cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NEVRLATE: Scalable Resource Discovery

A scalable and expressive peer-to-peer (P2P) networking and computing framework requires efficient resource discovery services. Here we propose NEVRLATE, for Network-Efficient Vast Resource Lookup At The Edge, an efficient organization of directories or directory mirrors, providing a scalable distributed resource discovery service. NEVRLATE organizes directory servers in an approximate two-dimensional grid, or a set of sets of servers, for registration to occur in one 'horizontal' dimension, and lookup to occur in the other 'vertical' dimension. The payoff of organizing n servers into a structure like this is to achieve O(pn) message complexity for registration, and nearly constant complexity lookup. At extra cost NEVRLATE can provide fault tolerance, high availability and security, anonymity, and privacy. The protocol described can be seen as a way to organize Gnutella supernodes, or as a performance extension of Freenet's architecture. In addition, it supports expressive lookup mechanisms, and may provide a basis for a truly scalable worldwide infrastructure for the semantic and the extended web.
Effect of radiance-to-reflectance transformation and atmosphere removal on maximum likelihood classification accuracy of high-dimensional remote sensing data

Many analysis algorithms for high-dimensional remote sensing data require that the remotely sensed radiance spectra be transformed to approximate reflectance to allow comparison with a library of laboratory reflectance spectra. In maximum likelihood classification, however, the remotely sensed spectra are compared to training samples, thus a transformation to reflectance may or may not be helpful. The effect of several radiance-to-reflectance transformations on maximum likelihood classification accuracy is investigated. The authors show that the empirical line approach, LOWTRAN7, flat-field correction, single spectrum method, and internal average reflectance are all non-singular affine transformations, and that non-singular affine transformations have no effect on discriminant analysis feature extraction and maximum likelihood classification accuracy. (An affine transformation is a linear transformation with an optional offset.) Since the Atmosphere Removal Program (ATREM) and the log residue method are not affine transformations, experiments with Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data were conducted to determine the effect of these transformations on maximum likelihood classification accuracy. The average classification accuracy of the data transformed by ATREM and the log residue method was slightly less than the accuracy of the original radiance data. Since the radiance-to-reflectance transformations allow direct comparison of remotely sensed spectra with laboratory reflectance spectra, they can be quite useful in labeling the training samples required by maximum likelihood classification, but these transformations have only a slight effect or no effect at all on discriminant analysis and maximum likelihood classification accuracy. >
Stability and Boundedness Analysis of Discrete Event Systems

Recently it has been shown that the conventional notions of stability in the sense of Lyapunov and asymptotic stability can be used to characterize the stability properties of "logical" discrete event systems (DES). Moreover, it has been shown that stability analysis via the choice of appropriate Lyapunov functions can be used for DES and can be applied to several DES applications including manufacturing systems and computer networks [1,2]. In this paper we extend the conventional notions and analysis of uniform boundedness, uniform ultimate boundedness, practical stability, and finite time stability so that they apply to the class of logical DES that can be defined on a metric space. Within this framework we show that the standard Petri net-theoretic notions of boundedness are special cases of Lagrange stability and uniform boundedness. In addition we show that the Petri net-theoretic approach to boundedness analysis is actually a Lyapunov approach in that the net-theoretic analysis actually produces an appropriate Lyapunov function. Moreover, via the Lyapunov approach we provide a sufficient condition for the uniform ultimate boundedness of General Petri nets. Several applications are provided.
A review of electrocoupling mechanisms mediating facilitated wound healing

The role of electrical interaction in wound healing has been recognized for nearly half of the last century. Based on the notion that wound healing may be facilitated by using electrical stimulation (referred to as electrotherapy), numerous animal model studies and clinical trials have been carried out to establish the effectiveness of electrotherapy. In spite of the concentrated effort, however, electrotherapy has not been approved by the U.S. FDA and remains poorly understood. Elucidation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms mediating facilitated wound healing is likely required, before rational electrotherapy can be devised and successfully implemented. Over the past six years, we have performed a series of in vitro experiments designed to identify the mechanisms mediating the cellular effects induced by exogenous application of electrical stimulation. The purpose of this review is to provide a description for such mechanisms (i.e., electrocoupling mechanisms) and to formulate an integrated model for these coupling mechanisms.
On the Relation between Wire Length Distributions and Placement of Logic on Master Slice ICs

