cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ToppMiR: ranking microRNAs and their mRNA targets based on biological functions and context

Identifying functionally significant microRNAs (miRs) and their correspondingly most important messenger RNA targets (mRNAs) in specific biological contexts is a critical task to improve our understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying organismal development, physiology and disease. However, current miR‐mRNA target prediction platforms rank miR targets based on estimated strength of physical interactions and lack the ability to rank interactants as a function of their potential to impact a given biological system. To address this, we have developed ToppMiR (http://toppmir.cchmc.org), a web-based analytical workbench that allows miRs and mRNAs to be co-analyzed via biologically centered approaches in which gene function associated annotations are used to train a machine learning-based analysis engine. ToppMiR learns about biological contexts based on gene associated information from expression data or from a userspecified set of genes that relate to context-relevant knowledge or hypotheses. Within the biological framework established by the genes in the training set, its associated information content is then used to calculate a features association matrix composed of biological functions, protein interactions and other features. This scoring matrix is then used to jointly rank both the test/candidate miRs and mRNAs. Results of these analyses are provided as downloadable tables or network file formats usable in Cytoscape.
Repetitively pulsed operation of an injection-controlled high-power XeF(C to A) excimer laser

The operation at a 1-Hz repetition frequency of an injection-controlled electron-beam-pumped XeF(C to A) excimer laser system is reported. A compact, halogen-compatible, closed flow loop incorporating a transverse inline fan was used for gas circulation. In single-laser-shot operation, the timing between an electron beam and the injection dye laser was carefully adjusted to obtain an optimum laser pulse energy stability. An improved output-laser energy of 1.2 J per pulse with an intrinsic efficiency of 1.1% at 486.8 nm was achieved with a large-aperture unstable resonator. Interferograms taken during and after an electron-beam pump pulse to determine the minimum optical cavity recovery time of this device indicate that stable laser output energy performance at repetition rates of up to 25 Hz could be achieved with the present flow loop. >
Pierced by Murugan's Lance: Ritual, Power, and Moral Redemption among Malaysian Hindus

Pierced by Murugan's Lance: Ritual, Power, and Moral Redemption among Malaysian Hindus. Elizabeth Fuller Collins. DeKalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 1997. 246 pp.
Analyzing clusters of class characteristics in OO applications

The transition from Java 1.4 to Java 1.5 has provided the programmer with more flexibility due to the inclusion of several new language constructs, such as parameterized types. This transition is expected to increase the number of class clusters exhibiting different combinations of class characteristics. In this paper we investigate how the number and distribution of clusters are expected to change during this transition. We present the results of an empirical study were we analyzed applications written in both Java 1.4 and 1.5. In addition, we show how the variability of the combinations of class characteristics may affect the testing of class members.
The application of photonic crystals to quasi-optic amplifiers

Quasi-optical spatial power combining provides the high combining efficiency required of solid-state power amplifiers for millimeter-wave frequencies. Photonic crystals (PXTs) are used to implement this type of power combining, as shown by two examples in this paper. The first example describes an all-dielectric structure that provides a carrier for the amplifier array chip satisfying the requirements concerning unilateral transmission and thermal management. The second example describes the use of a high impedance ground plane, based on PXTs, to make the power density incident on the array chip as uniform as possible in order to maximize power and efficiency.
Face (and nose) priming for book: the malleability of semantic memory.

There are two general classes of models of semantic structure that support semantic priming effects. Feature-overlap models of semantic priming assume that shared features between primes and target...
Defectivity Characterization of post-CMP Voiding in 32nm Cu Metallization

The effects of various process parameters, including liner/seed deposition, electrodeposition process and chemistry, and CMP (chemical mechanical planarization), on the formation of void defects in 32 nm copper metallization was investigated using a KLA-Tencor brightfield defect detection system. Optimum process conditions were determined based on void defectivity levels.
Social Science and the Sources of Policy: 1951–1970

The Goals of "Policy Science" in 1951 In the Foreword to The Policy Sciences, Rothwell stated that the first step in the formulation and execution of policy is "a clarification of goals."2 Unfortunately, such clarification was seldom attempted in that volume, nor has it been in the social science disciplines since.3 The goals of policy were taken largely as given by the national interest of the United States, the problems brought to social scientists by "clients," or perhaps the personal preference of the social scientist himself. None of these alternative views of the sources of policy sufficed to provoke general discussion within the disciplines, aimed at clarification of the goals or valuations that are the proper sources of policy.
Serotonin, nitric oxide and histamine enhance the excitability of neuron MCC by diverse mechanisms

