cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental Infection of the Mouse Brain by a Relapsing Fever Borrelia Species: A Molecular Analysis

The spirochetal disease relapsing fever is notable not only for multiphasic antigenic variation but also for central neurologic manifestations. To further characterize involvement of the brain in this disorder, immunocompetent and -deficient mice were infected with Borrelia hermsii. Immunodeficient mice were treated while spirochetemic with neutralizing IgM monoclonal antibodies to the infecting serotype. Blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain tissue were examined by culture and polymerase chain reaction. In immunocompetent mice, antigenic variation occurred in the brain as well as in the blood. In immunodeficient mice, the infecting serotype was still present in the brain after it had been eliminated from the blood by the administered antibodies. These latter results cannot be accounted for by contamination of brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid by blood and, hence, establish the direct involvement of the central nervous system in this experimental infection.
Numerical simulation of complex submicron devices with experimentally determined power maps

Both computational and experimental methods play a key role in thermal characterization, particularly in prototyping and design with each having their own set of strengths and weakness. In this work the authors demonstrate that simulation methods can provide temperature information in three spatial dimensions and in critical regions that are inaccessible to measurement tools. Combining the complementary tools of experimentation and simulation can leverage their respective strengths and create a coupled approach that is vastly more powerful than either tool alone.
Interferon and natural killer cell activity in coxsackie virus B3-induced murine myocarditis

The role of natural killer (NK) cells in the temporal development of coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3m)-induced myocarditis in adolescent CD-1 male mice was examined. Inoculation of purified CVB3m induced maximum NK cell activity in the spleen at 2–4 days post inoculation (P1), as assessed by lysis of YAC-1 cells. Maximum virus titres in heart tissues were obtained on day 3 P1. Mice given anti-asialo GM1 antiserum intravenously had decreased NK cell activity, increased CVB3m titres and exacerbated myocarditis. Although the number of lesions was not increased in the heart tissues of these mice, the lesions exhibited increased myocyte degeneration and dystrophic calcification. Serum interferon titres and anti-CVB3 neutralizing antibody titres in CVB3m-infected mice treated with asialo GM1 antiserum were similar to titres in CVB3m-infected normal mice. An amyocarditic variant of CVB3m (ts5R) replicated in heart tissues and elicited comparable NK cell activity to that elicited by CVB3m. These data suggest that NK cells provide some protection against CVB3m-induced myocarditis by limiting virus replication in heart tissues, independent of the anti-viral effects of interferon.
Numerical Simulation of the Meso-β Scale Structure and Evolution of the 1977 Johnstown Flood. Part I: Model Description and Verification

Abstract The Pennsylvania State University/NCAR mesoscale model, originally developed by Anthes and Warner, is modified to simulate the meso-β scale structure and evolution of convectively driven weather systems. The modifications include: (i) two-way interactive nested-grid procedures, (ii) the Fritsch-Chappell convective parameterization scheme, and (iii) the Blackadar boundary layer package. An 18-h simulation of the Johnstown flood of July 1977 is conducted. Compared to the documentation of Hoxit et al. and Bosart and Sanders, the simulation reproduced many of the different aspect of the mesoscale convective complex and squall line that were responsible for the heavy rain over western Pennsylvania. In particular, the model predicts the size, propagation rate and orientation of the mesoscale convective components that were observed in the mid-Atlantic states. The simulated evolution of the planetary boundary layer, cool outflow boundaries and surface pressure perturbations, such as meso-β scale lows, h...
Tuning the Mechanical Properties of Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Microgel-Based Scaffolds to Increase 3D Schwann Cell Proliferation