The quality of placement and routing on gate arrays is commonly measured by average wire length. With regard to wire length, placement and routing are mutually competing tasks and the solution space for both is exponential. Estimates of measures of placement such as average wire length or, total wiring tracks prior to routing give some indication of the routability of the placement and, can be used to select another placement and repeat.The nature of these problems necessitates a probabilistic approach to the wirability analysis of integrated circuits. Stochastic models for wiring space estimation and the relation between wire length distribution and placement optimization have received attention recently [1], [6], [2], [5], [7], [3] and [4]. Much of the reported work on wire length distributions and placement of logic rests on empirical evidence that indicates that “well placed” chips exhibit Rent's Rule between the number of components and the number of corresponding external connections. Rent's Rule has been the basis of the heuristic arguments used to derive upper bounds on the average wire length and the form of the wire length distribution. Rent's Rule has the formT = KC p (1)where T is the average number of external connections, C is the average number of components, K is number of connections per component and p is a positive constant. In [1], [2] and [4] the effect of placement on wire length distribution was introduced by assuming that a hierarchical partitioning scheme aimed at minimizing the average wire length results in a configuration that exhibits Rent's Rule. In [2] an upper bound r-k for the average wire length between elements of different subsets of components of size k was derived, and using Rent's Rule to obtain the number of connections between such subsets, an upper bound on the average wire length was derived. In [3] the Pareto distribution is proposed for the distribution of wire lengths. Similar results were presented in [4].In this paper we present a model that provides a mathematical basis for Rent's Rule and its relation to wire length distribution. It will be shown that Rent's Rule, an observed fact, is a manifestation of a more fundamental underlying process characterized by a function which leads directly to a general class of wire length distributions, the Weibull family. That is, Rent's Rule contains all the information about the distribution of wire lengths. Thus, estimates for the average wire length can be derived. Theory presented here is substantiated by simulation results and earlier research data.
Identifying Architectural Bad Smells

Certain design fragments in software architectures can have a negative impact on system maintainability. In this paper, we introduce the concept of architectural "bad smells," which are frequently recurring software designs that can have non-obvious and significant detrimental effects on system lifecycle properties. We define architectural smells and differentiate them from related concepts, such as architectural antipatterns and code smells. We also describe four representative architectural smells we encountered in the context of reverse-engineering eighteen grid technologies and refactoring one large industrial system.
Finite Element Approximation to a Finite-Size Modified Poisson-Boltzmann Equation

The inclusion of steric effects is important when determining the electrostatic potential near a solute surface. We consider a modified form of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, often called the Poisson-Bikerman equation, in order to model these effects. The modifications lead to bounded ionic concentration profiles and are consistent with the Poisson-Boltzmann equation in the limit of zero-size ions. Moreover, the modified equation fits well into existing finite element frameworks for the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. In this paper, we advocate a wider use of the modified equation and establish well-posedness of the weak problem along with convergence of an associated finite element formulation. We also examine several practical considerations such as conditioning of the linearized form of the nonlinear modified Poisson-Boltzmann equation, implications in numerical evaluation of the modified form, and utility of the modified equation in the context of the classical Poisson-Boltzmann equation.
Cutaneous metastases from transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Cutaneous metastases from primary genitourinary malignancies are rare and usually represent a poor prognostic sign. Very few cases of skin metastases from urothelial carcinoma have been reported in the past, and most of them were treated with chemotherapy. We report a patient with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder who developed skin metastases after cystectomy. The lesions did not respond to systemic chemotherapy but resolved with local radiation therapy. We discuss the need to have a high index of suspicion to identify these lesions and the treatment approaches.
Seasonal variation in temperature, salinity, and density over the continental shelf off Oregon1

Seasonal variations in the hydrography of the waters over the continental shelf off Oregon were observed in a set of hydrographic data collected along 44”39’N at intervals of a few weeks to a few months from 1961 through 1970. The temperature is determined only partly by the local heating and cooling cycle: at -the surface it is low (9°C) in winter, increasing in spring, lowest in summer, highest in early fall, and decreasing in winter; near the bottom, it is highest in winter and lowest in summer. The summer minimum is associated with coastal upwelling and a strong southward geostrophic current. Variations in salinity are governed by runoff, both locally and through the Columbia River effluent, as well as by coastal upwelling and advection. Neither temperature nor salinity is negligible in determining sigma-t. In summer, sigma-t decreases with distance offshore, and isopycnals slope downward from shore; in winter, sigma-t increases with distance offshore, and isopycnals slope upward from shore. Steric sea level also slopes downward from the coast in winter, and upward in summer. Alongshore geostrophic flow is southward in summer and northward in winter. The variations in temperature, salinity, and sigma-t are caused by seasonal cycles in the surface heat balance, precipitation and runoff, the local wind, and the alongshore flow.
Applying patterns to develop extensible ORB middleware

Distributed object computing forms the basis for next-generation application middleware. At the heart of distributed object computing are object request brokers (ORBs), which automate many tedious and error-prone distributed programming tasks. This article presents a case study of key patterns used to develop ORBs that can be dynamically configured and evolved for specific application requirements and network/end-system characteristics.
The Burden of Complex Genetics in Brain Disorders

