cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Least squared error FIR filter design with transition bands

The authors propose the use of transition bands and transition functions in the ideal amplitude frequency response to allow the analytical design of optimal least-squared-error FIR digital filters with an explicit control of the transition band edges. Design formulas are derived for approximations to ideal frequency responses which use pth-order spline transition functions. A mixed analytical and numerical method for zero-error weight in the transition bands and passband and stopband error weighting functions with an integral squared error approximation are derived. A variable-order spline transition function is developed, and a method for choosing the optimal order to minimize the integral squared approximation error is given. >
High-Frequency Scattering From Radially Uniaxial Dielectric Sphere

High-frequency backscattering caused by a large uniaxial dielectric sphere is presented in this letter. The term high frequency implies ${Ka} \gg 1$ where $K$ and $a$ are the propagation constant and radius of the sphere, respectively. Using a modified Watson transformation, the slowly convergent generalized Mie series summation for a uniaxial dielectric sphere is transformed into a rapidly convergent contour integral. The generalized Debye series of the uniaxial dielectric spheres is introduced, and the Mie series coefficients are replaced by their equivalent Debye series formulations. An expression for the high-frequency backscattered field is proposed, and the monostatic radar cross section (RCS) of a large uniaxial dielectric sphere is calculated.
Flame‐retardation studies of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabrics treated with tris dibromo alkyl phosphates

The flammability characteristics of tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (TRIS-BP), a known carcinogen, has been compared with other tris dibromo alkyl phosphates which show reduced mutagenic responses in experimental studies. The effectiveness of these alternative chemicals in releasing hydrogen bromide (HBr), a recognized combustion inhibitor, has been measured and the results compared with flammability evaluation of polyester fabrics treated with these chemicals. Results indicate that tris(2,3-dibromo-3,3-dimethyl propyl) phosphate, while having reduced mutagenicity and nephrotoxicity in comparison to TRIS-BP, exhibits excellent flame-retardant characteristics when applied to polyester fabrics. Meanwhile, other chemicals studied show comparable flame retardation to TRIS-BP, but with substantial reduced mutagenicity.
Gas-source molecular beam epitaxy of monocrystalline β-SiC on vicinal α (6H)-SiC

Single-crystal epitaxial films of cubic β(3C)–SiC(111) have been deposited on hexagonal α(6H)–SiC(0001) substrates oriented 3–4° toward [1120] at 1050–1250 °C via gas-source molecular beam epitaxy using disilane (Si2H6) and ethylene (C2H4). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that the nucleation and growth of the β(3C)–SiC regions occurred primarily on terraces between closely spaced steps because of reduced rates of surface migration at the low growth temperatures. Double positioning boundaries were observed at the intersections of these regions.
Design and analysis of reconfigurable antennas for WiMAX applications

In this paper, the design of a pattern reconfigurable antenna for applications that operate in the WiMAX frequency band between 2.5 - 2.7 GHz is presented. The proposed antenna system consists of an array of two reconfigurable microstrip dipoles, whose active elements can be reconfigured in length using PIN diode switches. The setting of the different switches results in different geometries of the antenna and, consequently, different levels of inter-element mutual coupling and array far-field radiation patterns. The characteristics of the antenna parameters and patterns is analyzed. And, through experimental field testing, the performance of the proposed antenna array is evaluated based on the received Carrier to Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (CINR) as a metric.
Sheep and Pigs as Animal Models of Bacteremia

Bacteremia in pigs and sheep are discussed together because both pigs and sheep, as well as goats, cows and cats, have prominent pulmonary intravascular macrophages. These animal species develop acute respiratory failure following an initial exposure to bacteria or endotoxin (Dehring and Wismar 1989 a). It is not known if prominent pulmonary intravascular macrophages and developing pulmonary dysfunction with sepsis is a coincidental or a causative relationship. Only a few studies have examined whether potential mediators of septic dysfunction are released from pulmonary intravascular macrophages.
The Role of China in Requirements Research

China was the first country to create gunpowder, the seismograph, the magnetic compass, steel, paper, and the suspension bridge. Yet in the twentieth century, China seemed to take a back seat to the West regarding the invention and exploitations of information technology (IT). This paper shows how China’s role in one area within IT, namely requirements engineering (RE), is dramatically increasing in the past 15 years, and in fact, China has become one of the world’s leaders in this area of research. This paper carefully examines the demographics of the entire corpus of RE publications and shows the roles played by authors from China. It discovers that although the demographics of RE research in Asia are very similar to the rest of the world, wide differences exist between individual Asian nations. Specifically, China’s rate of growth in RE publication production far exceeds any other Asian country.
The evolution of complex hunter-gatherers