2D in vitro studies have demonstrated that Schwann cells prefer scaffolds with mechanical modulus approximately 10× higher than the modulus preferred by nerves, limiting the ability of many scaffolds to promote both neuron extension and Schwann cell proliferation. Therefore, the goals of this work are to develop and characterize microgel-based scaffolds that are tuned over the stiffness range relevant to neural tissue engineering and investigate Schwann cell morphology, viability, and proliferation within 3D scaffolds. Using thiol-ene reaction, microgels with surface thiols are produced and crosslinked into hydrogels using a multiarm vinylsulfone (VS). By varying the concentration of VS, scaffold stiffness ranges from 0.13 to 0.76 kPa. Cell morphology in all groups demonstrates that cells are able to spread and interact with the scaffold through day 5. Although the viability in all groups is high, proliferation of Schwann cells within the scaffold of G* = 0.53 kPa is significantly higher than other groups. This result is ≈ 5× lower than previously reported optimal stiffnesses on 2D surfaces, demonstrating the need for correlation of 3D cell response to mechanical modulus. As proliferation is the first step in Schwann cell integration into peripheral nerve conduits, these scaffolds demonstrate that the stiffness is a critical parameter to optimizing the regenerative process.
River-Bed Degradation Below Dams

A differential equation for degradation is derived by considering variations in friction velocity, critical friction velocity, sediment size, depth of flow, and river width. The armoring effect for nonuniform bed material, which is an important factor in the analysis of degradation problems, is included in the theoretical analysis. Methods of predicting the river-bed degradation below dams are developed by using a differential equation. Numerical examples for a final equilibrium profile demonstrate applications of the method to rivers.
"TROPHIC" INFLUENCE ON THE SYMPATHETIC NERVES OF THE VAS DEFERENS AND SEMINAL VESICLE OF THE GUINEA PIG

Endogenous norepinephrine content and retention of 3 H-norepinephrine were investigated in the vas deferens, seminal vesicle, urinary bladder and left atrium of the guinea pig under several experimental conditions. Castration of adult guinea pigs resulted in a 50% reduction in wet weight of vas deferens and seminal vesicle. Reduction in weight of these tissues was accompanied by a proportional decrease in norepinephrine content and 3 H-norepinephrine retention. Administration of testosterone (10 mg/kg s.c.) five times a week for 30 days to castrate adult animals increased the weight of vas deferens and seminal vesicle by 2-to 3-fold. Norepinephrine content and retention also revealed about 2-to 3-fold increase. In spite of simultaneous loss or gain in the wet weights of seminal vesicies and vasa deferentia, their endogenous amine concentration, expressed as micrograms per gram of tissue, remained remarkably constant under a wide variety of experimental conditions. Seventy-five days after castration of immature guinea pigs (1-4 days old), the weights of vasa deferentia and seminal vesicles were only ¼ and ⅛, respectively, of the corresponding control tissues. Norepinephrine content and 3 H-norepinephrine retention of these tissues were also about ¼ to ⅛ of controls. Castration and testosterone treatment had no effect on the wet weight, norepinephrine content and 3 H-norepinephrine retention by the urinary bladder and left atrium. It is hypothesized that, as the vas deferens and seminal vesicle degenerate (after castration) or regenerate (after testosterone treatment), sympathetic nerves follow a similar pattern. It may be that the effector organ is capable of maintaining a constant density of innervation by exerting a "trophic" influence on nerves.
Guided wave propagation in composite laminates using piezoelectric wafer active sensors

Piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) are lightweight and inexpensive transducers that enable a large class of structural health monitoring (SHM) applications such as: (a) embedded guided wave ultrasonics, i.e., pitch-catch, pulse-echo, phased arrays; (b) high-frequency modal sensing, i.e., electro-mechanical impedance method; and (c) passive detection. The focus of this paper is on the challenges posed by using PWAS transducers in the composite laminate structures as different from the metallic structures on which this methodology was initially developed. After a brief introduction, the paper reviews the PWAS-based SHM principles. It follows with a discussion of guided wave propagation in composites and PWAS tuning effects. Then, the mechanical effect is discussed on the integration of piezoelectric wafer inside the laminate using a compression after impact. Experiments were performed on a glass fiber laminate, employing PWAS to measure the attenuation coefficient. Finally, the paper presents some experimental and multi-physics finite element method (MP-FEM) results on guided wave propagation in composite laminate specimens.
Macrophage- and Oxidant-Mediated Inhibition of the Ability of Live Blastomyces dermatitidis Conidia to Transform to the Pathogenic Yeast Phase: Implications for the Pathogenesis of Dimorphic Fungal Infections