Serotonin, nitric oxide (NO) and histamine are neuromodulators used in molluscan nervous systems. We have found that each of them depolarizes and increases the excitability of the serotonergic feeding neural circuit modulator neuron, MCC, of Aplysia, but each induces different changes in background ionic currents and uses a different second messenger. Stimulation of neuron C2 in the cerebral ganglion induces a vsEPSP in MCC using NO and histamine. When these neurons are isolated in culture they form synapses that mediate the vsEPSP. The ionic currents induced by these neuromodulators were investigated in isolated cultured MCCs. Histamine reduced a background outward current between -70 and -30 mV that was blocked by cobalt treatment, indicating that it is a calcium activated potassium current. Serotonin reduced a background outward current from -65 mV to -30 mV and enhanced a potassium inward current more negative than -70 mV that was blocked by cesium and barium. This response was mimicked by 8-Br-cAMP. NO donors reduced a cobalt insensitive background outward current between -70 and -30 mV. This response was mimicked by 8-Br-cGMP. These responses show that MCC can produce complex time and state-dependent activity during its modulation of the feeding neural circuit.
A Note on Abstract Interpretation Strategies for Hybrid Automata

We report on several abstract interpretation strategies that are designed to improve the performance of HyTech, a symbolic model checker for linear hybrid systems. We (1) simultaneously compute the target region from different directions, (2) conservatively approximate the target region by dropping constraints, and (3) iteratively refine the approximation until sufficient precision is obtained. We consider the standard abstract convex-hull operator and a novel abstract extrapolation operator.
Revised Procedure for Estimating Along-Wind Response

A revised version is presented of a procedure for calculating the along-wind response of tall buildings previously developed by the writer. This version: (1)Incorporates recent improvements in the modeling of mean wind profiles and of turbulence intensity; (2)includes a correction in the Monte Carlo integration algorithm employed to obtain the rms values of the fluctuating response and thus results in more accurate values of the calculated along-wind response; and (3)is simpler to use. A numerical example is given illustrating the use of the procedure.
Do higher levels of arousal predict better learning? an investigation of learning and physiological responses

The ability to connect new information to relevant, previously acquired knowledge can facilitate comprehension and memory. This study shows that the addition of person knowledge, or knowledge organized around familiar people, in the design of learning materials has the potential to improve learning while decreasing the amount of effort and attention exerted by the learner; this is measured through skin conductance levels as a physiological correlate of attention. Findings provide explanatory evidence for why people-focused methodologies, such as video cases or written case studies, contribute to longer-term benefits and improved learning.
A Generalization of Hermite's Interpolation Formula

(1960). A Generalization of Hermite's Interpolation Formula. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 42-46.
Getting Involved: Exploring Latino GBT Volunteerism and Activism in AIDS and LGBT Organizations.

The purpose of this article is to investigate the community involvement (e.g., volunteerism, activism) of Latino gay and bisexual men and transgender persons (GBT) in two areas: AIDS/LGBT and other general causes. Drawing from volunteering and identity theories, we explore the following: Who is likely to get involved? What factors affect variation in the levels of involvement? Where do Latino GBT participate and what do they do? Data come from a cross-sectional sample (N = 643) of Latino GBT in Chicago, Illinois, and San Francisco, California. We found high levels of involvement, but primarily focused on AIDS/LGBT. Involvement appears to be driven by income, early involvement, role modeling, and childhood stigmatization of gender nonconformity.
RNA Polymerase III Advances: Structural and tRNA Functional Views

RNA synthesis in eukaryotes is divided among three RNA polymerases (RNAPs). RNAP III transcribes hundreds of tRNA genes and fewer additional short RNA genes. We survey recent work on transcription by RNAP III including an atomic structure, mechanisms of action, interactions with chromatin and retroposons, and a conserved link between its activity and a tRNA modification that enhances mRNA decoding. Other new work suggests important mechanistic connections to oxidative stress, autoimmunity and cancer, embryonic stem cell pluripotency, and tissue-specific developmental effects. We consider that, for some of its complex functions, variation in RNAP III activity levels lead to nonuniform changes in tRNAs that can shift the translation profiles of key codon-biased mRNAs with resultant phenotypes or disease states.
Designer Student Immigration and the Designer Student Immigrant Complex at Oak

This chapter starts with an explanation of the national recruitment system that is currently in place to procure designer immigrant students for Singapore secondary schools. The general overview of the recruitment scholarship process as expedited by the Ministry of Education in Singapore is supplemented by details of how an immigrant student recruitment exercise at Oak was conducted. Following a description of the ‘benevolent’ cosmopolitan ethos that characterized the school culture at Oak, I make the case that the designer immigrant students, as scholarship recipients, were seen as ‘fortunate’ because of their perceived deprived backgrounds. Such a positioning is complexified by an analysis of two overlapping circulating ideologies (Wortham, Learning identity: The joint emergence of social identification and academic learning. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006) surrounding designer immigrant students at Oak, which collectively constitute what I call the designer student immigrant complex. The chapter closes with an examination of how these ideologies interact with language ideologies to construct these students as high performing students, which in turn impacted their language acquisition experience.
A quadtree-based adaptively-refined Cartesian-grid algorithm for solution of the Euler equations

