cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
General anesthesia for intractable ventricular tachycardia.

Abstract We report 2 patients who had recurrent life-threatening ventricular tachycardia (VT) unresponsive to usual medical management. Both patients had severe left ventricular dysfunction and were successfully treated by general anesthesia.
Troposphere–Planetary Boundary Layer Interactions and the Evolution of Ocean Surface Density: Lessons from Red Sea Corals

A time series of oxygen isotope (d18O) measurements of a coral from the northern Red Sea (RS) is presented and used as a direct proxy for water surface density rs. With a relatively constant subsurface density, the generated surface density time series closely tracks water mass formation variability. Two positive and two negative high-amplitude rs anomalies are studied, and associated atmospheric and oceanic data are analyzed to understand large-scale ocean‐atmosphere processes. The dominant process is lower-tropospheric subsidence. It dries the boundary layer (BL), increases surface evaporation and rs, and ultimately drives water mass formation. The main cause of the subsidence is a temperature increase along the principal axis of the RS from the eastern Mediterranean to the convergence zone (CZ, 188‐228N). The increase entails isentropes sloping down to the southeast, crossing pressure surfaces due to their tilt. With nearly adiabatic flow along the principal axis, air parcels move roughly along the sloped isentropes toward ever increasing pressure; that is, they subside. The subsidence supplies the northern RS BL with upstream air from higher altitudes (where humidity is low), thus drying the BL. The resultant high evaporation north of ;258N (with low evaporation minus precipitation south of ;228N) depresses sea levels in the northern RS, and thus drives the RS thermohaline circulation and controls water mass formation. Excluded from the presented picture, but probably very important, is mixing with the hot, dry air of the surrounding deserts.
What Went Wrong? Examining Moody’s Rated CDO Data

The downgrading of the tranches of Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDO) products backed by real estate related assets has caused severe disruptions in the housing and financial markets. The rating agencies have been criticized for the opacity in the rating process of the CDO products and also for giving the CDO tranches higher ratings than they deserved. However, not enough attention has been paid to the decision making process of the agencies to downgrade the CDO tranches. We use data from Moody’s CDO database to reconstruct the process through which Moody’s eventually downgraded the tranches. We use a discrete hazard rate model to study the variables that were relevant in the downgrading of the tranches of the CDOs. The empirical results show that out of the many CDO specific variables relevant to their ratings made available by Moody’s few have any explanatory power beyond the Moody’s Deal Scores (MDS). We show that the MDS could be explained by the changes in the Case-Shiller Composite-20 Index and Markit ABX.HE indices. Further analysis shows that Moody’s mostly relied on the changes in the Case-Shiller indexes in revising the MDS.
The “Gln-Type” Thiol Dioxygenase from Azotobacter vinelandii Is a 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid Dioxygenase

Cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) is a non-heme iron enzyme that catalyzes the O2-dependent oxidation of l-cysteine to produce cysteinesulfinic acid. Bacterial CDOs have been subdivided as either “Arg-type” or “Gln-type” on the basis of the identity of conserved active site residues. To date, “Gln-type” enzymes remain largely uncharacterized. It was recently noted that the “Gln-type” enzymes are more homologous with another thiol dioxygenase [3-mercaptopropionate dioxygenase (MDO)] identified in Variovorax paradoxus, suggesting that enzymes of the “Gln-type” subclass are in fact MDOs. In this work, a putative “Gln-type” thiol dioxygenase from Azotobacter vinelandii (Av) was purified to homogeneity and characterized. Steady-state assays were performed using three substrates [3-mercaptopropionic acid (3mpa), l-cysteine (cys), and cysteamine (ca)]. Despite comparable maximal velocities, the “Gln-type” Av enzyme exhibited a specificity for 3mpa (kcat/KM = 72000 M–1 s–1) nearly 2 orders of magnitude greater than thos...
Reduced inflammatory and muscle damage biomarkers following oral supplementation with bioavailable curcumin

Background Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD) and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) impact subsequent training sessions and activities of daily living (ADL) even in active individuals. In sedentary or diseased individuals, EIMD and DOMS may be even more pronounced and present even in the absence of structured exercise.
Telomerase Inhibition by Everolimus Suppresses Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Neointima Formation Through Epigenetic Gene Silencing.