Conidia, produced by the mycelial phase of dimorphic fungi, are thought to represent the infectious form of the organism but must complete a transition to the tissue-invasive, yeast-like phase for infection to ensue. Preventing such transition should effectively eliminate pathogenicity. Using Blastomyces dermatitidis as a target, murine bronchoalveolar macrophages preferentially blocked phase transition after 4 h of incubation with conidia, relatively sparing the ability of conidia to produce hyphae. H2O2, in relatively high concentrations, demonstrated the same activity. The effects of H2O2 seem irreversible, since H2O2-treated conidia that germinated at 48 h at 25 degrees C were still unable to produce yeasts over the next 5 days when incubated at 37 degrees C. Catalase could not reverse the macrophage-induced inhibition of phase transition, suggesting that nonoxidative defense mechanisms may be operative in vivo. Since conidia do not form mycelia at temperatures found in mammalian hosts, these effects may represent a novel host defense mechanism against dimorphic fungal pathogens.
On the Unsteady Shock Wave Interaction with a Backward-Facing Step: Viscous Analysis

Unsteady shock propagation through ducts with varying cross-sectional area occurs in many engineering applications, such as explosions in underground tunnels, blast shelter design, engine exhaust systems, and high-speed propulsion systems. These complex, transient flows are rich in fundamental fluid-dynamic phenomena and are excellent testbeds for improving our understanding of unsteady fluid dynamics
CONSTRUCTION OF SURGERY PROBLEMS

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the construction of surgery problems. A blocked space ɛ consists of an underlying space E(ɛ together with a finite collection of subspaces {b j (ɛ : J ɛ J ξ } called the blocks of ξ. For a blocked space ξ ɛ … denoted the filtration by blocked subcomplexes. The difference of surgery problems having the same closed Poincare space for range can be represented by a normal map with closed manifold for range. This argument also works for blocked normal maps also. In the Poincare category a surgery problem consists of a degree one fiber map between stable spherical fibrations over Poincare spaces over X,Y together with framing formation that can be either given as a spherical class representing the positive generator of the top dimensional homology of the Thom space T (τ) , or as homotopy commutative diagram.
The role of personal networks in the labour insertion of weak jobseekers

This paper investigates the labour market outcomes of a representative sample of unemployed individuals attending regional vocational training programs in Piedmont, North-West Italy. In particular, it proposes a multivariate analysis to describe and assess the effects of individual social networks (family, friends and acquaintance) on trainees' employment outcome. Analysing the influence of different network configurations on the probability of getting employed in the post-training medium period, it can be pointed out that strict and intense family ties are negatively correlated to individual employability. Moreover, it emerges that job referral is one of the most popular job search channels among Italian trainees, proving to be the most successful one.
Dental Morphology in Biodistance Analysis

The applications of dental morphology within biological distance studies in both forensic anthropological and bioarchaeological settings are explored. This review includes a discussion of permanent and deciduous teeth, trait heritability and thresholds, and data collection and analysis. An examination of the major geographic “dental complexes” is also presented, which is followed by a review of dental morphology in forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology. Finally, a consideration of hominin dental morphology is given to provide an evolutionary perspective, which is key to understanding modern human variation. The authors further highlight the importance of studying teeth within biological anthropology as a means to answer questions of anthropological and medicolegal interest.
Pentagon Relation for the Quantum Dilogarithm and Quantized M 0,5 cyc

We give a proof of the pentagon relation for the quantum dilogarithm by using functional analysis methods. We introduce a related Schwartz space and prove that it is preserved by the intertwiner operator defined using the quantum dilogarithm. Using this we can define a representation of the quantized moduli space of configurations of 5 points on the projective line.
Increased Echogenicity and Radiodense Foci on Echocardiogram and MicroCT in Murine Myocarditis.