A method for solution of the steady two-dimensional Euler equations is presented. The scheme is designed to overcome the difficulties associated with geometric complexity and the existence of disparate length scales in the computed flow-fields. An adaptively-refined Cartesian grid defined by a tree-based data structure is used. Connectivity information is obtained from the data tree via the parent/children relationships of the cells. Initial grid generation is enhanced by geometry-based cell adaptation. The solution is converged to a steady state using a linear reconstruction and an approximate Riemann solver. Multi-stage time stepping and multigrid convergence acceleration are used to advance the solution in time. Solution adaptation is achieved through the use of solution-based gradient information. This enables the grid resolution to match more closely the local length scales of the flow. The initial grid is generated with a minimum of user input for any complex configuration. The user need only specify a set of points defining the bodies, the base grid resolution, and cell size thresholds for the geometry-based adaptation. With proper thresholds, the grid is automatically adapted to the curvature of a body, providing the resolution required to resolve that body adequately. The grid is then improved through the use of solution-based adaptation. The difficulties associated with the small cut cells created by the arbitrary way that the Cartesian grid cuts through the body are overcome by using local time-stepping, coupled with a linear reconstruction method designed specifically for unstructured grids. The solutions obtained show the second-order global accuracy of the scheme. Results are presented for airfoils at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds. The results compare favorably with benchmark solutions on structured grids with substantially more cells. Also included are a channel flow, several axisymetric jet flows, and several multi-element airfoil flows. In all cases, the small cut cells generated by the intersection of the body with the Cartesian grid have no adverse effect on the smoothness of the solution. The broad range of results presented demonstrates the geometric flexibility of this approach, as well as the accuracy and efficiency attainable by solution-based adaptation.
Increased incidence of loco-regional recurrences among African American women with terminal stage breast cancer.

A73 An IRB-approved prospective analysis of all women with terminal stage breast cancer admitted to Community Hospice Northeast (CHNE) from December 2006 through August 2007, was performed in order to evaluate the suggestion from anecdotal observations that AA women with terminal stage breast cancer enrolled in CHNE were more likely to have evidence of loco-regional recurrences as compared with Caucasian women. Terminal stage breast cancer women admitted to CHNE, a not-for-profit hospice that serves over 90% of all hospice patients from Northeast Florida, were eligible for study participation. Hospice nurses assessed the patients for the presence of loco-regional recurrences by performing a chest wall examination. A total of 134 women with terminal stage breast cancer were evaluated. Eighty percent of them (107 patients) were Caucasian, 17% (23 patients) were AA and 3% (4 patients) were of other ethnicities. Evidence of loco-regional recurrences were noted in 13% of the women (17/134 patients). The incidence of loco-regional recurrences was higher in AA women than in Caucasian women (26% vs 10%, 6/23 patients vs 11/107 patients respectively), though this was not statistically significant (p=0.08, Fisher9s exact test). The majority of Caucasian women with loco-regional recurrences consented to a review of their medical records whereas only a minority of the AA women consented (72% vs 33%, 8/11 patients vs 2/6 patients respectively). Conclusions: Evaluation of disparities in outcomes of breast cancer care in a given community is possible by analyzing data from patients served by a hospice program that cares for the majority of the patients within that community. AA women with breast cancer seem to have a higher incidence of loco-regional failure as a component of their terminal breast cancer disease when compared with Caucasian women. A smaller proportion of AA patients and their families agreed to participate in a medical record review study as compared with Caucasian families. Further studies are indicated in order to elucidate the main factors contributing to these disparities and to formulate potential solutions.
La prevenzione delle infezioni correlate all'assistenza : problemi reali, soluzioni pratiche

Nearly 2 million Americans develop a healthcare-related infection each year, and about 100,000 of them die because of it. Yet, these infections could reasonably be prevented by adopting and implementing evidence-based interventions aimed at improving the quality of infection-preventing activities. However, too many hospital staff members still oppose to these initiatives. There is a technical know-how for preventing infections, but the human problem of adapting it is often left untreated, and remains therefore unsolved. This book was designed to solve this problem. Using flowing style and a simple language, the book leads its readers through a step-by-step description of how a quality improvement intervention could take place in an ideal hospital, identifying possible obstacles and offering practical strategies to overcome them. This text makes use of the authors' vast clinical experience, and enriches it with examples, anecdotes and simple practical indications.Quasi 2 milioni di americani sviluppano ogni anno un’infezione correlata all’assistenza sanitaria e circa 100.000 di loro, per questo motivo, muoiono. Eppure queste infezioni sono ragionevolmente prevenibili attraverso l’adozione e l’attuazione di interventi, basati sull’evidenza, per il miglioramento della qualita delle attivita di prevenzione delle infezioni, ma ancora troppi membri del personale ospedaliero si oppongono a queste iniziative. Esiste un know-how tecnico per la prevenzione delle infezioni, ma l’umano problema dell’adattamento spesso non viene trattato e rimane irrisolto. Questo libro e stato pensato per rispondere a tale sfida. In uno stile scorrevole e in un linguaggio semplice, il libro conduce i lettori attraverso una descrizione passo passo di come un intervento per il miglioramento della qualita potrebbe attuarsi in un ospedale modello, individuando i possibili ostacoli e offrendo strategie pratiche per superarli. Il testo si avvale della vasta esperienza clinica personale degli autori, arricchita da esempi, aneddoti e semplici indicazioni pratiche.
Overcoming Communication Challenges: Can Taking the Specialist's Perspective Improve Auditors' Critical Evaluation and Integration of the Specialist's Work?