Highlights •The proliferative capacity of smooth muscle cells (SMC) during neointima formation is prevented by everolimus-coated drug-eluting stents. •Everolimus failed to inhibit neointima formation by in mice overexpressing telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). •Everolimus reduced TERT-dependent SMC proliferation through inhibition of Ets-1–dependent promoter activation. •The inhibition of TERT-dependent SMC proliferation by everolimus occurred as a result of a G1→S-phase arrest, rather than telomerase shortening. •Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that TERT induced E2F binding to S-phase gene promoters and supported histone acetylation. •These studies identify a novel mitogenic pathway in SMC that depends on the epigenetic activation of S-phase gene promoters by TERT.
Homicide Followed by Suicide An Integrated Theoretical Perspective

Homicide followed by suicide is an extremely rare event, requiring an integrated theoretical understanding that goes beyond explaining it as either homicide or suicide. Police reports, newspaper articles, and interviews with families, friends, and neighbors connected with 42 homicide–suicide cases that occurred in greater metropolitan New Orleans between 1989 and 2001 form the empirical base of this study. A homicide followed by suicide typology predicated on thematic context, including victim–perpetrator relationship, age, sex, race, ethnicity, and occupation in addition to precipitating factors, motivation, type of fatal injury, and location of event, is discussed. An integrated theoretical model using structural conflict intensity factors; elements of the social stress–strain perspective focusing on frustration, failure and anomie; and power dominance issues is presented. Although additional research is certainly called for, these sociological autopsies raise important methodological and theoretical qu...
Anxious, hostile, and sadistic: Maternal attachment and everyday sadism predict hostile masculine beliefs and male sexual violence

Abstract This study examined everyday sadism and childhood parental attachment as predictors of male sexual aggression and coercion against women. A nationwide sample of adult men (N = 489) completed two common hostile masculinity measures, Rape Myth Acceptance and Hostility towards Women, which were tested as mediators in a path analysis. Physical sadism was expected to have a direct path to sexual violence, and vicarious and verbal sadism were expected to have indirect effects on sexual violence by increasing hostile masculinity. Anxious maternal attachment was also predicted to indirectly increase sexual assault behavior through these same mediators. These hypotheses had mixed support. Hostility towards Women did not directly predict sexual violence; however, it had a strong association with Rape Myth Acceptance, which had a direct path to sexual assault. Physical sadism directly predicted the outcomes, and vicarious sadism and anxious maternal attachment predicted Hostility towards Women. Verbal sadism did not have significant paths in the model. This model accounted for 33% and 27% of sexual aggression and coercion, respectively. A cross-validation procedure was conducted to assure consistency and invariance of the path model.
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic determination of dicyclomine hydrochloride in tablet, capsule, and injection dosage forms.

A rapid and specific nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic method was developed for determining dicyclomine hydrochloride in tablet, capsule, and injection dosage forms. The method consists of an extraction step with chloroform, evaporation of the solvent, addition of maleic acid as an internal standard, dissolution of the mixture in deuterated chloroform-deuterated acetone (40 + 60), NMR spectral determination, and integration of the peaks of interest. The concentration of dicyclomine hydrochloride in the dosage form was calculated from the integral values for the peaks of the test compound and the internal standard. The average recovery value +/- the standard deviation (n = 5) of dicyclomine hydrochloride added to synthetic samples was 99.7 +/- 0.9% (coefficient of variation 0.9%). The assay values for various commercial tablets, capsules, and injectables analyzed by using the proposed method differed in all cases by less than 1% from those obtained by using the USP XX titrimetric method. There was no interference from stearate, an excipient found in tablets and capsules, or from chloral hydrate, a preservative found in injectables .
What the military taught me about practice management.

The author shares principles that she learned as a medical student and resident in the military health system -- principles that have contributed to the success of her civilian practice.
Abstract 1895: Metastasis-associated protein 1 drives prostate cancer progression and metastasis through regulation of onco-epimicroRNAs

Our recent studies in prostate-specific tumor suppressor Pten gene compromised transgenic mice, revealed a strategic role for Metastasis Associated protein 1 (MTA1), a component of the chromatin remodeling NuRD complex and a key regulator of metastasis, in the progression of prostate cancer. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (ChIP-Seq) analyses from the mouse prostate tissues showed MTA1 occupancy of several potential oncogenic miRNA target promoters including miR-22. Retrospective investigation of microRNA microarray experiments revealed downregulation of these candidate miRNAs in LNCaP cells silenced for MTA1 expression (shMTA1). Real time PCR evaluation of shMTA1 cell lines, LNCaP, DU145 and PC3M attested the microarray findings. Using miRNA-mRNA target prediction algorithms, miRanda, miRDB and Targetscan, E-cadherin (CDH1) was identified as a potential target with high context score for miR-22. Interestingly, E-cadherin, which has a pivotal role in preventing Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) of tumor cells was also identified as a MTA1 target gene by ChIP-Seq analysis. Further, qRT-PCR and western blot experiments validated that MTA1 levels had an inverse correlation with E-cadherin expression in these cell lines. Transient transfection of miR-22 mimics diminished E-cadherin levels while this expression was restored by miR-22 sponge inhibitors showing that miR-22 can control E-cadherin expression. Ongoing experiments aim to address the direct targeting of E-cadherin 3′UTR by miR-22 using Dual-Glo luciferase reporter assay and the functional consequences of miR-22 promoter regulation by MTA1 utilizing chromatin and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Our studies reveal a novel and previously unrecognized role for MTA1-mediated miR-22 regulation of E-cadherin. Citation Format: Swati Dhar, Nasir A. Butt, Avinash Kumar, Xu Zhang, Anait S. Levenson. Metastasis-associated protein 1 drives prostate cancer progression and metastasis through regulation of onco-epimicroRNAs. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1895.
Tailored Nanoparticle Codelivery of antimiR-21 and antimiR-10b Augments Glioblastoma Cell Kill by Temozolomide: Toward a "Personalized" Anti-microRNA Therapy.