When Russians made contact with the natives of Kodiak (Kodiak Alutiiq or Koniag)1 in the second half of the 18th century, they encountered one of the most densely populated and militarily impenetrable societies in the North Pacific (Burch, 1988b). For two decades, unsuccessful trading ventures and military resistance forced Russian fur traders to bypass the Kodiak Archipelago in search of more profitable interactions elsewhere (Black, 1988). Kodiak’s Alutiiq and their neighbors, the Eastern Aleutian (Fox) islanders as well as several Northwest Coast “tribes,” such as the Tlingit, shared characteristics such as intertribal warfare, prestige economies including long distance trade in prestige valuables, institutionalized social inequality (social ranking), and slavery. Like these other neighboring groups, Kodiak’s inhabitants subsisted on a mix of fish, sea mammals, shellfish, birds, and plant products. In the traditional terminology of anthropologists, they were hunter-gatherers, but not typical of hunter-gatherers as they have been best known to ethnographers of the 20th century. These were relatively complex hunter-gatherers.
Affective TouchCasting

The sense of touch is not only informative: certain kinds of touch are directly related to emotions. Haptics can enrich the experience of broadcast media through tactile stimulus that is mapped to emotional response and distributed over the body. This sketch applies affective touch research to haptic broadcast in a wearable device that can record, distribute and play back touch information. TouchCasting augments broadcast media with affective haptics that can be experienced in public as a new form of art.
Abstract 5391: MUC1 and HIF-1α signaling interactions modulate glucose flux in pancreatic cancer.

MUC1, a type-I transmembrane protein, is significantly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. High expression of MUC1 in pancreatic cancer correlates with poor prognosis. Pancreatic tumors demonstrate significant hypoxia, which causes stabilization of HIF-1α, a key modulator of glycolytic gene expression. Recently, we observed that MUC1 occupies multiple HIF-1α–regulated glycolytic gene promoters. By performing in vitro and in vivo studies we observed that MUC1 overexpression causes up-regulation of glucose uptake, lactate release and expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Based on these data we hypothesized that MUC1 regulates the stabilization/activity of HIF-1α to facilitate the glycolytic phenotype in pancreatic cancer. To investigate the regulation of HIF-1α by MUC1, we performed lentiviral shRNA-mediated knock down of HIF-1α in MUC1-overexpressing S2-013 and Capan1 pancreatic cancer cells and assayed for glucose uptake, lactate release and glycolytic gene expression. We observed that knocking down HIF-1α abrogated the MUC1-induced up-regulation of glucose metabolism. To investigate if MUC1 physically interacts with HIF-1α, we performed co-immunoprecipitation assays by utilizing a mAb against the cytoplasmic tail of MUC1. Our results indicated significant interaction between MUC1 and HIF-1α. Additionally, by performing chromatin immunoprecipitation we observed that MUC1 co-occupies the promoter regions of ENO1 and PGM2 glycolytic genes along with HIF-1α. MUC1 also increased HIF-1α activity by facilitating P300 recruitment and resultantly enhancing histone3 lysine9 acetylation on the MUC1-occupied promoters. By performing 1H-13C HSQC NMR experiments on the methanol extracts from MUC1-overexpressing or control S2-013 cells cultured with 13C-glucose, we observed an increased glycolytic flux and faster glucose turnover in pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, MUC1 overexpression caused a reduction in the levels of 2-oxoglutarate, a substrate for prolyl hydroxylases that regulate HIF stability. Thus, MUC1-mediated reduction in 2-oxoglutarate levels indirectly stabilizes HIF-1α by reducing the activity of prolyl hydroxylases. Overall, our results demonstrate that MUC1 serves as a novel metabolic regulator in pancreatic cancer that facilitates glycolytic flux by increasing HIF-1α stability and activity. Citation Format: Vinee Purohit, Nina V. Chaika, Teklab Gebregiworgis, Prakash Radhakrishnan, Bo Zhang, Kamiya Mehla, Fang Yu, Keith R. Johnson, Robert Powers, Michael A. Hollingsworth, Pankaj K. Singh. MUC1 and HIF-1α signaling interactions modulate glucose flux in pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5391. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5391
Ambipolar and Unipolar PbSe Nanowire Field-Effect Transistors

Wet-chemical methods, under rigorous air-free conditions, were used to synthesize single-crystalline 10 nm diameter PbSe nanowires (NWs), and electric-field, directed assembly was employed to align NW arrays to form the semiconducting channels of field-effect transistors (FETs). Electrical measurements revealed as-aligned NWs in bottom, gold, contact FETs are predominantly p-type ambipolar, consistent with the presentation of small barriers to electron and hole injection for this low band gap semiconductor. Exposing the NW FET to UV-ozone p-doped the NWs, illustrating the sensitivity of PbSe to oxygen, but controlled oxidation allowed the fabrication of unipolar p-type FETs. Selectively exposing the contact region of as-aligned NW FETs to low to moderate concentrations of hydrazine, commonly used to n-dope nanocrystal and NW devices, switched the predominantly p- to n-type ambipolar behavior as if the entire NW channel was exposed. At these hydrazine concentrations, charge transfer doping the metal-semiconductor interface dominates the FET characteristics. Only upon exposing the NW FETs to high hydrazine concentrations did charge transfer doping of the NW channel overcome the large intrinsic, thermally generated carrier concentration of this low band gap material, modulating the NW carrier concentration and forming unipolar n-type FETs. Pulling low vacuum removed surface hydrazine returning the predominantly p-type ambipolar FET behavior. Doping and dedoping with hydrazine were repeatedly reversible. By applying surface modification to n- and p-dope PbSe NW FETs, we fabricated the first PbSe NW inverters, demonstrating the promise of these nanostructured materials in integrated circuits.
On HBsAg detection among hospitalized puerperants and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccination for the neonatals in Qingdao city in 2012