This study investigates how communication complexity (i.e., the presentation of technical information) in the expert’s advice can impact auditor integration of evidence. We document that holding constant the information content, readability, and understandability of the expert’s advice, but varying only the degree of its communication complexity in presentation influences auditors’ critical evaluation and integration of the expert’s advice – a key concern for audit regulators worldwide. After establishing that auditors’ processing of evidence is lower when communication complexity is high versus when it is low, we provide evidence that prompting them to take the expert’s perspective improves their critical evaluation and integration of the expert’s advice, given high communication complexity. Thus, this study provides the first evidence that presentation of technical information, separate from auditors’ understanding of it, inhibits their processing of the expert’s evidence but adopting an expert’s perspective even when the users (auditors) are at an expertise disadvantage can enhance judgments and decision-making. Accordingly, these results, consistent with predictions based on communication and perspective-taking theories, have implications for regulators, auditors, and agents interested in enhancing collaboration in cross-functional teams with diverse expertise.
Low Sexual Desire Disorder

The aim of this chapter is to help health-care professionals understand low sexual desire disorder (“LSDD”)—the most common sexual dysfunction affecting both women and men (Simons & Carey, 2001)—assess for problems of sexual desire, and implement empirically supported interventions for LSDD. With research advances and widespread marketing for “the little blue pill,” sexual dysfunction has become increasingly visible. Despite increased public awareness, sexual dysfunction—particularly low desire—remains enigmatic and surrounded by stigma. Between 70 and 90% of Americans experiencing sexual dysfunction receive no treatment (Shifren et al., 2009). Many factors account for this treatment failure, including patients’ embarrassment talking about sexual issues (Montgomery, 2008), clinicians’ discomfort with the subject matter, and the low priority given to sexual medicine in the training of health-care professionals (Coleman et al., 2013).
Erratum: Mei, Y., et al. Mechanics Based Tomography: A Preliminary Feasibility Study. Sensors 2017, 17, 1075.

The authors wish to correct Figures 12 and 14 in their paper published in Sensors [1], doi:10.3390/s17051075, http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/5/1075[...]
Detection of antibodies to Coccidioides immitis by enzyme immunoassay.

Two hundred twenty-six specimens (160 serum samples, 66 cerebrospinal fluid samples) were tested with the Meridian Premier Coccidioides enzyme immunoassay (MPC-EIA), and the results were compared with those of conventional serologic tests detecting complement-fixing (CF) and tube precipitin (TP) antibodies. Of the 73 positive specimens by CF, 72 were positive by MPC-EIA (72 IgG positive, 48 IgM positive) and 1 was indeterminate. Of the 132 specimens negative by CF, 126 were negative by MPC-EIA, 3 were IgM positive only, and 3 were indeterminate. Of the three patients with specimens positive for IgM only, CF demonstrated seroconversion within a month in one. All 21 specimens that displayed anticomplementary activity by CF were confirmed negative by agar gel immunodiffusion for CF antibodies (IDCF) and TP antibodies (IDTP); 20 of these serum samples were also negative by MPC-EIA, and 1 was indeterminate. After exclusion of the 25 specimens with anticomplementary or indeterminate activity, results of MPC-EIA were in agreement with those of CF in 99% of specimens. With CF as reference, MPC-EIA had a specificity of 98%, sensitivity of 100%, and positive and negative predictive values of 96% and 100%, respectively. Correlation coefficient values from linear regressions of log-2 CF titer vs MPC-EIA IgG index values were calculated at .290 for serum samples and .931 for cerebrospinal fluid.
Multiplex capillary denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection.

Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) is a sensitive, robust, and operationally inexpensive method for the detection of single-base substitutions and small deletions and inserti...
Analysis of a complex antigenic site on horse cytochrome c.