Objectives To address the question as to whether echocardiographic and/or microcomputed tomography (microCT) analysis can be utilized to assess the extent of Coxsackie B virus (CVB) induced myocarditis in the absence of left ventricular dysfunction in the mouse. Background Viral myocarditis is a significant clinical problem with associated inflammation of the myocardium and myocardial injury. Murine models of myocarditis are commonly used to study the pathophysiology of the disease, but methods for imaging the mouse myocardium have been limited to echocardiographic assessment of ventricular dysfunction and, to a lesser extent, MRI imaging. Methods Using a murine model of myocarditis, we used both echocardiography and microCT to assess the extent of myocardial involvement in murine myocarditis using both wild-type mice and CVB cleavage-resistant dystrophin knock-in mice. Results Areas of increased echogenicity were only observed in the myocardium of Coxsackie B virus infected mice. These echocardiographic abnormalities correlated with the extent of von Kossa staining (a marker of membrane permeability), inflammation, and fibrosis. Given that calcium phosphate uptake as imaged by von Kossa staining might also be visualized using microCT, we utilized microCT imaging which allowed for high-resolution, 3-dimensional images of radiodensities that likely represent calcium phosphate uptake. As with echocardiography, only mice infected with Coxsackie B virus displayed abnormal accumulation of calcium within individual myocytes indicating increased membrane permeability only upon exposure to virus. Conclusions These studies demonstrate new, quantitative, and semi-quantitative imaging approaches for the assessment of myocardial involvement in the setting of viral myocarditis in the commonly utilized mouse model of viral myocarditis.
THE KINETICS OF OXYGEN BINDING TO HUMAN RED BLOOD CELLS

The rate of oxygen uptake by human erythrocytes is roughly 40 times slower (t1/2 ≈ 80 ms at 0.125 mM O 2 , 25°) than the corresponding rate of oxygen combination with free hemoglobin. Diffusion through the intracellular hemoglobin matrix accounts for part of this difference and predicts a half time of uptake of about 15 ms, a value which is still 5 times smaller than that observed experimentally. The further slowing of uptake appears to be due to the presence of unstirred layers of solvent surrounding the red cell membrane. Very rapidly after mixing, these layers form and become depleted of O 2 during uptake by the cells. This requires that the bulk of the oxygen molecules must diffuse over rather large distances, 0.5 to 3.0 μ, before they can penetrate the erythrocytes.
Low Temperature Solution-Processed Sb:SnO 2 Nanocrystals for Efficient Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

Inorganic metal oxide electron-transport layers (ETLs) have the potential to yield perovskite solar cells with improved stability, but generally need high temperature to form conductive and defect-less forms, which is not compatible with the fabrication of flexible and tandem solar cells. Here, we demonstrate a facile strategy for developing efficient inorganic ETLs by doping SnO2 nanocrystals (NCs) with a small amount of Sb using a low-temperature solution-processed method. The electrical conductivity was remarkably enhanced by Sb-doping, which increased the carrier concentration in Sb:SnO2 NCs. Moreover, the upward shift of the Fermi level owing to doping results in improved energy level alignment, which led to reduced charge recombination, and thus longer electron recombination lifetime and improved open-circuit voltage (VOC ). Therefore, Sb-doping of SnO2 significantly enhanced the photovoltaic performance of planar perovskite devices by increasing the fill factor and VOC , and reducing photocurrent hysteresis, extending the potential application of low-temperature-processed ETLs in future flexible and tandem solar cells.
A t(8;21) Fusion Protein Disrupts the Spindle Checkpoint and Promotes Aneuploidy.