Glioblastoma remains an aggressive brain malignancy with poor prognosis despite advances in multimodal therapy that include standard use of Temozolomide. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) and microRNA-10b (miR-10b) are oncomiRs overexpressed in glioblastoma, promoting many aspects of cancer biology. We hypothesized that PLGA nanoparticles carrying antisense miR-21 (antimiR-21) and antisense miR-10b (antimiR-10b) might beneficially knockdown endogenous miR-21 and miR-10b function and reprogram cells prior to Temozolomide treatment. PLGA nanoparticles were effective in intracellular delivery of encapsulated oligonucleotides. Concentrations of delivered antimiR-21 and antimiR-10b were optimized and specifically tailored to copy numbers of intracellular endogenous microRNAs. Coinhibition of miR-21 and miR-10b significantly reduced the number of viable cells (by 24%; p < 0.01) and increased (2.9-fold) cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase upon Temozolomide treatment in U87 MG cells. Cell-tailored nanoparticle-assisted concurrent...
Sleep Problems in Children With Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum

Abstract Background Very little is known about sleep habits in children with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC). The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate sleep problems in children with ACC and examine the association with quality of life. Methods We performed a cross-sectional, anonymous, internet-based survey offered to parents of children with ACC, aged five to 18 years. The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and pediatric quality of life (PedsQL) were used to assess sleep habits and quality of life, respectively. Associations between the total and all subdomains of CSHQ and PedsQL were tested. Results The final sample included 66 parents of children with ACC. Overall, 78% of the children had clinically significant sleep problems, using a cutoff score of 41 on the CSHQ. Compared with a prior national sample of typically developing children, children with ACC scored significantly higher overall and in all subdomains of the CSHQ. The overall CSHQ and PedsQL were moderately correlated ( r = −0.485, P r = −0.515, P r = −0.394, P r = −0.263, P r = −0.362, P Conclusions Sleep problems are common and associated with lower quality of life in children with ACC.
Novel dilute III–V-Ns : From physics to applications

Unlike the conventional III-V semiconducting alloys where a smaller lattice constant generally causes an increase in the band gap, a smaller covalent radius of N with a larger electronegativity causes a strong bowing parameter in dilute III–V-Ns. Consequently the addition of N in GaAs or InGaAs decreases the band gap (E g ) dramatically. This strong dependence of E g on the N content in III-As-N has provided opportunities to engineer many material properties suitable for the fiber-optical communications at 1.3 and 1.55 □m wavelengths as well as in designing high efficiency solar cells. The purpose of this talk is to address important issues required for understanding the physics and technology of novel dilute III–V-Ns- especially to comprehend the role of N in such materials. We will present the results of our comprehensive analyses of the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption and Raman scattering data on impurity modes in dilute ternary GaAs 1−x N x , [GaAs 1−x N x ] (x ≪ 0.03) and quaternary InGaAs(P)N alloys grown on GaAs [GaP] by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and solid source molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). For the low composition of N in GaAs 1−x N x [GaAs 1−x N x ] (i.e., x ≪ 0.015), we find that most of the N atoms occupy the As [P] sublattice NAs [N P ]. They prefer, however, moving out of their substitutional sites to more energetically favorable locations at higher x values. To comprehend the large width of the localized vibrational mode (LVM) observed in GaAs 1−x N x near 470 cm−1, we have studied the possibilities of Ga-isotopes (69Ga and 71Ga) and/or intrinsic defects participating with NAs in different configurations. Results for the N-local modes and its isotopic shifts are found in good agreement with the FTIR data. Although, the presence of isolated N- interstitial (N int ) in GaAs 1−x N x is quite unlikely at higher compositions (0.03 ≫ x ≫ 0.015), the formations of non-radiative complex microstructures involving N and/or intrinsic defects are energetically favorable. We discuss the role of such defects on the performance of electronic devices especially photo-detectors and long wavelength vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).
Love and (Polygamous) Marriage? A Liberal Case Against Polygamy