Of the antigenic determinants so far identified for cytochrome c, only one involves more than a single amino acid substitution between the immunogen and host proteins. Both a threonine at position 89 and a glutamic acid at position 92 control one of the three antigenic sites identified in horse cytochrome c, as expressed in rabbits. Three antibody subpopulations, all directed against this region of the molecule, were isolated from the serum of a single rabbit by adsorption on a series of insolubilized cytochromes c. Antibody fluorescence quenching titrations with a variety of cytochromes c were used to confirm the identification of the antigenic determinant and to examine the subtle differences in the specificities of the three subpopulations. The determinant in the region of Residues 89–92 is affected by amino acid substitutions at positions 88 and 96. Since all these residues are in an α-helix the farthest distance between them is only 12 A and therefore, the Residues 88–96 can all be accommodated in the antibody binding site. The ability to identify and describe the antigenic determinant, as well as separate subpopulations directed against this site, demonstrates the resolution possible using a series of homologous protein antigens.
Pedagogy and Botany of the Columbian Biological Exchange: The 1491 Meal

The transfer of domesticated food plants between the Old World and New World is one of the great stories of human–plant relations and has had a considerable impact on historical and economic interactions. Students rarely consider the role of these plants in defining regional cuisines and diets, both in a historical and contemporary context. This chapter explores an experiential curriculum designed to expose students to thinking about plants in these contexts and impress upon them the importance of what Crosby (1973) termed the Columbian Exchange. After an introductory unit on the topic covering plant domestication and centers of origin, students are placed into groups and tasked with conducting research on which plants were available in particular regions on the eve of New World contact. They are then asked to develop a dish to share with the class based solely on plants available to inhabitants of their particular region (e.g., SE USA, Mediterranean, South Asia). A “1491 Meal” ensues that provides a memorable and fun occasion to share their research findings with other students. Other activities could include a follow-up lecture that demonstrated the continued significance of plant migration in determining food trends and market economies.
Pathologic staging of renal cell carcinoma: significance of tumor classification with the 1997 TNM staging system.

BACKGROUND. The TNM staging system for renal cell carcinoma was revised by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) in 1997. The 1997 TNM staging system for renal cell carcinoma reclassifies tumors using criteria for size and for extent of renal vein/vena cava involvement that are different from the criteria used in the 1987 staging system. The current study investigated the prognostic significance of tumor classification and other factors using the new staging system. METHODS. Records from 1547 renal cell carcinoma patients (1039 males and 508 females; mean age, 63.4 years; mean follow-up, 7.1 years) who underwent surgical resection between 1970 and 1998 were analyzed retrospectively. Tumors were staged using the 1987 and 1997 TNM criteria, and Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival and disease recurrence were compared for both staging systems. The Peto-Peto log rank test and the generalized Wilcoxon test were used to assess univariate significance of prognostic factors on survival. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was then completed to assess the significance of the revised staging system. RESULTS. Tumor classification using the 1987 TNM staging system (P = 0.0001) and the 1997 TNM staging system (P = 0.0001) was a significant predictor of cause specific survival. Using 1997 TNM staging criteria, 641 patients were reclassified from the T2 classification to the T1 classification, 114 patients were reclassified from the T3c classification to the T3b classification, 11 patients were reclassified from the T4b classification to the T3c classification, and 3 patients were reclassified from the T4b classification to the T3b classification. Patients with reclassified tumors had outcomes similar to patients with tumors that remained in the same tumor classification. Patient stratification was improved using the new staging system. Prognostic discrimination for cause specific survival at 10 years was noted for the 1987 and 1997 TNM classifications (T1, 97% vs. 91%; T2, 84% vs. 70%; T3a, 53% vs. 53%; T3b, 48% vs. 42%; and T3c, 29% vs. 43%). CONCLUSIONS. The revised classification of renal cell carcinoma was a significant predictor of cause specific survival for the cohort of patients described in this report. Using the new system, the stratification of patients was improved. Patients who had their tumors reclassified as a result of the new staging system had outcomes similar to those of patients who had tumors that remained in the same classification. Based on an analysis of this cohort, tumor classification is valid, and the T1 subclassification is warranted. However, additional revision may be required to optimize staging.
Stories of transition: US Veterans’ narratives of transition to civilian life and the important role of identity

Introduction: To date, investigations of Veterans’ transition to civilian life after military service have tended to focus on the experiences of those with mental or physical health difficulties or on employment challenges and homelessness. This study aimed to gain a deep understanding of Veterans’ transition to civilian life, the challenges they face, and the adaptive and maladaptive ways in which they manage them. Methods: A narrative approach was used to afford the Veterans an opportunity to share their experiences through their transition story. Six male Veterans residing in the Chicagoland area who had left the military between 1 and 12 years earlier were interviewed using a narrative approach. Results: Narrative analysis led to the emergence of three master narratives: narratives of the challenges, narratives of readiness, and narratives of continued military values. The narratives the Veterans shared highlighted not only the importance of practical readiness for transition but also the need for a fundamental addition to how Veteran transition is considered that includes psychological considerations of the impact on identity and the potential for existential crisis. Discussion: Appraising transition only in terms of measurable factors such as employment, living conditions, and health likely overlooks those experiencing psychological challenges and sub-clinical mental health difficulties. The proposed fundamental addition has implications for work with Veterans in various health care settings and for existing transition programs, including a consideration of the role of identity.
Micromagnetic Study of Media Noise Plateau in Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording

The relationship between integrated media noise power and linear density in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) is discussed. A noise plateau for intermediate recording density has been observed in HAMR, similar to that found in perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR). Here, we show, by changing the temperature profile of the heat spot in HAMR, that we can tune the noise plateau regions to different recording densities. The heat spot with sharp temperature gradient favors a plateau at high recording density, while the heat spot with gradual temperature gradient favors a plateau at low recording density. This effect is argued to be a consequence of the competition between transition noise and remanence noise in HAMR.
100 Years of Progress in Understanding the Dynamics of Coupled Atmosphere–Ocean Variability

AbstractIn situ observation networks and reanalyses products of the state of the atmosphere and upper ocean show well-defined, large-scale patterns of coupled climate variability on time scales ran...
How they joined? Militants and informers in the armed conflict in Donbas

The effectiveness of recruitment strategies is crucial for sustainability of any insurgent campaign. This paper identifies eight mechanisms used to encourage overt and covert participation in the a...
Extending the Apprenticeship of Observation: How Mentee Experiences Shape Mentors.

Although the importance of mentor teachers in clinical teacher preparation is well established, few researchers explore the social identity development of these individuals. Through our study we co...
Linear systems theory

Joao P. Hespanha February 4, 2015 Comments and information about typos are very welcome. Please contact the author at hespanha@ece.ucsb.edu. Errata 1) In page 7, the MATLAB R © command should read sys_ss=ss(A,B,C,D,... ’InputName’, {’input1’, ’input2’,...},... ’OutputName’,{’output1’,’output2’,...},... ’StateName’, {’state1’, ’state2’,...}); 2) In page 15 in Figure 2.3, the angle θ2 is incorrectly drawn, it should be drawn as follows:
Concerns and Security for Hashing Passwords

The aim of this paper is to discuss current concerns with hashing and propose a new system level approach that will add an extra layer of security for storing passwords. The greatest security threat is bad security practices. One sees with some of the greatest hacks, resulting in some of the greatest losses, it was because of bad security practices. It is important to have security for passwords that are designed to last many years once implemented.
Effect of in situ hydrogen plasma on the ferroelectricity of hafnium zirconium oxide films

The emerging field of ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide has garnered increased attention recently for its wide array of applications from nonvolatile memory and transistor devices to nanoelectromechanical transducers. Atomic layer deposition is one of the preferred techniques for the fabrication of hafnium zirconium oxide thin films, with a standard choice of oxidizer being either O3 or H2O. In this study, we explore various oxidizing conditions and report on the in situ treatment of hydrogen plasma after every atomic layer during the deposition of hafnium zirconium oxide to increase the virgin state polarization. Three different oxidization methods were utilized during the fabrication of the Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films: H2O, O2 plasma, and O2 plasma followed by H2 plasma. The 10 and 8 nm thick films oxidized with only O2 plasma result in initially anti-ferroelectric films. Comparatively, the addition of H2 plasma after every O2 plasma step results in films with strong ferroelectric behavior. Peak shifting of the GIXRD pattern suggests that the sequential O2-H2 plasma films tend more to the orthorhombic phase as compared to the O2 plasma and H2O oxidized films.
The need to belong, the sociometer, and the pursuit of relational value: Unfinished business

Looking back through the research I have conducted on the need to belong, I discovered three unpublished projects that might be of interest . At the time, each of these projects needed follow-up wo...
Striatal dopamine supports reward reactivity and learning: A simultaneous PET/fMRI study

Converging evidence from both human neuroimaging and animal studies has supported a model of mesolimbic processing in computing prediction errors, which form the basis of reward learning behaviors. However, direct evidence demonstrating how human dopamine signaling in the basal ganglia contributes to learning has been hampered by limitations of individual imaging modalities. Here, we present data from a large (N=81, 18-30 year olds), multi-modal neuroimaging study using simultaneously acquired task fMRI, affording temporal resolution of reward system function, and PET imaging with [11C]Raclopride (RAC) assessing striatal D2/3 receptor binding. Results indicated that task-related dopamine release in the ventral striatum, measured as a change in RAC binding, was greater among those who demonstrated successful reward learning on a probabilistic map learning task. This learning response was specific to the ventral striatum and was not present in fMRI BOLD reward response activation. This provides support for considering task-related DA release in ventral striatum as a key signal for translating reward outcomes into a learning signal, rather the representing the reward outcome in isolation. These data provide novel, human in vivo evidence that dopaminergic function may support reward reactivity as well as reward learning as distinct processes.
The responsibility of power: shifts in Chinese conceptualisation of the legitimacy of overseas intervention to protect nationals abroad

The number of Chinese nationals travelling, working, and residing outside of China has reached a historical high and will likely continue to grow. As China’s people and businesses conduct more and ...
Individual and experiential predictors of character development across the deployment cycle

How soldiers adapt to and change in response to the deployment experience has received a great deal of attention. What predicts which soldiers are resilient and which soldiers decline in character ...
The Affordances of Multimodal Texts and Their Impact on the Reading Process

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. November 2011. Major:Education, Curriculum and Instruction. Advisor:Dr. David O’Brien. 1 computer file (PDF); vi, 157 pages, appendices A-F.
Pre-Transplant Weight Loss and Survival after Kidney Transplantation.