The 8;21 translocation occurs in approximately 8% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. This chromosomal lesion results in the fusion of the AML1 (RUNX1) gene on chromosome 21 to the ETO (MTG8) gene on chromosome 8 and generates the AML1-ETO fusion protein. We identified a truncated form of AML1-ETO which lacks approximately 200 amino acids at the C-terminus of full length AML1-ETO and strongly induces leukemia development (Yan et al, PNAS 101(49): 17186–91, 2004). This protein is almost identical to a natural splice form of AML1-ETO designated AML1-ETO9a, which is expressed in t(8;21) patients. To study the leukemogenic properties of the truncated form of AML1-ETO (AEtr), we examined cell cycle profiles to compare it to full length AML1-ETO. In contrast to full length AML1-ETO which induced growth arrest of K562 cells, AEtr did not inhibit cell proliferation. Interestingly, AEtr expressing cells continued to proliferate in the presence of microtubule toxins that normally activate the spindle checkpoint and arrest cells in prometaphase of mitosis. Evaluation of critical components of the spindle checkpoint revealed a significant decrease in BubR1 protein in AEtr cells compared to vector control cells. BubR1 is a potent inhibitor of the anaphase promoting complex and reduction of BubR1 by either siRNA approaches or gene deletion in mice results in aneuploidy. Cytogenetic analyses of leukemic splenocytes from mice transplanted with AEtr cells identified multiple chromosomal abnormalities, including chromosome loss and gain as well as translocations. Observations of chromosomal alterations in t(8;21) patients have been well documented and include loss of either sex chromosome in 70% of patients, deletions of chromosome 9, and trisomy 8. These results indicate that inactivation of the spindle checkpoint through BubR1 reduction may be an important event in the development of t(8;21) leukemias.
Application of successional theory to tundra restoration: a review

Life-history traits of individual species, competitive interactions, and facilitation all contribute to the pattern and rate of succession in tundra ecosystems. An understanding of these natural successional processes will permit the development of effective strategies for restoration of disturbed areas in tundra. In mesic disturbed sites, the soil organic mat remains, providing a source of buried seed and vegetative propagules as well as a store of nutrients. Except where surface erosion is severe, natural succession can proceed quite rapidly, and sowing of exotic grasses is likely to inhibit rather than promote the establishment of native plants. By contrast, revegetation of xeric disturbed sites is often restricted by inadequate supplies of seed, nitrogen, and/or water. Sowing or planting may facilitate the invasion of native plants by increasing nutrient availability, especially if species with symbiotic nitrogen fixation are used. Where erosion hazards are severe, planting may be necessary for engineering reasons, regardless of its effect on the establishment of native plants.
Atypical Rhetorical Actions: Defying Genre Expectations on Amazon.com

The author considers the extent to which genre defiance is caught between typification and emergence. To what extent must atypical rhetorical actions mobilize socially recognizable types? Examining Amazon.com product reviews that deliberately defy genre expectations—and thus the market—in product reviews provides a case study to investigate genre defiance. We learn that rhetors cannot move into some kind of “genre-free” zone, but they can defy genre expectations using satire, parody, and reflexivity. Even genre defiance happens in relatively typified ways, which actually enables rhetors like defiant Amazon.com reviewers to reconstitute rhetorical situations and thus call for more fitting and recognizable responses to perceived exigencies.
Computationally efficient information-theoretic exploration of pits and caves