Opponents of same-sex marriage suggest that legalizing same-sex marriage will start a slide down a “slippery-slope” leading to the legalization of all kinds of salacious family arrangements including polygamy. In this paper, I argue that because previous attempts by liberal political theorists to combat such slippery-slope arguments have been unsuccessful, there are two options left open to political liberals. Either one could embrace polygamy as a logically consistent implication of extending civil liberties to same-sex couples or one could find a new strategy for blocking the slide down the slope. I take the second option arguing that we ought to devise a harm principle for domestic partnerships. Once this principle has been established, it becomes clear that the risk of exploitation for those potentially occupying the multiple side of the marriage is sufficient reason to reject polygamous marriage arrangements. I conclude that, contrary to appearances, holding both (a) same-sex marriage is permissible and (b) polygamous marriage is impermissible is at the same time consistent and consistently liberal.
A Clinical Approach to Tonsillitis, Tonsillar Hypertrophy, and Peritonsillar and Retropharyngeal Abscesses

1. Risa E. Bochner, MD* 2. Mona Gangar, MD*,† 3. Peter F. Belamarich, MD* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY 2. †Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY * Abbreviations: ALPS: : Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome ARF: : Acute rheumatic fever CMV: : Cytomegalovirus CT: : Computed tomography EBV: : Epstein-Barr virus GAS: : Group A Streptococcus HIV: : Human immunodeficiency virus NSAIDs: : Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs OSA: : Obstructive sleep apnea PFAPA: : Periodic fever, apthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis PSGN: : Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis PTA: : Peritonsillar abscess RADT: : Rapid antigen detection test SDB: : Sleep-disordered breathing T&A: : Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy Despite established guidelines for group A Streptococcus pharyngitis diagnosis and treatment, pediatricians are overtreating and mistreating sore throat in children. (1) This results in unnecessary antibiotic use and contributes to antimicrobial resistance, increased health care costs, and risk for adverse drug reactions. In addition, controversy exists among pediatricians regarding the indications for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, diagnostic evaluation, and management of tonsillitis/pharyngitis in pediatric patients. 2. Describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management of peritonsillar abscess in pediatric patients. 3. Describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management of retropharyngeal abscess in pediatric patients. 4. Describe the indications for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in pediatric patients and associated complications. ### Epidemiology Sore throat is a common complaint in children and adolescents. Most cases of pharyngitis are viral and self-limited. Group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis is the only commonly occurring infectious pharyngitis in which antimicrobial treatment is indicated. Treatment of GAS decreases the risk of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), suppurative complications and transmission of disease, and provides symptomatic relief. GAS pharyngitis accounts for 20%-30% of office visits for sore throats in children. (2) Infection typically occurs in school-age children and adolescents, and is uncommon in children younger than 3 years. GAS pharyngitis occurs most commonly in the winter and early spring months …
Simulated Effects of YY-Male Stocking and Manual Suppression for Eradicating Nonnative Brook Trout Populations

AbstractEradication of nonnative Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis populations is difficult to achieve with standard techniques, such as electrofishing removal or piscicides; new approaches are needed. A novel concept is to stock “supermale” hatchery fish with wild conspecifics. Supermales (MYY) have two Y-chromosomes, resulting in offspring that are all males; over time, successful supermale reproduction could eradicate the wild population. We constructed an age-structured stochastic model to investigate the effects of manually suppressing wild fish and stocking MYY fingerlings on the long-term viability of hypothetical nonnative Brook Trout populations. In streams, an annual stocking rate of supermales equivalent to 50% of wild age-0 Brook Trout density combined with an annual selective suppression rate equivalent to 50% of wild Brook Trout density resulted in a time to extirpation of only 2–4 years if supermale fitness was equivalent to wild male fitness. However, time to extirpation in streams was 5–1...
Today's Urban Black Male: The Importance of Finding The Right College to Realize Maximum Success.

When it comes to higher education, finding the right school is only one obstacle in the lives of most African-American males. Studies show that even out of the number of enrolled African-American m...
Meta-analysis: Risk of dry mouth with second generation antidepressants.

Abstract Objective The goal of this meta-analysis was to quantify the risk of dry mouth associated with commonly prescribed antidepressant agents and examine the potential implications of medication class, dose, and pharmacodynamics and dose on risk of treatment-induced dry mouth. Data sources and study selection A PubMed search was conducted to identify double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials examining the efficacy and tolerability of second generation antidepressant medications for adults with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and OCD. Data extraction A random-effects meta-analysis was used to quantify the pooled risk ratio of treatment-emergent dry mouth with second generation antidepressants compared to placebo. Stratified subgroup analysis and meta-regression was utilized to further examine the effects antidepressant agent, class, dosage, indication, and receptor affinity profile on the measured risk of dry mouth. Results 99 trials involving 20,868 adults. SNRIs (Relative Risk (RR) = 2.24, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.95–2.58, z = 11.2, p Conclusions The current meta-analysis suggests that SSRIs, SNRIs, and atypical antidepressants are all associated with varying degrees of increased risk of dry mouth. SNRIs were associated with a significantly greater risk of dry mouth compared to SSRIs.
The Evolution of Plant Gene and Genome Sequencing