Background/Aims: We examined post-transplant survival among obese kidney candidates who were temporarily designated waitlist inactive (status 7) due to their weig
Serotonin modulates the heart rate through 5-HT2 receptor activation in Drosophila larvae (1100.7)

Serotonin, 5-HT, plays various roles in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Previous studies have shown that 5-HT modulates the heart rate in third instar larvae. However, 5-HT receptor subtypes that mediate 5-HT action in larval cardiac tissue has not yet been determined. In this study, various 5-HT agonists and antagonists were employed to determine which 5-HT receptor subtypes are responsible for the positive chronotropic effect by 5-HT. The pharmacological results demonstrate that a 5-HT2B agonist significantly increases the heart rate; however, 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT7 agonists do not have a significant effect on the heart rate. Furthermore, 5-HT2 antagonist, ketanserin, markedly reduces the positive chronotropic effect of 5-HT in a dose-response manner. Furthermore, we employed genetic approaches to confirm the pharmacological results. For this propose, we used RNA interference (RNAi) line to knock down 5-HT2ADro and also used 5-HT2ADro and 5-HT2BDro insertional mutation lines. The results show...
Non-quasi-static effects in saturated bipolar circuits

A non-quasi-static (NQS) model accounting for intrinsic carrier propagation delays in both B/E and B/C junctions is implemented in the ASTAP circuit simulator to evaluate the impact of non-quasi-static effects in saturated bipolar circuits. It is shown that while the extra delay introduced by the NQS effects during the turn-on transition is primarily due to the normal mode B/E NQS time constant, the more severe NQS delay in the turn-off transition is caused mainly by the removal of the saturation over-drive charges and the longer inverse mode B/C NQS time constant. >
Intensity-based point-spread-function-aware registration for multi-view applications in optical microscopy

We present an algorithm to spatially register two volumetric datasets related via a rigid-body transform and degraded by an anisotropic point-spread-function (PSF). Registration is necessary, for example, when fusing data in multi-view microscopy. Automatic algorithms that only rely on maximizing pixel similarity, without accounting for the anisotropic image formation process, provide poor results in such applications. We propose to solve this problem by re-blurring the reference and test data with transformed forms of the PSF, in order to make them comparable, before minimizing the mean squared intensity difference between them. Our approach extends the pyramid-based sub-pixel registration algorithm proposed by Thevenaz et al., 1998, that employs an improved form of the Marquardt-Levenberg algorithm. We show, via simulations, that our method is more accurate than the conventional approach that does not account for the PSF. We demonstrate our algorithm in practice by registering multi-view volumes of a zebrafish larva acquired using a wide-field microscope.
Zero-suppressed BDDs and their applications

In many real-life problems, we are often faced with manipulating sets of combinations. In this article, we study a special type of ordered binary decision diagram (OBDD), called zero-suppressed BDDs (ZBDDs). This data structure represents sets of combinations more efficiently than using original OBDDs. We discuss the basic data structures and algorithms for manipulating ZBDDs in contrast with the original OBDDs. We also present some practical applications of ZBDDs, such as solving combinatorial problems with unate cube set algebra, logic synthesis methods, Petri net processing, etc. We show that a ZBDD is a useful option in OBDD techniques, suitable for a part of the practical applications.
What your monocytes say about your mind and body and why we should listen: Impaired beta2-ARs and GRs may explain obesity-related low-grade inflammation and depressive mood

We have previously reported that low-grade systemic inflammation is associated with compromised immunocompetence in obese individuals. We then showed that an extended recombinant human-TNF treatment of monocytes results in decreased immune response, indicating contribution of chronic inflammation in compromised immunity in obesity. In this study we aimed to further investigate a cellular mechanism of obesity-related inflammation. We hypothesized that the responsivity of monocytes’ beta2 adrenergic ( beta 2-ARs) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) to agonists is impaired among the obese. beta 2-AR and GR responsivity was examined by assessing intracellular TNF expression in monocytes upon ex vivo LPS-stimulation by flow cytometry with and without isoproterenol (Iso; 10 −10 –10 −8 M) and cortisol (0.1–1 μM), respectively. Plasma IL-1 beta , IL-6, TNF, and cortisol levels were determined by immunoassay. Ninety-six asymptomatic individuals participated, and the associations among depressive mood, obesity, and GR responsivity were investigated in a subset ( N = 35). Beta 2-AR responsivity to Iso in TNF inhibition was smaller among the obese compared to lean individuals ( p ’s beta 2-AR responsivity was negatively associated with plasma levels of IL-1 beta , IL-6 and TNF ( p ’s p ’s
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Autism: Parental Report, Clinical Evaluation, and Associated Factors