This paper presents a real-time, kinodynamic planning and information-theoretic exploration framework that enables high-resolution mapping of three-dimensional environments featuring complex concavities and disjoint objects. The proposed approach targets planetary exploration applications and seeks to achieve real-time operation on computationally constrained systems while ensuring energy-efficient information acquisition. Trajectories are selected by maximizing a measure of information gain per an expected execution cost (e.g., time or energy). The proposed trajectory generation formulation is based on state-lattice motion primitives and evaluation of the Cauchy-Schwarz quadratic mutual information (CSQMI) at each lattice state. An expanded search structure is proposed that extends the state-lattice to a finite horizon to enable expansive space coverage while remaining real-time viable. Additionally, compression techniques are employed to reduce the computational burden associated with the CSQMI calculation over expansive environments while preserving fidelity. The performance of the proposed methodology is evaluated through simulated exploration of a three-dimensional terrestrial pit environment by a quadrotor aerial robot which acts as a surrogate for a propulsive vehicle when operating on an airless body.
A closed loop system for engine control at lean air/fuel ratios

Based on the premise that the best way to deal with current constraints imposed upon car engines is by technological advances. Ford Motor Company is developing an electronically controlled lean combustion system to study maximising engine efficiency. This lean burn engine system incorporates electronic engine control, EEC–IV, and a lean EGO sensing device to produce a totally interactive lean combustion system. The ultimate goal is to electronically control an engine in closed loop at lean A/F ratios. Possible benefits include improving fuel economy and reducing the need for EGR and emission control devices. This paper outlines and describes the system components and control strategy, including application data and test results. A modified 1.6L CVH swirl port engine was used to demonstrate the closed loop system. A lean EGO sensor capable of sensing A/F ratios up to 20:l was used as the feedback element.
Delaware and Santa Fe

This book chapter examines the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Santa Fe Industries v. Green, which is often credited with enabling Delaware to become the leading creator of corporate law. It discusses the cases leading up to Santa Fe to understand why the plaintiff thought he could win a Rule 10b-5 claim based solely on a breach of fiduciary duty. Though Santa Fe played a role in moving minority shareholder litigation back to the state courts, it never created a complete separation between corporate and securities litigation. Santa Fe must be understood within a particular context, suits by minority shareholders who allege some abuse by a controlling shareholder. Delaware came to dominate this area of litigation by developing a fairness test that better fit the typical dispute between majority and minority shareholders than a Rule 10b-5 securities fraud claim. As corporate governance disputes have shifted to other areas, Santa Fe has not been particularly effective in separating federal securities and state corporate law.
The Case for Making Tight Control Plane Latency Guarantees in SDN Switches

SDN controllers demand tight performance guarantees over the control plane actions performed by SDN switches. For example, traffic engineering techniques that frequently reconfigure the network require guarantees on the speed of gathering data from the network and the speed of reconfiguring the network. Yet, modern switches provide no guarantees for these control plane actions, e.g., inserting rules or gathering statistics. In fact, initial experiments demonstrate that unpredictability in control plane actions, specifically rule insertion, can inflate application completion times by a factor of 4X!In this paper, we present Mercury, a framework that offers a novel method for efficiently and practically managing switch TCAM to enable strict performance guarantees. Specifically, Mercury builds on the fundamental properties of TCAMs and provides guarantees by trading-off a nominal amount of TCAM space for assured performance. Our preliminary evaluations show that with less than 10% overheads, Mercury provides guarantees of 10ms insertion time and improves application performance by a factor 2X to 5X.
Evaluation of Behavior Modification Studies Using Criterion Referenced Measurement Principles

Little attention has been paid to the evaluation of behavior modification programs in their unique clinical and classroom settings. Characteristics of criterion referenced measurement suggest areas for research concerning the context of a behavior modification. Specifically, (a) identification of a domain of relevant behaviors, (b) specification of a criterion level of the desired behavior, and (c) measurement of behaviors in a variety of situations could provide information valuable to a behavior modifier making decisions about the implementation of his or her program. A model is proposed by which the development and evaluation of a modification program can be undertaken.
A simple and rapid DNA extraction method for Chlamydia trachomatis detection from urogenital swabs

A highly sensitive and specific Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) diagnostic test was developed by combining filtration isolation of nucleic acid (FINA) extraction with quantitative polymerase chain reaction including an internal control to identify test inhibition. A pilot study of 40 clinical specimens yielded 100% sensitivity and specificity.
Comparative analysis reveals regulatory motifs at the ainS/ainR pheromone-signaling locus of Vibrio fischeri.