Objective To know the situation of HBsAg detection among hospitalized puerperants and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccination for their babies in Qingdao city,so as to provide a basis for the improvement of hepatitis B vaccination for the newborns.Methods Data reported from hospitals of all levels were analyzed and summarized on HBsAg detection among puerperants(n=98 006) and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccination for the newborns(n=98 006) from January to April in 2013.Count data were processed with χ2test,and the result of P0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results A total of 98 006 puerperants were reported by the hospitals and the HBsAg detection rate was 98.20% in Qingdao city in 2012.The positive rate in the puerperants detected for HBsAg was 4.17%.A total of 98 006 newborns were reported and their first dose of hepatitis B vaccination coverage was 98.83%,timely first dose of hepatitis B vaccination coverage was 96.43%.The timely first dose of hepatitis B vaccination coverage was 95.23% in the urban and 97.60% in the rural,the difference was statistically significant(χ2=400.682,P0.05).The main causes for delayed vaccination were illness(54.70%),premature births and difficult labour(20.39%),low birth weight(17.29%),fever(2.92%) and death(1.04%).Conclusion The rate of HBsAg detection among hospitalized puerperants and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccination coverage for the newborns are at a relatively high level in Qingdao city in 2012.However,the rate of timely first dose of hepatitis B vaccination is lower in the urban than in the rural.
Perforation of the ileum in steroid-treated systemic lupus erythematosus

Two patients are reported with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed ileal perforation while on therapy with adrenal cortical steroids.
The Ecology of the Soil Biota and their Function

Microbial communities are fundamental cornerstones of terrestrial ecological systems. As such, microbial and soil ecologists are working to understand the mechanisms that determine species distribution and consequential impacts on the environment. In this chapter, we focus on the ecology of soil biota, particularly on the processes that drive community structure (number and types of species) examining specifically the environmental limitations to growth and the biotic interactions that influence species coexistence and ultimately determine diversity. We then discuss the impacts of community structure on their function in ecosystems. We explore how microbial community structure influences energy transformations and nutrient turnover and how these interactions result in ecosystems with unique emergent properties. The discussion of ecological principles is accompanied by examples from the literature on soil and microbial ecology. Ultimately, the chapter explains why the integrative approach provided by the field of ecology is necessary for understanding the complexity of soil systems.
Return to Play in Adolescent Athletes With Symptomatic Spondylolysis Without Listhesis: A Meta-Analysis:

Study Design:Meta-analysis.Objectives:To assess return to play (RTP) rates in adolescent athletes with lumbar spondylolysis without spondylolisthesis treated conservatively or operatively.Methods:A...
The stability of Mg-rich garnet in the system CaO-MgO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 at 1000-1300 degrees C and high pressure

Buffering assemblages are stable in separate divariant P-T fields, separated by three univariant reactions: garnet + quartz orthopyroxene + anorthite + sillimanite; garnet + quartz + clinopyroxene orthopyroxene + anorthite; clinopyroxene + sillimanite garnet + quartz + anorthite. The sequence of mineral assemblages is consistent with natural parageneses.--Modified journal abstract.
Holistic Development of Underrepresented Students through Academic: Industry Partnerships

Underrepresented students and the institutions that serve these students need to recognize and address the unique challenges that impact their career pathways and successes. This special session will discuss challenges facing Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and how industry-academia partnerships can be a force in mitigating some of these challenges. We will explore how we as a community can work together to develop holistic programs to support student development and excellence. We will highlight the shortcomings, strengths and future of the Googler In Residence (GIR) program from the perspective of select participating colleges, as well as other successful initiatives in motion. It is also essential that promising interventions be shared and scaled across institutions that play an essential role in educating and preparing these students. We are still learning as we go, but this is an opportune time to come together as a community to share our challenges and solutions, to determine how we can move together and how we can all be involved as change advocates. It is meant to be interactive, create shared knowledge and help identify ways of moving forward serving MSIs.
Utility of wealth with many indivisibilities

Abstract We introduce a class of utility of wealth functions, called knapsack utility functions, which are appropriate for agents who must choose an optimal collection of indivisible goods subject to a spending constraint. We investigate the concavity/convexity and regularity properties of these functions. We find that convexity–and thus a demand for gambling–is the norm, but that the incentive to gamble is more pronounced at low wealth levels. We consider an intertemporal version of the problem in which the agent faces a credit constraint. We find that the agent’s utility of wealth function closely resembles a knapsack utility function when the agent’s saving rate is low.
Invisible harms, invisible profits: a theory of the incentive to contaminate