Abstract The technology underlying genome sequencing has been rapidly improving since the beginning of the human genome project two decades ago. These sequencing improvements have been applied to plant genomes and are revolutionizing plant biology research as well as molecular breeding applications. The early period of plant gene sequencing will be briefly reviewed and followed by the first plant genomes to be completed, Arabidopsis and rice. A summary of recently sequenced plant genomes is presented along with the trends in technology as well as collaborations leading to these completed genomes or transcriptomes. The plummeting costs of genome sequencing promise to create new discovery research opportunities and novel approaches to improve crop productivity while maintaining biodiversity in a changing world.
Mechanisms of Action of Deep Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has recently emerged as a potential treatment for medically intractable psychiatric disease. Pilot clinical studies have been performed with DBS of the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) white matter and ventral anterior internal capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS) for the treatment of depression and obsessive–compulsive disorder with encouraging results. However, little is known about the underlying neural response and network activity generated when DBS is applied to these targets. This chapter summarizes the current understanding of the axonal response to DBS, and discusses the general network architectures believed to underlie psychiatric disease. We use diffusion tensor imaging tractography to better understand axonal trajectories surrounding DBS electrodes implanted in the SCC and VC/VS. Finally, we attempt to reconcile various data sets by presenting generalized hypotheses on potential therapeutic mechanisms of DBS for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
The model squid–vibrio symbiosis provides a window into the impact of strain- and species-level differences during the initial stages of symbiont engagement

Among horizontally acquired symbioses, the mechanisms underlying microbial strain- and species-level specificity remain poorly understood. Here, confocal-microscopy analyses and genetic manipulation of the squid-vibrio association revealed quantitative differences in a symbiont's capacity to interact with the host during initial engagement. Specifically, dominant strains of Vibrio fischeri, 'D-type', previously named for their dominant, single-strain colonization of the squid's bioluminescent organ, were compared with 'S-type', or 'sharing', strains, which can co-colonize the organ. These D-type strains typically: (i) formed aggregations of 100s-1000s of cells on the light-organ surface, up to 3 orders of magnitude larger than those of S-type strains; (ii) showed dominance in co-aggregation experiments, independent of inoculum size or strain proportion; (iii) perturbed larger areas of the organ's ciliated surface; and, (iv) appeared at the pore of the organ approximately 4×s more quickly than S-type strains. At least in part, genes responsible for biofilm synthesis control the hyperaggregation phenotype of a D-type strain. Other marine vibrios produced relatively small aggregations, while an array of marine Gram-positive and -negative species outside of the Vibrionaceae did not attach to the organ's surface. These studies provide insight into the impact of strain variation on early events leading to establishment of an environmentally acquired symbiosis.
Exploring Connections Between a Multiple Model Kalman Filter and Dynamic Fixed Share with Applications to Demand Response

Kalman filtering and online learning are two approaches to estimate the state of a system in the presence of inaccurate (e.g., noisy) measurements. While many online learning algorithms are model-free and data-driven, two recently developed online learning algorithms, Dynamic Mirror Descent (DMD) and Dynamic Fixed Share (DFS), incorporate dynamic models, similarly to Kalman filtering algorithms. Our previous work showed that DMD can be constructed to produce state estimates that are identical to those produced by a discrete-time Kalman filter. This work extends our previous work by exploring connections between a multiple model Kalman filter (MMKF) and DFS, which both incorporate a set of candidate models to address situations in which the underlying model is unknown. We show that the functions/parameters used within DFS can be constructed to produce the same estimates as a MMKF. We then modify DFS to include several heuristics that are used to improve the performance of a MMKF in order to assess whether they can also be used to improve the performance of DFS. Finally, we investigate the performance of the algorithms and their variations in a simulation study. Specifically, we seek to estimate the time-varying power consumption of an aggregation of electric loads, which could be used as the feedback signal within a demand response algorithm. The simulation results empirically show that DFS implementations generally perform better than comparable MMKF implementations since we are able to tune the functions/parameters used within DFS.
High Performance Cluster Monitoring System

System monitoring is an important basis for system modelling and improvement. For achieving higher efficiency in performance and lower energy consumption in cluster systems, we design a monitoring system that tracks the performance and temperature of clusters for education and research purposes. The total energy consumption of clusters can be estimated by using the performance and temperature data. Specifically, in our proposed system, all real-time data (including temperature and activities of components of computing nodes) is collected and stored in Round-Robin Databases (RRDs). These data can be visualized or downloaded through a friendly user interface for further analysis. Moreover, our system also provides users with a powerful runtime comparison feature, which allows users to compare the performance of a running experiment with historical experimental results without waiting for the completion of experiments. The data visualization and user interfaces in the monitoring system are demonstrated by using an experiment on our cluster system.
Approach to Defect-Free Lifetime and High Electron Density in CdTe