Background Few data estimate the impact of complex genetics in neuropsychiatric illness, making it likely that this impact could be underappreciated. Objective To provide estimates of the impact of complex genetics in neuropsychiatric disorders in the United States, based on estimates of disease costs to US society, disease heritability, and mendelian contributions to disease. Data Sources, Study Selection, and Data Extraction Costs were estimated from literature sources and Lewin–National Foundation for Brain Research estimates updated for population growth and consumer price index inflation. Heritability estimates came from available twin data. Estimates of mendelian contributions came from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database and our perspectives. Conclusions Brain and nervous system disorders may cost the United States as much as $1.2 trillion annually, and affect many millions of Americans each year. Twin data suggest that more than 40% of the societal burden of brain disorders is likely to be genetically mediated. Most of this disease burden arises from complex multigene genetics as well as from environmental influences. The large sizes of these complex genetic burdens should encourage careful molecular and clinical work to link disease-vulnerability allelic variants with the pathogenesis, nosologic characteristics, prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutics of brain disorders.
Fractional Cauchy Transforms

This is a survey of research on the topic of fractional Cauchy transforms. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
mRNA Distributions in Sea Urchin Embryos

We have developed techniques for localization of individual mRNA species in sections of sea urchin embryos using the hybridization of radioactively labeled RNA probes to tissue sections in situ. The method yields grain densities proportional to the concentration of target mRNAs and is sufficiently sensitive to allow the localization of most moderately abundant mRNAs. The major features of the method are briefly discussed, and several examples of its use are reviewed. We show that maternal histone mRNA is largely sequestered in pronuclei of unfertilized eggs and released at nuclear membrane breakdown of first cell division. We discuss several events in differentiation of cells of the dorsal ectoderm, including expression of a cell-type specific set of messenger RNAs.
The influence of ventricular morphology and coronary artery dominance and morphology on early mortality in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum

Coronary artery abnormalities are known to be present in a certain percentage of patients presenting with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum. These abnormalities range in severity from small fistulae to complete right ventricular dependence of components in the coronary circulation. These abnormalities are known to complicate therapy preoperatively, during palliation, and during definitive correction. This study will explore the influence of right ventricular morphology and coronary artery dominance and morphology on early mortality in infants with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum, something which has not been previously explored.
A new synthetic route to cellulosic graft copolymers

Biopolymers such as cellulose, starch, and proteins are available in large quantities. They can be processed into high purity products at modest costs. However, other than cotton and rayon in textiles, cellulose in paper and lumber, and a few cellulose derivatives in pharmaceutical preparations, biopolymers have been largely neglected in modern research for potential applications in polymeric materials.
Value-Based Network Externalities and Optimal Auction Design

We study revenue maximization in settings where agents’ valuations exhibit positive network externalities. In our model, items have unlimited supply, and agents are unit demand. In a departure from previous literature, we assume agents have value based externalities, meaning that their valuation depends not only on their own signal, but also on the signals of other agents in their neighborhood who win the item. We give a complete characterization of ex-post incentive compatible and individually rational auctions in this setting. Using this characterization, we show that the optimal auction is in fact deterministic, and can be computed in polynomial time when the agents’ signals are independent. We further show a constant factor approximation when the signals of agents are correlated, and an optimal mechanism in this case for a constant number of bidders.
Relation of blood homocysteine and its nutritional determinants to age-related maculopathy in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background: Blood homocysteine and its nutritional determinants folate and cyanocobalamin (vitamin B-12) have been shown to affect the risk of vascular disease. The pathogenesis of age-related maculopathy (ARM) is related to adverse vascular changes. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the associations between homocysteine, its nutritional determinants, and ARM in persons aged ≥ 40 y participating in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Design: A nonmydriatic fundus photograph of one eye, taken in a mobile examination center, was used to ascertain ARM status. Phlebotomy was performed for measurement of homocysteine, cyanocobalamin, and erythrocyte folate in participants of phase 2 of the survey (n = 3828). Logistic regressions were used to compute odds ratios and 95% CIs by quintile of serum analyte by using sample weights and jackknife replication methods to adjust for the complex survey design. The final analyses were adjusted for potential risk factors that influenced odds ratios. Results: Total serum homocysteine, red blood cell folate, and serum cyanocobalamin were unrelated to ARM in the overall sample. However, red blood cell folate was inversely related to one type of early ARM lesion (soft drusen) in non-Hispanic blacks. Conclusions: ARM does not appear to be associated with homocysteine or its dietary determinants in this survey. There is a need for further investigation to rule out potential associations in subgroups with low folate status that may not have been detected because of the cross-sectional survey design.
Lifetime measurement of the cesium 6 P 3 / 2 level using ultrafast pump-probe laser pulses