ABSTRACTBuilding on ethnographic research conducted in the Ecuadorian Amazon, this paper seeks to reframe the industrial contamination problem. From critiques of neoliberalism to Marxist-oriented environment theories, industrial contamination is understood as a secondary effect of a larger problem of the capitalist system. There are at least four, often overlapping, ways of understanding the pervasiveness of the problem, via: (1) cost-benefit analyses, which determine it to be cheaper to remediate environmental damages than prevent them; (2) weak regulation, which shapes those cost-benefit analyses; (3) the externalisation of certain costs onto third (usually marginalised) parties; and (4) contradictions inherent to capital accumulation which promote the destruction of the very environmental conditions that capital depends on. Curiously, even where contamination is conceptualised as an inherent and necessary feature of capitalism, it appears as collateral damage, as the ‘unintentional by-product’ of somet...
Tuning Optimization of Ring Resonator Delays for Integrated Optical Beam Forming Networks

Comprehensive tuning optimization of an integrated optical ring resonator (ORR) based $1\times 4$ optical beam forming network (OBFN) for W-band millimeter wave (mmW) phased arrays is reported. The OBFN chip is implemented using a ultralow loss silicon nitride technology and a two stage binary tree topology. The delay responses of a single- and multiORR delay line were carefully measured, and the results agree well with a lossless theoretical model. Tuning of an ORR was calibrated and verification experiments were performed to verify the tuning accuracy. A flattened delay response for a 3-ORR delay line was achieved, demonstrating a bandwidth of $6\ \text{GHz}$ and dynamic tuning range of $209\ \text{ps}$ , which corresponds to a phase shift of $33.4\pi$ for an 80- $\text{GHz}$ signal. A larger bandwidth can be achieved by reducing the dynamic tuning range. The result is promising for high data rate mmW communications with beamforming.
Seasonality in the adverse outcomes in weight loss surgeries

Abstract Background Weight loss surgery is a common procedure in the United States. Objective As weight loss surgery is largely an elective procedure for which patients and physicians can choose the timing, it could be helpful to explore the seasonality pattern of its perioperative adverse outcomes to help decide the timing of this surgery. Setting United States. Methods We used an obese adult sample (age ≥20 yr) of patients who underwent weight loss surgeries from the Premier Healthcare Database from 2011 to 2014. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision Clinical Modification procedure codes were used to identify weight loss surgery cases. Binary variables are used for 4 adverse outcomes, including hospital mortality, sepsis, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism. The associations between the adverse outcomes and season of surgery were examined using logistic regressions, adjusting for age, sex, race, marital status, surgery types, body mass index, the Charlson co-morbidity index, and region. Results A total of 69,365 weight loss surgeries were identified for the analytic sample. The overall rate was .27% for hospital mortality, .16% for DVT, .10% for pulmonary embolism, and .20% for sepsis. For DVT, adjusted odds ratio for the fall was 2.68 (95% confidence interval: 1.39–5.19) and the odds ratio for the winter was 2.26 (95% confidence interval: 1.09–4.27) compared with the summer. For sepsis, adjusted odds ratio for the spring was 1.83 (95% confidence interval: 1.07–3.12) compared with that of the summer. The seasonality pattern was not statistically significant for hospital mortality and pulmonary embolism. Conclusion DVT and sepsis are more likely to occur in colder seasons compared with the summer season, although the crude rates of these adverse events were low.
The Impact of the Nocturnal Transition on the Lifetime and Evolution of Supercell Thunderstorms in the Great Plains

AbstractPredicting the evolution of supercell thunderstorms during and after the evening transition is a known challenge due to an incomplete understanding of how these events evolve in response to...
Pineal Region Tumors in Children

The pineal gland, located at the roof of the diencephalon, is a cone-shaped structure dorsal to the midbrain tectum. It is composed of a variety of cells, including astrocytes, ganglion cells, blood vessels, and pinocytes. Pineocytes, the parenchymal cells of this organ, are specialized neurons rich in monoaminergic neurotransmitters, including serotonin, norepinepherin, and melatonin. While retinal proteins such as S-antigen are expressed on some pineocytes, the pineal gland is not photosensitive in humans and higher primates. Collateral projections from the retino-thalamic tract as well as sympathetic fibers from the superior cervical ganglion innervate the pineal gland [3]. Its role in humans and higher primates is controversial, but likely related to synchronizing neuro-endocrine responses to sympathetic and circadian light-dark cycles [32].
quantifying teMporal variability in streaM habitat data: iMpliCations for restoration and Monitoring

