostasis processes in neurons, a collection of small-molecule modulators of mitochondrial dynamics and function, and candidate molecules for mitotherapeutics.