The cesium 6${P}_{3/2}$ excited-state lifetime is measured using ultrafast laser pulse excitation and ionization in counterpropagating thermal atomic beams achieving an overall uncertainty of 0.15%, which represents a modest improvement over the best previous direct measurement of this lifetime.
Ionic Transport in Nano-Porous Clays with Consideration of Electrostatic Effects

The mineralogical and chemical properties of clays have been the subject of longstanding study in the research community—in fact, entire journals are devoted to the topic. In the field of hydrology where transport behavior is more routinely considered, clays and clay-rich rock were largely relegated to a minor role because of their low hydraulic conductivity. However, this very property explains in part the renewed interest in the behavior of clays and clay rocks in several important subsurface energy-related applications, including the long-term disposal of nuclear wastes in geological repositories and the storage of CO2 in subsurface geological formations. In these applications and environments, the low permeability of the clay-rich formations or engineered barriers provides at least part of the safety functions for radionuclide contaminants confinement and subsurface CO2 sequestration. From a geochemical and mineralogical point of view, the high adsorption capacity of clay minerals adds to the effect of low hydraulic conductivities by greatly increasing the retardation of radionuclides and other contaminants, making clays ideal where isolation from the biosphere is desired. The low permeability of clay-rich shales also explains why hydrocarbon resources are not easily exploited from these formations, thus requiring in many cases special procedures like hydraulic fracturing in order to extract them. Clay properties remain also topic of intensive research in the oilfield industry in connection with their swelling behavior, which has an adverse impact on drilling operations (Anderson et al. 2010; Wilson and Wilson 2014; De Carvalho Balaban et al. 2015). While the low permeability and high adsorption capacity of clay minerals are widely acknowledged, it is clear nonetheless that there is a need for an improved understanding of how the chemical and mineralogical properties of clay rocks impacts transport through them. It is at the pore-scale that the chemical properties …
Human Exposure to Radiation

A review is given on the maximum permissible radiation doses to humans considering both industrial and medical exposures. A comparison of common x-ray exposures is made between various medical examinations. (C.J.G.)
Corrosion of steel in concrete structures

At potentials and pH levels normally measured in the concrete, a protective passive layer forms on the surface of carbon steel. It is believed that this layer is an ultrathin (<10 nm) protective oxide or hydroxide layer that decreases the anodic dissolution rate to negligible levels. However, the partial or complete loss of the passive layer, known as depassivation, leads to active corrosion of steel bars. Loss of passivation of steel bars in concrete is caused by either chloride ions or carbonation exposure. The corrosive products of iron are expansive, and their formation can cause cracking and further deterioration in the concrete. This chapter discusses the basic and essential mechanisms of the corrosion of the reinforcing steel bars in a concrete environment.
The contribution of alternative splicing probability to the coding expansion of the genome

Alternative splicing results in the inclusion or exclusion of exons in an RNA, thereby allowing a single gene to code for multiple RNA isoforms. Genes are often composed of many exons, allowing combinatorial choice to significantly expand the coding potential of the genome. How much coding potential is gained by alternative splicing and what is the main contributor: alternative-splicing-depth or exon-count? Here we develop a splice-site-centric quantification method, allowing us to characterize transcriptome-wide alternative splicing with a simple probabilistic model, enabling species-wide comparison. We use information theory to quantify the coding potential gain and show that an increase in alternative splicing probability contributes more to transcriptome expansion than exon-count. Our results suggest that dominant isoforms are co-expressed alongside many minor isoforms. We propose that this solves two problems simultaneously, that is, expression of functional isoforms and expansion of the transcriptome landscape potentially without a direct function, but available for evolution.
Extravasation Risk Using Ultrasound-guided Peripheral Intravenous Catheters for Computed Tomography Contrast Administration.

Objective Ultrasound-guided intravenous catheter (USGIV) insertion is increasingly being used for administration of intravenous (IV) contrast for computed tomography (CT) scans. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the risk of contrast extravasation among patients receiving contrast through USGIV catheters. Methods A retrospective observational study of adult patients who underwent a contrast-enhanced CT scan at a tertiary care emergency department during a recent 64-month period was conducted. The unadjusted prevalence of contrast extravasation was compared between patients with an USGIV and those with a standard peripheral IV inserted without ultrasound. Then, a two-stage sampling design was used to select a subset of the population for a multivariable logistic regression model evaluating USGIVs as a risk factor for extravasation while adjusting for potential confounders. Results In total, 40,143 patients underwent a contrasted CT scan, including 364 (0.9%) who had contrast administered through an USGIV. Unadjusted prevalence of extravasation was 3.6% for contrast administration through USGIVs and 0.3% for standard IVs (relative risk = 13.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.9 to 24.6). After potential confounders were adjusted for, CT contrast administered through USGIVs was associated with extravasation (adjusted odds ratio = 8.6, 95% CI = 4.6 to 16.2). No patients required surgical management for contrast extravasation; one patient in the standard IV group was admitted for observation due to extravasation. Conclusions Patients who received contrast for a CT scan through an USGIV had a higher risk of extravasation than those who received contrast through a standard peripheral IV. Clinicians should consider this extravasation risk when weighing the risks and benefits of a contrast-enhanced CT scan in a patient with USGIV vascular access.
An implantable two axis micromanipulator made with a 3D printer for recording neural activity in free-swimming fish.