Quantifying natural and anthropogenic-induced levels of temporal variability is essential for robust trend analyses and for evaluating the effectiveness of restoration activities or changed management actions. Here, we used data collected as part of the Pacfish/Infish Biological Effectiveness Monitoring Project to evaluate the extent of temporal variability in instream habitat collected at the reach scale. We integrated habitat data collected yearly (2001-2009) at 50 sites experiencing a range of management activities into our analyses to better understand the consistency of temporal variability in watersheds with inherently different landscape characteristics and disturbance regimes. We initially decomposed variance estimates to remove site-to-site variability, sampling error, and year effects and use the remaining variance as a measure of site-specific temporal variability. We then relate this temporal variability to landscape, management, and climate attributes at multiple scales to better understand which characteristics result in more or less variability in habitat attributes at specific sites. Our results suggest temporal variability differs significantly across individual sites and attributes within sites, indicating our ability to detect significant changes as a result of management changes and/or restoration efforts are context dependent. The spatial scale of landscape attributes, e.g., stream buffer vs. catchment, related to temporal variability also varied across individual attributes. Our efforts highlight the importance of considering site specific measures of temporal variability as they relate to specific restoration and management goals.
Basal Stenosis Resistance Another Adenosine-Free Contender for the Lesion Assessment Crown?

The notion that a hyperemia-free index can accurately determine the ischemic potential of coronary stenosis is conceptually appealing but fundamentally challenging and is literally at the heart of a current and heated controversy in coronary physiology. Article see p 508 In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions , van de Hoef et al1 propose another adenosine-free contender to fractional flow reserve (FFR), the basal stenosis resistance (BSR). Translesional pressure and flow velocity were measured across 299 intermediate stenoses (55%±11% diameter narrowing) in 232 patients with one- or 2-vessel coronary artery disease studied from 1997 to 2006, expanding on their prior publication.2 Using 2 sensor guidewires and intracoronary boluses (20, 40 µg) of adenosine, they computed not only BSR (translesional gradient/basal average peak flow velocity), but also coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), FFR, and hyperemic stenosis resistance (HSR). The diagnostic performance of each index was determined by the area under the curve (AUC) from receiver operating characteristics against myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) and showed that BSR (AUC 0.77) was as good as FFR (AUC 0.77) and CFVR (AUC 0.75) but underperformed when compared with HSR (AUC 0.81). The authors thus propose that BSR is a potential replacement for FFR. This study raises several critical and confusing questions about how resting translesional pressure and flow can predict ischemia and what is a valid human ischemic standard. Before looking at basal markers of lesion significance, we know that the hyperemic pressure gradient/flow ratio (HSR) and the hyperemic absolute pressure ratio (FFR) both measure translesional flow responses indicative of inducible ischemia. HSR normalizes the pressure gradient for flow (velocity) and is purportedly less impacted by the variability of the hyperemic flow response.3 In the authors’ 2002 report,2 the HSR also had a higher AUC (0.90) than FFR (AUC …
Service Users’ Challenges in Developing Helpful Relationships with Peer Support Workers

This study contributes to the existing literature on peer support and complexities in peer support practices by exploring and describing service users’ perspectives on challenges in developing helpful relationships with peer support workers. Twenty-six service users with mental health and/or substance problems who had collaborated with one or more peer support workers on five or more occasions voluntarily participated across five focus groups. Interviews with these participants were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using the Braun-Clark approach to thematic analysis, resulting in two major themes: (a) embrace the difference and (b) harness the contextual factors. The findings suggest that peer support by sharing lived experiences does not always result in helpful relationships that promote recovery. How and when aspects of lived experience are shared appears to play an important role in characterizing relationships as helpful or not.
Efficient Implementation of a Multi-Level Parallel in Time Algorithm

A strategy for scheduling the communication between processors in a multi-level parallel-in-time algorithm to reduce blocking communication is presented. The particular time-parallel method examined is the parallel full approximation scheme in space and time (PFASST), which utilizes a hierarchy of spatial and temporal discretization levels. By decomposing the update to initial conditions passed between processors into multiple spatial resolutions, the communication at the finest level can be scheduled to overlap with computation at coarser levels. The potential cost savings is demonstrated with a three dimensional PDE example.
Assessing corrosion resistance of two-dimensional nanomaterial-based coatings on stainless steel substrates.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have elicited considerable interest in the past decade due to a diverse array of novel properties ranging from high surface to mass ratios, a wide range of band gaps ...
Inheritance and evolution of epigenetic reprogramming in Mammalian germ cells

During mammalian post-implantation development, germ cells are induced from the somatic tissues of the embryo. Following their induction, primordial germ cells undergo a genome-wide erasure and de novo re-establishment of DNA methylation marks. This epigenetic reprogramming re-instates pluripotency and allows parental imprints to be deposited. In the male germ line, a unique RNAi pathway involving PIWI proteins and their associated small RNAs (piRNAs) is necessary for proper de novo methylation. PIWI mutant mice are infertile and display methylation defects over transposon sequences. Using a transgenic approach, we investigated the signals necessary for piRNA production. We show that artificial piRNAs can be produced from reprogrammed loci outside of their native context. We then studied the genome-wide impact of piRNA loss on germ cell methylation. Whereas most of the genome is properly methylated, only a small group of transposons transiently reactivated in primordial germ cells is affected. Also we identified important structural differences in de novo methylation profiles between human sperm and ES cells. Finally, we compared sperm methylation profiles between human and chimpanzee and showed that the genome and the epigenome can evolve independently. Taken together, our results highlight the surprising plasticity of genome and epigenome interactions during development and evolution
Phylogenetics of a Rapid, Continental Radiation: Diversification, Biogeography, and Circumscription of the Beardtongues (Penstemon; Plantaginaceae)