Achieving simultaneously high carrier density and lifetime is important for II–VI semiconductor-based applications such as photovoltaics and infrared detectors; however, it is a challenging task. In this work, high purity CdTe single crystals doped with indium (In) were grown by vertical Bridgman melt growth under carefully controlled stoichiometry. Two-photon excitation time-resolved photoluminescence was employed to measure bulk recombination lifetime by eliminating surface recombination effects. By adjusting stoichiometry with post growth annealing, high-net free carrier density approaching 1018 cm−3 was achieved simultaneously with lifetime approaching the radiative limit by suppressing non-radiative recombination centers.
Entrainment and Mixing in Stratocumulus: Effects of a New Explicit Subgrid-Scale Scheme for Large-Eddy Simulations with Particle-Based Microphysics

AbstractThe entrainment and mixing of free-tropospheric air is an essential component of the observed microphysical structure of stratocumulus clouds. Since the relevant scales involved in this pro...
Optimization of a transmit/receive surface coil for squirrel monkey spinal cord imaging.

Abstract MR Imaging the spinal cord of non-human primates (NHP), such as squirrel monkey, is important since the injuries in NHP resemble those that afflict human spinal cords. Our previous studies have reported a multi-parametric MRI protocol, including functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, quantitative magnetization transfer and chemical exchange saturation transfer, which allows non-invasive detection and monitoring of injury-associated structural, functional and molecular changes over time. High signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is critical for obtaining high-resolution images and robust estimates of MRI parameters. In this work, we describe our construction and use of a single channel coil designed to maximize the SNR for imaging the squirrel monkey cervical spinal cord in a 21 cm bore magnet at 9.4 T. We first numerically optimized the coil dimension of a single loop coil and then evaluated the benefits of a quadrature design. We then built an optimized coil based on the simulation results and compared its SNR performance with a non-optimized single coil in both phantoms and in vivo.
Fundamental Studies of Interfaces: The Unified Defect Model and Its Application to GaAs Integrated Circuits

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the new results of atomic scale studies on metal and native oxide III–V semiconductor interfaces. It is suggested that surfaces and interfaces have a critical impact on very large scale integration electronics. In fact, the processing, operation, and failure of many electronic and electro-optic devices depend critically upon surface and interface effects. The chapter focuses on one significant development in a continuing and far reaching investigation of semiconductor surfaces and interfaces—the unified defect model for Schottky barrier and oxide interface states on the III–V semiconductors. This model has widespread implications of relevance to the fabrication and operation of III–V devices and integrated circuits. The semiconductor materials and device communities are just beginning to appreciate the importance of these issues. The surface and interface community is attacking these problems with increased vigor. If this process is carried out well, it can contribute strongly to the optimization of III–V semiconductor technology.
Sexual dimorphism of body size in taxidermy specimens of Equus quagga quagga Boddaert (Equidae)

Mare taxidermy specimens of quaggas (Equus quagga quagga, an extinct subspecies of the plains zebra that was endemic to South Africa) are significantly longer and marginally taller than stallions –...
Commentary on Holst et al. (2020): Genetically informative research can clarify mechanisms linking non‐intact family structure and alcohol use disorder

Genetically informative designs can illuminate the possible ‘outside-the-skin’ environmental exposures through which genetic risk for alcohol use disorder is transmitted in families.
The Bloom Clock to Characterize Causality in Distributed Systems

Determining the causality between events in distributed executions is a fundamental problem. Vector clocks solve this problem but do not scale well. The probabilistic Bloom filter data structure can be used as a Bloom clock to determine causality between events with lower space overhead than vector clock; however, the Bloom filter and hence the Bloom clock naturally suffer from false positives. We give a formal protocol of the Bloom clock based on Counting Bloom filters and study its properties. We formulate the probabilities of a positive outcome, a positive being false, and a false positive for Bloom clocks as a function of the corresponding vector clocks, as well as their estimates as a function of the Bloom clocks. We also indicate how to estimate the accuracy, precision, and false positive rate of an execution slice that is identified by the Bloom timestamps of two events.
Addressing infant mortality through positive youth development opportunities for adolescent girls