Abstract Background Chronically implanted electrodes allow monitoring neural activity from free moving animals. While a wide variety of implanted headstages, microdrives and electrodes exist for terrestrial animals, few have been developed for use with aquatic animals. New method A two axis micromanipulator was fabricated with a Formlabs 3D printer for implanting electrodes into free-swimming oyster toadfish ( Opsanus tau ). The five piece manipulator consisted of a base, body, electrode holder, manual screw drive and locking nut. The manipulator measured approximately 25 × 20 × 30 mm (l × w × h) and weighed 5.28 g after hand assembly. Results Microwire electrodes were inserted successfully with the manipulator to record high fidelity signals from the anterior lateral line nerve of the toadfish. Comparison with existing method(s) The micromanipulator allowed the chronically implanted electrodes to be repositioned numerous times to record from multiple sites and extended successful recording time in the toadfish by several days. Conclusions Three dimensional printing allowed an inexpensive (
Hepatitis C Screening: The Downstream Dissemination of Evolving Guidelines in a Resident Continuity Clinic

Background In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published guidelines supporting one-time screening for hepatitis C (HCV) in all persons born between 1945 and 1965. It is estimated that 75% of adults infected with HCV fall within this cohort. Furthermore, it is projected that this preventative health intervention would lead to the diagnosis of 800,000 unknown cases and the prevention of 120,000 deaths. Objectives The primary objectives are to measure adherence to HCV screening in a continuity practice staffed by internal medicine residents and attending physicians and to measure the effect of educational interventions to enhance HCV screening. The secondary objectives include finding whether insurance or provider status affects adherence to HCV screening. Methods In 2015, we performed a retrospective chart review of asymptomatic patients born between 1945 and 1965 to estimate the rate of HCV screening. In order to meet inclusion criteria, the patients must have had an HCV status that was unknown and must have been seen by a primary care provider ≥ 2 times between January 1 and December 31, 2013. The data extracted included whether HCV testing was ordered, whether testing was performed primarily for screening purposes, demographic information, insurance status, number of clinic visits, and whether the primary provider was a resident or attending physician. Subsequently, in 2016 we implemented an educational intervention aimed at improving these rates. Afterwards, we repeated the chart review to determine if screening rates had improved. Results Out of 294 patients reviewed pre-intervention, 200 patients were eligible for inclusion, of which 17 (8.5%) patients were offered screening for HCV, of which 13 (76.5%) patients completed testing. Following an educational intervention, 484 patients were reviewed and 100 patients were included, of which 34 (34%) patients were screened. Compared to a pre-intervention screening rate of 8.5%, post-intervention screening had improved to 34%, a 300% increase (p<0.001). Conclusions Educational interventions are feasible and can lead to significant improvements in clinical practice enabling for the rapid dissemination of evolving guidelines.
Guidance for the Management and Administrative Operations of Research Ethics Committees (REC)

Several authors in this compendium have analyzed the ethical issues reviewed by the RECs. I aim to describe the management and administrative operations of RECs in an effort to provide guidance on the establishment of these committees.
From Hacienda Domesticity to the Archaeological Sublime: Sentiment and the Origins of Heritage Management in Yucatan, Mexico

Frictions between state-sanctioned heritage policies and the quotidian practices of local stakeholder communities often have deep historical roots. In this essay, I trace the history of conflicts in the management of archaeological sites in the Yucatan peninsula to the emergence of a romantic sensibility toward the leisured enjoyment of ruins in the mid-nineteenth century. This posited a kind of subjectivity that was radically different from the subsistence practices that brought Maya-speaking peasants into contact with archaeological sites. There are important parallels between this discourse on ruins and a philological approach to the Yucatec Maya language which tended to denigrate the vernacular of rural speakers. Interestingly, the tendency of these entwined discourses to delegitimate the speech and customs of rural agriculturalists posited a “proper” relationship to heritage that could be assumed by people from diverse ethnic categories if they adopted an attitude that was consistent with liberal perspectives on labor and identity. The heritage of this simultaneously inclusive and elitist discourse is still evident in contemporary heritage practice and neoliberal multiculturalism.
Circadian Disruption Changes Gut Microbiome Taxa and Functional Gene Composition