Abstract Penstemon (Plantaginaceae), the largest genus of plants native to North America, represents a recent continental evolutionary radiation. We investigated patterns of diversification, phylogenetic relationships, and biogeography, and determined the age of the lineage using 43 nuclear gene loci. We also assessed the current taxonomic circumscription of the ca. 285 species by developing a phylogenetic taxonomic bootstrap method. Penstemon originated during the Pliocene/Pleistocene transition. Patterns of diversification and biogeography are associated with glaciation cycles during the Pleistocene, with the bulk of diversification occurring from 1.0–0.5 mya. The radiation across the North American continent tracks the advance and retreat of major and minor glaciation cycles during the past 2.5 million years with founder-event speciation contributing the most to diversification of Penstemon. Our taxonomic bootstrap analyses suggest the current circumscription of the genus is in need of revision. We propose rearrangement of subgenera, sections, and subsections based on our phylogenetic results. Given the young age and broad distribution of Penstemon across North America, it offers an excellent system for studying a rapid evolutionary radiation in a continental setting.
A Note from the New Editor-in-Chief

My introduction as a Guest Editor for the Journal of Feminist Family Therapy (JFFT) began with the Special Issue on Women’s Health.1 This excellent series of articles made–up the past five issues f...
Operative Shutdown and Recovery: Restructuring Surgical Operations During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

Abstract Background During the 2020 SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in New York City, hospitals canceled elective surgeries to increase capacity for critically ill patients. We present case volume data from our community hospital to demonstrate how this shutdown affected surgical care. Methods Between March 16 and June 14, 2020, all elective surgeries were canceled at our institution. All procedures performed during this operating room shutdown (ORS) were logged, as well as those 4 weeks before (PRE) and 4 weeks after (POST) for comparison. Results A total of 2,475 cases were included in our analysis, with 754 occurring during shutdown. Overall case numbers dropped significantly during ORS and increased during recovery (mean 245.0 ± 28.4 PRE versus 58.0 ± 30.9 ORS versus 186.0±19.4 POST cases/wk, P Conclusion Operative volume significantly decreased during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Emergency cases predominated during this time, although there were fewer emergency cases overall. General/vascular surgery became the most active service and open surgeries became more common. This reallocation of resources may be useful for future crisis planning among community hospitals.
A note about crosslinking density in imprinting polymerization

Imprinting polymerization is an exciting technique since it leads to specific binding sites, which are the basis of a variety of applications, such as sensors, detectors, and catalysts. The specific binding sites are created using templates and then fixing the structure of the binding site with crosslinking. The literature review of imprinting polymerizations shows that the crosslinking density governs the physical properties of the resulting molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). It is also a factor governing the capacity and the selectivity of MIPs. Reviewing polymer science data and theory, the crosslinking density commonly used in MIP synthesis is unusually high. The data reviewed here suggest that more research is needed to determine the optimal crosslinking density for MIPs.
Estimating Hospital Inefficiency: Does Case Mix Matter?

A two-stage approach is used in a stochastic frontier analysis of the factors affecting hospital efficiency. In the first stage, a translog cost-function is used to estimate inefficiency scores. In the second stage, inefficiency scores are regressed against independent variables to test hypotheses that come from X-inefficiency Theory. The study was based on 1989 data for 195 Pennsylvania acute care hospitals. This data base was chosen because of the availability of patient-level severity of illness data, a measure of output that is not available from most data sources. The stochastic frontier analysis models estimated mean inefficiency scores that ranged from 0.075 to 0.180. The addition of the DRG case mix index (CMI) reduced estimated inefficiency by more than 50%. The incremental effect of a severity of illness variable to an equation with CMI was very small. The second-stage results suggest inefficiency and are inversely associated with regulatory pressures and industry concentration.
Deuterium NMR and EPR of hydrated collagen fibers in the presence of salts.