The objectives of this study were to characterize gastrointestinal dysfunction (GID) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to examine parental reports of GID relative to evaluations by pediatric gastroenterologists, and to explore factors associated with GID in ASD. One hundred twenty-one children were recruited into three groups: co-occurring ASD and GID, ASD without GID, and GID without ASD. A pediatric gastroenterologist evaluated both GID groups. Parents in all three groups completed questionnaires about their child's behavior and GI symptoms, and a dietary journal. Functional constipation was the most common type of GID in children with ASD (85.0%). Parental report of any GID was highly concordant with a clinical diagnosis of any GID (92.1%). Presence of GID in children with ASD was not associated with distinct dietary habits or medication status. Odds of constipation were associated with younger age, increased social impairment, and lack of expressive language (adjusted odds ratio in nonverbal children: 11.98, 95% confidence interval 2.54-56.57). This study validates parental concerns for GID in children with ASD, as parents were sensitive to the existence, although not necessarily the nature, of GID. The strong association between constipation and language impairment highlights the need for vigilance by health-care providers to detect and treat GID in children with ASD. Medications and diet, commonly thought to contribute to GID in ASD, were not associated with GID status. These findings are consistent with a hypothesis that GID in ASD represents pleiotropic expression of genetic risk factors.
Urban Poverty and Neighborhood Effects on Crime: Incorporating Spatial and Network Perspectives

Research on neighborhoods and crime is on a remarkable growth trajectory. In this article, we survey important recent developments in the scholarship on neighborhood effects and the spatial stratification of poverty and urban crime. We advance the case that, in understanding the impact of neighborhoods and poverty on crime, sociological and criminological research would benefit from expanding the analytical focus from residential neighborhoods to the network of neighborhoods that individuals are exposed to during their daily routine activities. This perspective is supported by re-emerging scholarship on activity spaces and macro-level research on inter-neighborhood connections. We highlight work indicating that non-residential contexts add variation in criminogenic exposure, which in turn influence offending behavior and victimization risk. Also, we draw on recent insights from research on gang violence, social and institutional connections, and spatial mismatch and call for advancements in the scholarship on urban poverty that investigates the salience of inter-neighborhood connections in evaluating the spatial stratification of criminogenic risk for individuals and communities.
Sarcocyst Development in Raccoons (Procyon lotor) Inoculated with Different Strains of Sarcocystis neurona Culture–Derived Merozoites

Abstract: Sarcocystis neurona is considered the major etiologic agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a neurological disease in horses. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is considered the most important intermediate host in the life cycle of S. neurona in the United States; S. neurona sarcocysts do mature in raccoon muscles, and raccoons also develop clinical signs simulating EPM. The focus of this study was to determine if sarcocysts would develop in raccoons experimentally inoculated with different host-derived strains of in vitro–cultivated S. neurona merozoites. Four raccoons were inoculated with strains derived from a raccoon, a sea otter, a cat, and a horse. Raccoon tissues were fed to laboratory-raised opossums (Didelphis virginiana), the definitive host of S. neurona. Intestinal scraping revealed sporocysts in opossums who received muscle tissue from raccoons inoculated with the raccoon-derived or the sea otter–derived isolates. These results demonstrate that sarcocysts can mature in raccoons ...
Human leukemia cell binding and killing by anti-CD5 radioimmunotoxins

We have synthesized a reagent for antibody directed cell targeting composed of the monoclonal antibody (MoAb) T101 linked to the potent toxin ricin. The immunotoxin (IT) was subsequently radiolabeled by a cyclic anhydride procedure with 90Yttrium (90Y) to construct a radioimmunotoxin (RIT) that may have potential for cancer therapy. We evaluated the reagent for selectivity in binding and protein synthesis inhibition (PSI) assays. The RIT selectively bound antigen positive leukemia T-cell lines, with minimal binding to antigen negative control lines. The IT inhibited 87% or greater protein synthesis activity at 1 microgram/ml and exhibited an IC50 (the dose inhibiting 50% activity) of 0.18 +/- 0.08 microgram/ml in the presence of lactose. RIT and nonlabeled IT showed comparable degrees of PSI at 1 microgram/ml and 10 micrograms/ml, suggesting that labeling had little overall effect on the activity of the immunoconjugate. However, indirect evidence showed that the galactose binding site of ricin was inhibited 10-fold by its exposure to 90Y. Control RIT were minimally inhibitory. IT labeled with 131Iodine (131I) by an iodine monochloride technique also retained its capability to selectively inhibit protein synthesis. When RIT were tested for potency in a clonogenic assay against human leukemia T-cell lines, they inhibited 3.61 logs of tumor cell growth at 10 micrograms/ml. This did not represent an improvement over the log elimination with radiolabeled antibody alone, which showed 4.19 log elimination of tumor cells. Our observation that the 90Y-labeled RIT and labeled antibody can selectively eliminate about four logs of tumor cells in an in vitro clonogenic assay is unique. The ability of RIT to kill several logs of tumor cells in vitro renders RIT interesting anti-tumor reagents.