Disrupted circadian rhythms and alterations of the gut microbiome composition were proposed to affect host health. Therefore, the aim of this research was to identify whether these events are connected and if circadian rhythm disruption by abnormal light-dark cycles affects microbial community gene expression and host vulnerability to intestinal dysfunction. Mice were subjected to either a four-week period of constant 24-hour light or of normal 12-hour light/dark cycles. Stool samples were collected at the beginning and after the circadian rhythm disruption. A metatranscriptomic analysis revealed an increase in Ruminococcus torques, a bacterial species known to decrease gut barrier integrity, and a decrease in Lactobacillus johnsonii, a bacterium that helps maintain the intestinal epithelial cell layer, after circadian rhythm disruption. In addition, genes involved in pathways promoting host beneficial immune responses were downregulated, while genes involved in the synthesis and transportation of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide were upregulated in mice with disrupted circadian cycles. Importantly, these mice were also more prone to dysfunction of the intestinal barrier. These results further elucidate the impact of light-cycle disruption on the gut microbiome and its connection with increased incidence of disease in response to circadian rhythm disturbances.
The Misshapen kinase regulates the size and stability of the germline ring canals in the Drosophila egg chamber.

Abstract Intercellular bridges are conserved structures that allow neighboring cells to exchange cytoplasmic material; defects in intercellular bridges can lead to infertility in many organisms. Here, we use the Drosophila egg chamber to study the mechanisms that regulate intercellular bridges. Within the developing egg chamber, the germ cells (15 nurse cells and 1 oocyte) are connected to each other through intercellular bridges called ring canals, which expand over the course of oogenesis to support the transfer of materials from the nurse cells to the oocyte. The ring canals are enriched in actin and actin binding proteins, and many proteins have been identified that localize to the germline ring canals and control their expansion and stability. Here, we demonstrate a novel role for the Ste20 family kinase, Misshapen (Msn), in regulation of the size of the germline ring canals. Msn localizes to ring canals throughout most of oogenesis, and depletion of Msn led to the formation of larger ring canals. Over-expression of Msn decreased ring canal diameter, and expression of a membrane tethered form of Msn caused ring canal detachment and nurse cell fusion. Altering the levels or localization of Msn also led to changes in the actin cytoskeleton and altered the localization of E-cadherin, which suggests that Msn could be indirectly limiting ring canal size by altering the structure or dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton and/or adherens junctions.
Real-Time Hybrid Substructuring Shake Table Test of a Seismically Excited Base Isolated Building

This paper present a real-time hybrid substructuring (RTHS) shake table test to evaluate the seismic performance of a base isolated building. Significant experimental research has been conducted on base isolators and dampers toward developing high fidelity numerical models. Shake table testing where the building superstructure is tested while the isolation layer is numerically modeled can allow for a range of isolation strategies to be examined for a single shake table experiment. Further, recent concerns in base isolation for long period, long duration earthquakes necessitate adding damping at the isolation layer which can allow higher frequency energy to be transmitted into the superstructure and can result in damage to structural and nonstructural components that can be difficult to numerically model and accurately predict. As such, physical testing of the superstructure while numerically modeling the isolation layer may be desired. The RTHS approach has been previously proposed for base isolated buildings, however, to date it has not been conducted on base isolated structure isolated at the ground level and where the isolation layer itself is numerically simulated. This configuration provides multiple challenges associated with higher physical substructure frequencies and a low numerical to physical mass ratio. This paper demonstrates a base isolated RTHS test with a scaled idealized 4-story superstructure building model placed directly onto a shake table and the isolation layer simulated in MATLAB/Simulink using a dSpace real-time controller.
Prevalence of Dietary Supplement Use in US Children and Adolescents, 2003-2014.

This study uses NHANES data to estimate the prevalence of dietary supplement use, including both nutritional products and alternative medicines, among US children and adolescents between 2003 and 2014.
The Start Uprising: Eighteen Months of the Startup America Partnership