Adolescent girls experience risks prior to pregnancy and giving birth that influence their overall health, and development, as well as community rates of infant mortality. Supporting adolescent girls through positive youth development (PYD) opportunities offers a potential long-term strategy to preventing infant mortality and improving maternal health outcomes. The current study sought to assess state-wide needs, resources and opportunities related to PYD supports for adolescent girls, especially among those most at risk for early pregnancy. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis guided nine community forums in counties with the highest rates of infant mortality in one large Midwestern state. In total, 368 stakeholders attended the forums and provided insights related to the context of PYD for adolescent girls. Researchers also conducted three focus group with 19 parents/guardians and three focus groups with 25 adolescent girls aged 11-14 to validate the findings from the SWOT analysis. Content analysis was utilised to synthesise the qualitative results. Strengths and opportunities related to PYD for adolescent girls included access to afterschool programming and access to health and mental health services. Weaknesses brought awareness to more systemic problems as all nine counties reported a lack of communication and coordination among youth programs and a need for greater collaboration among youth agencies. Threats included challenges associated with technology and social media, unsafe neighbourhood conditions, and issues of racism, sexism, poverty and discrimination. Findings support the need for a continued focus and priority on improving access, services and supports for adolescent girls to prevent infant mortality and improve their health and well-being. Local, state and national leaders can use the results of this study to promote additional strategies for addressing infant mortality through PYD for adolescent girls.
The Year in Review: Economics at the Antitrust Division, 2005–2006

This paper covers the activities of the Economic Analysis Group (EAG) of the Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, during 2005–2006. It describes the economic analysis undertaken by EAG in several important investigations, appellate matters, and other activities as an advocate for competition.
Shallow Donors in Transmutation-Doped GaAs in High Magnetic Field

Germanium and selenium donors have been created in n-GaAs by neutron capture. Line shapes and positions of shallow hydrogenic 1s to 2p (m= −1) donor transitions are studied by Fourier transform spectroscopy and are identified.
A Sequential Decomposition Approach and Integrating the Concepts for Super-Networks in the Activity-Based Models

In this paper, a sequential decomposition method to model the travel behavior of individuals in a mixed transportation network (transit and roads) is proposed. A mixed binary model is developed assuming the mode choice of the individuals depend on the accessibility level for different modes and parking fees of the vehicles at different locations, where the parking fees vary depending on the demand level and time of day. The efficiency of the proposed model is tested using simulated data. It is shown that by slicing the activity patterns and parallelizing some segments of the algorithm, the computation time increases linearly as the population size increases.
Towards best practice in cancer mutation detection with whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing

Abstract Clinical applications of precision oncology require accurate tests that can distinguish cancer-specific mutations from errors introduced at each step of next generation sequencing (NGS). For NGS to successfully improve patient lives, discriminating between true mutations and artifacts is crucial. To date, no study has addressed the effects of cross site reproducibility together with the potentially influential interactions between biological, technical, and computational factors on the accurate identification of variants. Here we systematically interrogated somatic mutations in paired tumor-normal cell lines to identify factors affecting detection reproducibility and accuracy. Different types of samples with varying input amount and tumor purity were processed using multiple library construction protocols. Whole-genome (WGS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) were carried out at six sequencing centers followed by processing with nine bioinformatics pipelines to evaluate reproducibility. We identified artifacts of C>A mutations in WES due to sample and library processing and highlighted limitations of bioinformatics tools for artifact detection and removal. By examining the interactions and effects of NGS platforms, library preparation protocol, tumor content, read coverage, and bioinformatics processes concomitantly, here we recommend actionable practices for cancer mutation detection experiments and analysis using NGS technologies.
Comparing Thread Migration, Mobile Agents, and ABM Simulators in Distributed Data Analysis

Many scientific datasets are generated in a given data structure (e.g., a graph) and are reused for various analyses. From this viewpoint, instead of streaming these datasets into conventional big-data tools such as MapReduce or Spark, we should maintain their data structures over distributed memory and repeat deploying mobile computing units to the datasets. Since thread migration, mobile agents, and parallel ABM (agent-based modeling) simulators enable migration of execution entities, this paper looks at four Java-based representative systems: JCilk, IBM Aglets, Repast Simphony, and the MASS library. Our analysis of their programmability and parallel performance demonstrates that MASS can competitively perform distributed data analysis in an emergent collective group behavior among reactive agents.
Feeding the Habit? Relationships Between Longitudinal Patterns of Drug Dealing and Drug use Trajectories During Adolescence Among Juvenile Offenders

Drug dealers may be at increased risk for drug use. However, there is a dearth of research focused on how these relationships develop across time. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was used to...
Chapter 3 Associated Solution Model for Ga-In-Sb and Hg-Cd-Te

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a large part of the experimental phase diagram and thermodynamic data for the Ga–In–Sb and Hg–Cd–Te systems, along with calculated values for these data obtained from a simultaneous, quantitatively good, and thermodynamically self-consistent fit to the experimental data. There are three aspects of the chapter. (1) Reliable phase diagram and thermodynamic data are considered simultaneously. (2) The congruent melting of binary compounds introduces pinning points for any proposed liquid model. For instance, at the 1092°C melting point of CdTe(s), the enthalpy of the mixing of the 50 at.% liquid must equal the sum of the enthaIpy of the formation of CdTe(s) from its pure liquid elements and the enthalpy of fusion. (3) The basic liquidus equations used are not equivalent to the commonly used simplification of the equation in which the constant pressure heat capacity of CdTe(s) and of CdTe(l) would be assumed to be equal. Such an assumption introduces an error into the calculation of liquidus temperatures that can be significant.
Endoplasmic reticulum chaperone gp96 is required for innate immunity but not cell viability