A new model for hydrated collagen fibers is postulated. According to this model, a part of the water adsorbed is bound to the collagen fiber through hydrogen bonding, and the rest is randomly reorienting. The two types of water are in chemical exchange. The observed dipolar splitting for H2O and quadrupolar splitting for D2O are time-averaged values. The deuterium quadrupole splitting of D2O in oriented collagen fibers decreases in the presence of salt. The phenomenon can be explained either by a change in the structure of collagen or by the blocking of the water binding sites by the ions. In the EPR spectra of collagen presoaked in Mn(II) and Cu(II) sulfates, the line widths decrease with the increase of water content, indicating the coordination of the cations to water. The change in the hyperfine splitting (from 70 gauss in dry fibers to 96 gauss in fibers equilibrated at 100% RH) of Mn(II) with water content is explained by the change in the symmetry of its environment.
Evaluation of variants in the selectin genes in age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common disease of the elderly that leads to loss of the central visual field due to atrophic or neovascular events. Evidence from human eyes and animal models suggests an important role for macrophages and endothelial cell activation in the pathogenesis of AMD. We sought to determine whether common ancestral variants in genes encoding the selectin family of proteins are associated with AMD. Expression of E-selectin, L-selectin and P-selectin was examined in choroid and retina by quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence. Samples from patients with AMD (n = 341) and controls (n = 400) were genotyped at a total of 34 SNPs in the SELE, SELL and SELP genes. Allele and genotype frequencies at these SNPs were compared between AMD patients and controls as well as between subtypes of AMD (dry, geographic atrophy, and wet) and controls. High expression of all three selectin genes was observed in the choroid as compared to the retina. Some selectin labeling of retinal microglia, drusen cores and the choroidal vasculature was observed. In the genetic screen of AMD versus controls, no positive associations were observed for SELE or SELL. One SNP in SELP (rs3917751) produced p-values < 0.05 (uncorrected for multiple measures). In the subtype analyses, 6 SNPs (one in SELE, two in SELL, and three in SELP) produced p-values < 0.05. However, when adjusted for multiple measures with a Bonferroni correction, only one SNP in SELP (rs3917751) produced a statistically significant p-value (p = 0.0029). This genetic screen did not detect any SNPs that were highly associated with AMD affection status overall. However, subtype analysis showed that a single SNP located within an intron of SELP (rs3917751) is statistically associated with dry AMD in our cohort. Future studies with additional cohorts and functional assays will clarify the biological significance of this discovery. Based on our findings, it is unlikely that common ancestral variants in the other selectin genes (SELE and SELL) are risk factors for AMD. Finally, it remains possible that sporadic or rare mutations in SELE, SELL, or SELP have a role in the pathogenesis of AMD.
Regulation of cold signaling by sumoylation of ICE1

The small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) E3 ligase SIZ1 is an ortholog of yeast and animal SIZ (SAP and Miz)/PIAS (protein inhibition of activated STAT) proteins, which function as transcriptional coregulators either by facilitating SUMO conjugation to substrate proteins (sumoylation) or through other mechanisms that are sumoylation independent. SIZ/PIAS-type E3 ligases function in numerous eukaryotic biological processes, including regulation of organismal responses to environmental changes. This addendum summarizes our recent paper in which it is established that the Arabidopsis E3 ligase SIZ1 mediates sumoylation of ICE1. SUMO conjugation to ICE1 facilitates ICE1 activity and stability that positively regulates CBF3/DREB1A-dependent cold signaling and freezing tolerance. Furthermore, sumoylated ICE1 represses MYB15, which is a negative regulator of CBF3/DREB1A and freezing tolerance.
Immunotoxicity Evaluation and Guidelines for Drug Approval in Korea

Current drug regulation in Korea is based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, which was revised 14 times. Immunotoxicity guidelines are described in the “Regulation for Evaluation on Safety and Efficacy of Drugs” (Korea Food and Drug Administration Notification No. 1999-13, revised on February 6, 1999) and “Guidelines for Toxicity Studies of Drugs” (Korea Food and Drug Administration Notification No. 1998-116). This paper describes the review process and immunotoxicity guidelines for drug approval in Korea.
Impaired CD40L signaling is a cause of defective IL-12 and TNF-α production in Sézary syndrome: circumvention by hexameric soluble CD40L

Sezary syndrome (SzS) is an advanced form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma characterized by peripheral blood involvement, impaired cell-mediated immunity, and T-helper 1 (TH1) cytokine production. To understand the mechanism of these defects, we studied the expression and function of CD40L in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with SzS. We found that PBMCs of patients with SzS have a defect in interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production upon anti-CD3 stimulation and that tumor CD4+ T lymphocytes have a specific defect in CD40L induction after anti-CD3 ligation in vitro. This defect may explain the poor IL-12 production, because IL-12 production by anti-CD3-stimulated PBMCs was dependent on CD40L in healthy donors. The observed defect in tumor cell CD40L expression appears to be due to inappropriate T-cell signaling upon CD3 ligation, because expression of other T-cell activation antigens such as CD25, and to a lesser extent CD69, are also impaired on tumor cells. Importantly however, the inability of SzS PBMCs to appropriately produce IL-12 and TNF-alpha could be restored by recombinant hexameric CD40L. Taken together, our results demonstrate that impaired IL-12 and TNF-alpha production in SzS is associated with defective CD4+ T lymphocyte CD40L induction and indicate that CD40L may have therapeutic potential in SzS.
The europium oxidation state in CsSrI3:Eu scintillators measured by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Abstract Divalent Eu is a common luminescence activator in inorganic scintillators due to its allowed 5d–4f transitions. Since Eu can exist in both divalent and trivalent states, but only luminescence from divalent Eu is suitable for scintillation applications, it is important to determine the potential presence of trivalent Eu in the crystal. We report measurements of Eu(II) and Eu(III) in the new CsSrI 3 :Eu scintillator using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Single crystals of CsSr 0.93 Eu 0.07 I 3 were grown from the melt via the Bridgman method using EuI 2 powder as a source of divalent Eu activators. The X-ray absorption spectra on the Eu M 4 and M 5 edges were obtained at beamline 4.0.2 at the Advanced Light Source synchrotron. The results were compared to model samples of trivalent and divalent europium, which provided clear signatures of the two oxidation states. The measured electronic structure of Eu confirms predominant Eu(II) in both the EuI 2 starting material and the CsSr 0.93 Eu 0.07 I 3 scintillator crystals. However, a small presence of Eu(III) points to the partial oxidation of europium, especially at the sample surface.
Automatic segmentation of closed-contour features in ophthalmic images using graph theory and dynamic programming