The Startup America Partnership (SUAP) was launched in January 2011 at the White House to act as an independent private-sector alliance to increase the development, prevalence, and success of innovative, high-growth, U.S. firms. The founding chairman was Steve Case, the co-founder of AOL, CEO of Revolution LLC, and chairman of the Case Foundation. The Case Foundation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation provided launch funding.In nearly two years of operations, SUAP has developed a unique perspective on the many efforts intended to stimulate startups. Its earliest efforts focused on delivering free or low-cost services to entrepreneurs and connecting them with large corporations.In mid-2012, SUAP changed direction to become a hub for strong, regional communities of entrepreneurs. This shift responds to the observation that the central problem for entrepreneurs is a lack of connectedness.Too many entrepreneurs are disconnected from each other; from their communities; from their towns, cities, and states; from potential customers, funders, and talent; and from the many other resources that could help them.SUAP hopes to nourish these connections by listening closely to what entrepreneurs say they want and trying to provide it. This effort starts with developing communities of mentors, role models, and fellow entrepreneurs who can sustain and validate each other.SUAP believes it can be a catalyst for a movement of entrepreneurs led by entrepreneurs. It believes this will be created bottom-up, not top-down. Through developing relationships, fostering knowledge, and enabling opportunity, money, customers, and talent will follow.More than halfway through its original mandate of three years, SUAP hopes to leave behind a kind of startup operating system, a medium for entrepreneurial communities and individual entrepreneurs to share startup “apps.” These “apps” can range from ideas for funding to models of weekly gatherings to help founders improve their product pitches — anything that helps startups thrive.The guiding principles for this operating system are: a belief in loose communities of entrepreneurs rather than an organizational hierarchy; propagating from what exists, rather than creating from scratch; embracing, not resisting, disruption; patience to develop communities over years, not weeks; celebrating success; and, above all, focusing on entrepreneurs.
Signal validation using Bayesian belief networks and fuzzy logic

Safe and reliable control of many processes, simple or complex, relies on sensor measurements. Sophisticated control algorithms only partially satisfy the growing demand for reliability in complex systems because they depend on the accuracy of the sensor input. Noise-ridden or faulty sensors can lead to wrong control decisions, or may even mask a system malfunction and delay critical evasive actions. Thus for optimal and robust operation and control of a process system, correct information about its state in terms of signal validation is of vital importance. To this end, process control methods need to be augmented with sensor fault detection, isolation, and accommodation (SFDIA) to detect and localize faults in instruments. SFDIA can be defined as (a) the detection of sensor faults at the earliest, (b) isolation of the faulty sensor, (c) classification of the type of fault, and (d) providing alternative estimates for the variable under measurement.In this chapter, we introduce the use of Bayesian belief networks (BBN) for SFDIA. Bayesian belief networks are an effective tool to show flow of information and to represent and propagate uncertainty based on a mathematically sound platform. Using several illustrations, we will present its performance in detecting, isolating, and accommodating sensor faults. A probabilistic representation of sensor errors and faults will be used for the construction of the Bayesian network. We limit sensor fault modes considered in this work to bias, precision degradation, and complete failure. Fuzzy logic forms the basis for our second approach to SFDIA. In decision-making related to fault detection and isolation, fuzzy logic removes the restrictions of hard boundaries set by crisp rules. The main advantage of fuzzy logic is its simplicity without compromising performance. As shown in the results, three fuzzy rules per variable are sufficient for a model-based fuzzy SFDIA scheme. A comparison of these two methods based on the experience of this application provides valuable insights.
The biomechanics of forward power skating

The authors review and discuss the biomechanics of forward power skating with respect to starting, acceleration, and striding. Comparisons are made to the biomechanics of walking. The dynamics of foot function within the skate boot are also discussed.
Making Statesmen, Writing Culture: Ethnography, Observation, and Diplomatic Travel in Early Modern Venice

Numerous scholars have sought to locate the origins of social scientific research in the late-sixteenth-century ars apodemica, the northern European body of literature dedicated to methodizing educational travel. Little attention has been paid, however, to the earlier model of educational travel that emerged from sixteenth-century Venetian diplomatic culture. For many Venetian citizens and patricians, accompanying an ambassador on a foreign mission served as a cornerstone of their political education. Diplomatic travelers were encouraged to keep written accounts of their voyage. Numerous examples of these journals survive from the sixteenth century, largely following a standard formula and marked by an emphasis on the description of customs. This article examines the educational function of diplomatic travel in Venice and the practices of cultural description that emerged from diplomatic travel, arguing that Venetian diplomatic travel offers an earlier model for the methodization of travel—one with its own distinctive norms of observation.
Open Inguinal Hernia Repair

An estimated 20 million inguinal hernia repairs are performed yearly worldwide, most of them through an open approach. Because a higher recurrence rate is often reported in tissue-based repairs, a majority of surgeons utilize the Lichtenstein tension-free mesh repair. Though serious postoperative complications are infrequent, chronic post-herniorrhaphy groin pain is more common. The operative steps of the Lichtenstein tension-free mesh repair are described in this chapter.
Anterior vestibule salvaging technique to limit silicone orbital implant extrusion following evisceration.