Chaperone proteins are thought to promote the correct folding and assembly of newly synthesized proteins and to facilitate restoration of the folded state under environmental conditions that favour protein denaturation. They are among the most ubiquitous and highly conserved of all proteins. The eukaryotic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone gp96 in particular has long been thought to be indispensable for cell survival. Here we report that a screen for genes required for the immune response to bacterial endotoxins has identified a B-cell line deficient in gp96. Absence of gp96 is compatible with cellular survival even under stress conditions and causes a defect in the formation of only a small subset of cell surface receptors. Toll-like receptors are retained intracellularly in the absence of gp96, explaining the unresponsiveness of the mutant to microbial stimuli.
From the editor: voluntary page charges

The author supposes that there is no question but that our journal, the G-AP Transactions, is the Group's most important reason for being. As you should know also, it has become impossible for an IEEE Group to publish an appreciable number of pages per year without receiving a significant part of their income from payments for page charges. A good reminder for those who might,forget or ignore these facts is printed on the inside back cover of each issue of the G-AP Transactions under the title given above. The message is of such importance that I am repeating it here for those who do not read that far into our journal.
Youth, Popular Culture, and Identity: American Influences on South Africa and Lesotho

Beginning in the early twentieth century and continuing through today, American culture in general, and more specifically African-American culture and identity, has played a significant role in the construction of identity, popular culture, and the struggle for equality in southern Africa. Of particular interest is how American culture (particularly the African-American component), mediated through South Africa, has impacted the political and cultural identity of Basotho youth in the 1990s. Basotho and South African youth identify with aspects of American culture that provide them with new meanings, which help negotiate their landscape. As an enclave in South Africa, Lesotho not only illustrates the impact of aspects of American culture on South Africa, but in this case has also contributed to a decreasing national identity that is being replaced by an increased identification with South Africa.
A comparison between python and Tcl solution on four programs assigned in CS0

This paper takes four programs that were assigned to students in a bread-first computer science course and compares the solutions when written in Tcl/Tk and Python. It then concludes with a discussion of which programming language is better in a CSO course.
cAMP and protein kinase A modulate cholinergic rapid eye movement sleep generation

Cholinergic neurotransmission in the medial pontine reticular formation (mPRF) modulates rapid eye movement (REM) sleep generation. Microinjection of cholinergic agonists and acetylcholinesterase i...
In Vitro Phagocytosis and Intracellular Fate of Variously Encapsulated Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans

Five isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans type A with stable capsular thicknesses were used. Three of the isolates had capsules of medium size, one had a minimal capsule, and the other, a large capsule. Peritoneal exudate cells from Lewis rats were cultured on cover slips in Leighton tubes containing medium 199 and 20% fresh, isologous normal rat serum. Yeast cells were added to the Leighton tube cultures, and, 2 hr later, the extracellular yeasts were rinsed out. Cover slips were removed from some tubes for Wright staining and measurement of both phagocytosis and loss of macrophages. The remaining tubes were reincubated and sampled at 24 or 48 hr. To determine fate of yeast cells after ingestion, washed cover slips were inverted onto agar slide cultures, and specific macrophages were observed in situ for subsequent multiplication of their intracellular yeasts. More than half of the macrophages survived 24 to 48 hr of exposure to different strains of C. neoformans, with small, medium, or large capsules. Phagocytic activity was dependent upon a heat-labile factor in normal rat serum. The number of yeast ingested by macrophages was inversely proportional to the capsular size. Although most of the ingested yeasts were resistant to intracellular killing, the agar culture technique clearly demonstrated that many were unable to multiply, presumably dead. Three of the isolates were more susceptible than the other two, and the fate of these yeasts after engulfment was not correlated with their capsular size.
Imaging file management to support international telepathology.

Background: Telepathology practice across international borders has become increasingly popular. Our telepathology consultation service with a laboratory in China was hampered by latency issues when viewing whole slide images. Objective: The aim was to explore data transfer solutions to improve the viewing experience of digital consult cases. Methods: Whole slide image files residing on a server in China were transferred to our data center in the USA using an open source product (Fast Data Transfer). A faster more automated commercial high speed file transfer software solution (Aspera) was also tested. Results: Transferring files with the open source product provided transfer speeds of 2-3 Mbps, but suffered from intermittent dropped connections. Employing commercial software permitted more reliable transmission of digital files with 75-100 Mbps transfer speeds. Conclusions: Successful global telepathology requires dedicated image management. Transfer of files to local servers by employing high speed data transfer tools helped overcome network latency issues, improved the overall turn-around time of digital consultations, and enhanced the viewing experience for end-user digital consultants.