This paper presents a generalized framework for segmenting closed-contour anatomical and pathological features using graph theory and dynamic programming (GTDP). More specifically, the GTDP method previously developed for quantifying retinal and corneal layer thicknesses is extended to segment objects such as cells and cysts. The presented technique relies on a transform that maps closed-contour features in the Cartesian domain into lines in the quasi-polar domain. The features of interest are then segmented as layers via GTDP. Application of this method to segment closed-contour features in several ophthalmic image types is shown. Quantitative validation experiments for retinal pigmented epithelium cell segmentation in confocal fluorescence microscopy images attests to the accuracy of the presented technique.
Minimal Generating Sets for Relative Ideals in Numerical Semigroups of Multiplicity Eight

Abstract Let S be a numerical semigroup and let I be a relative ideal of S. Let S − I denote the dual of I and let μ S (⋅) represent the size of a minimal generating set. We investigate the inequality μ S (I)μ S (S − I) ≥ μ S (I + (S − I)) under the assumption that S has multiplicity 8. We will show that if I is non-principal, then the strict inequality μ S (I)μ S (S − I) > μ S (I + (S − I)) always holds.
Discovery of new biosynthetic pathways: the lipid A story

The outer monolayer of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria consists of the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a glucosamine-based saccharolipid that is assembled on the inner surface of the inner membrane. The first six enzymes of the lipid A pathway are required for bacterial growth and are excellent targets for the development of new antibiotics. Following assembly, the ABC transporter MsbA flips nascent LPS to the periplasmic side of the inner membrane, whereupon additional transport proteins direct it to the outer surface of the outer membrane. Depending on the bacterium, various covalent modifications of the lipid A moiety may occur during the transit of LPS to the outer membrane. These extra-cytoplasmic modification enzymes are therefore useful as reporters for monitoring LPS trafficking. Because of its conserved structure in diverse Gram-negative pathogens, lipid A is recognized as foreign by the TLR4/MD2 receptor of the mammalian innate immune system, resulting in rapid macrophage activation and robust cytokine production.
Assessing the accuracy of trauma patient prioritization: communication design of the M.I.S.E.R information system protocol and communication channel during crisis communication exchanges

This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of an information exchange protocol (M.I.S.E.R) designed to increase the effectiveness of messages pertaining to rural trauma patients and triage prioritization. Trained coders were randomly assigned to three conditions; audio, transcript, and transcript and audio. Participants coded several hundred actual information exchanges between first responders and medical command operators. Findings confirm the effectiveness of the M.I.S.E.R. information exchange protocol as well as the effectiveness of exchanging crisis messages via two-way radio as compared to having a transcript of the call or both audio recordings and transcripts. Implications for communication design, healthcare practitioners, and effective modes for exchanging crisis communication messages are presented.
Brain transfer coefficients for 67Ga: comparison to 55Fe and effect of calcium deficiency.

: The transfer coefficients (Kia) for the uptake of gal-lium-67 (67Ga) into brain and CSF were determined in un-anesthetized male Fischer-344 rats fed either a normal or a low-Ca diet. Kin for 67Ga was also compared with transfer coefficients for the uptake of iron-55 (55Fe) and 125I-albumin in control animals. The value of CSF 67Ga Kin was 3 × 10−7 ml·g−1·s−1 and was 50% larger in low-Ca animals. Brain regional Kin values for 67Ga were 3-9 × 10−7 ml·g−1·s−1 with no differences in Kia between normal and low-Ca rats. CSF Km values for 55Fe were 40% and those for albumin were 15% of Kia for 67Ga. For brain, Kin values for 55Fe were 15-40% smaller than for 67Ga, but for albumin the Kin values were 85% less than for 67Ga. 67Ga was found to be 99% bound to plasma proteins, whereas 55Fe was 99.9% bound. The results indicate that metals that are primarily bound to trans-ferrin enter the CSF and brain very slowly. Uptake of both metals was faster than albumin, which may indicate that metal bound to small chelates contributes significantly to brain uptake. In addition, Ca deficiency does not enhance entry of Ga into the brain.
Flat Forms in Banach Spaces

We define a flat partial differential form in a Banach space and show that the space of these forms is isometrically the dual space of the space of flat chains as defined by T. Adams.