ABSTRACTPurpose: The anterior vestibule salvaging (‘Birdcage’) technique may limit orbital implant extrusion following evisceration.Methods: A 10-year retrospective chart review from 2005 to 2015 o...
A protective human monoclonal antibody targeting the West Nile virus E protein preferentially recognizes mature virions

West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flavivirus genus, is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in the United States1. The development of neutralizing antibodies against the flavivirus envelope (E) protein is critical for immunity and vaccine protection2. Previously identified candidate therapeutic mouse and human neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) target epitopes within the E domain III lateral ridge and the domain I-II hinge region, respectively3. To explore the neutralizing antibody repertoire elicited by WNV infection for potential therapeutic application, we isolated ten mAbs from WNV-infected individuals. mAb WNV-86 neutralized WNV with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 2 ng ml-1, one of the most potently neutralizing flavivirus-specific antibodies ever isolated. WNV-86 targets an epitope in E domain II, and preferentially recognizes mature virions lacking an uncleaved form of the chaperone protein prM, unlike most flavivirus-specific antibodies4. In vitro selection experiments revealed a neutralization escape mechanism involving a glycan addition to E domain II. Finally, a single dose of WNV-86 administered two days post-infection protected mice from lethal WNV challenge. This study identifies a highly potent human neutralizing mAb with therapeutic potential that targets an epitope preferentially displayed on mature virions. One of the most potently neutralizing flavivirus-specific monoclonal antibodies ever isolated, WNV-86, targets an epitope in E domain II of the West Nile virus (WNV), preferentially recognizes mature virions lacking an uncleaved form of the prM chaperone protein and protects mice from lethal WNV challenge when administered two days after infection.
Factors affecting willingness to cultivate switchgrass: Evidence from a farmer survey in Missouri

Abstract Switchgrass is considered as one of the important feedstocks that can contribute towards the attainment of bioenergy goals set under the Renewable Fuels Standard. Yet, the commercial viability of switchgrass based bioenergy is a much debated topic owing to supply side challenges emanating from limited raw materials. It is therefore critical to understand the crucial role of the farmer by studying the willingness to cultivate switchgrass dedicated for bioenergy. To our knowledge, this is the first survey undertaken to assess the farmer preferences and participation in bioenergy markets after the new administration has assumed office, and provides some important insights. Our analysis reveals that the risk attitudes of farmers have an important bearing on their willingness to cultivate switchgrass. Having prior awareness of switchgrass makes farmers less likely to adopt whereas a preference to cultivate a crop after seeing them on demonstration plots at university extension meetings positively influences willingness decisions. Landholdings under pasture/grazing use and under forest/woodland use increases farmer willingness to cultivate switchgrass. On the other hand, having land under the Conservation Reserve Program, lands that experienced flooding or water stress in recent years, or lands that confront erosion issues did not have a significant influence on farmer willingness. While the inherent uncertainty of the cellulosic bioenergy industry is well known, policies that provide a safety net to protect farmers from the downside are an important issue for farmers who are willing to cultivate switchgrass.
In utero and lactational exposure to the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor fluoxetine compromises pup bones at weaning

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine are widely prescribed to pregnant and breastfeeding women, yet the effects of peripartum SSRI exposure on neonatal bone are not known. In adult populations, SSRI use is associated with compromised bone health, and infants exposed to in utero SSRIs have a smaller head circumference and are shorter, suggesting possible effects on longitudinal growth. Yet no study to date has examined the effects of peripartum SSRIs on long bone growth or mass. We used microCT to determine the outcomes of in utero and lactational SSRI exposure on C57BL6 pup bone microarchitecture. We found that peripartum exposure to 20 mg/kg fluoxetine reduced femoral bone mineral density and bone volume fraction, negatively impacted trabecular and cortical parameters, and resulted in shorter femurs on postnatal day 21. Although SSRIs are considered the first-choice antidepressant for pregnant and lactating women due to a low side effect profile, SSRI exposure may compromise fetal and neonatal bone development.
Premature infatuation and commitment in individual investing decisions

Abstract This research documents a premature infatuation effect in financial judgment and choice, and seeks to understand why it occurs. In many financial decisions, one potential investment choice becomes focal. The premature infatuation effect occurs when a focal investment possibility comes to be overvalued simply because it has come to the fore. Three experiments demonstrate that the premature infatuation effect influences financial judgments, choice intentions, and non-hypothetical decisions with financial consequences, and can drive suboptimal decisions. We show that financial expertise does not insulate individuals from this robust tendency. Non-intrusive process tracing methodology demonstrates that the tendency to engage in selective processing underlies the premature infatuation effect. We conclude by discussing how one can avoid falling victim to this bias, and the counterintuitive organizational implication that managers of firms’ retirement plans can leverage premature infatuation to nudge employees to make better choices.