Vibrio fischeri uses the AinS/AinR pheromone-signaling system to control bioluminescence and other symbiotic colonization factors. The Ain system is thought to initiate cell-cell signaling at moderate cell densities and to prime the LuxI/LuxR signaling system. Here we compared and analyzed the ain locus from two V. fischeri strains and a Vibrio salmonicida strain to explore ain regulation. The ainS and ainR genes were predicted to constitute an operon, which we corroborated using RT-PCR. Comparisons between strains revealed a stark area of conservation across the ainS-ainR junction, including a large inverted repeat in ainR. We found that this inverted repeat in cis can affect accumulation of the AinS-generated pheromone N-octanoyl homoserine lactone, which may account for the previously unexplained low-signal phenotype of a ∆ainR mutant, although the mechanism behind this regulation remains elusive. We also extended the previous observation of a possible “lux box” LuxR binding site upstream of ainS by showing the conservation of this site as well as a second putative lux box. Using a plasmid-based reporter we found that LuxR can mediate repression of ainS, providing a negative feedback mechanism in the Ain/Lux signaling cascade. Our results provide new insights into the regulation, expression, and evolution of ainSR.
Aerial image ORC checks and their correlation to wafer-edge yield limitation for metals: a study and an OPC resolution

Lithography process variation as well as etch and topography have always been a stubborn challenge for advanced technology nodes, i.e. 14nm and beyond. This variability usually results in defects aggregating around the edge of the wafer and leading to yield loss. A very tight process control is the logical resolution for such issues, nevertheless it might not be possible, or it may slow down the whole design to silicon cycle time. Another degree of difficulty is detecting these defects in ORC and concluding an OPC fix. In this paper, we show that aerial image ORC checks could provide a very useful insight to these defects ahead of time, and that they correlate well with silicon defects highlighted by CFM scan. This early detection upstream enables us to conclude a generic OPC fix for such issues and also improves the total OPC process-window enhancement and eliminates these defects on silicon.
The Origin and Evolution of New Genes

New genes are a major source of genetic innovation in genomes. However, until recently, understanding how new genes originate and how they evolve was hampered by the lack of appropriate genetic datasets. The advent of the genomic era brought about a revolution in the amount of data available to study new genes. For the first time, decades-old theoretical principles could be tested empirically and novel and unexpected avenues of research opened up. This chapter explores how genomic data can and is being used to study both the origin and evolution of new genes and the surprising discoveries made thus far.
Modulation of DNA Repair and Glutathione Levels in Human Keratinocytes by Micromolar Arsenite

Publisher Summary Arsenic (As) is not a mutagen but a human carcinogen though it inhibits DNA repair and is a comutagen. Human AG06 keratinocytes treated with micromolar As exhibit dose and time-dependent loss of DNA ligase function. However, purified human DNA ligase I, ligase III, and other repair enzymes, such as DNA polymerase β, are not inhibited by less than millimolar arsenite, As(III), the most toxic form of As found in the environment. DNA ligase activity in extracts from untreated keratinocytes is also insensitive to less than millimolar As. Pyruvate dehydrogenase, on the other hand, is inhibited by micromolar As and probably determines As-induced cytotoxicity. Simultaneous treatment of AG06 cells with an alkylating agent, 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), plus As produces a synergistic increase in viability (dye uptake) at low doses and a synergistic increase in toxicity at high doses. Micromolar As also modulates cellular redox levels and induces a variety of cellular stress response genes. Keratinocytes treated with As exhibit both a time- and dose-dependent increase in cellular GSH levels and alterations in the relative activity of several GSH-dependent enzymes. These As-induced changes in cellular redox capacity and DNA repair activity are not directly related to toxicity. Maximal induction of GSH and DNA repair occurs after a treatment with subtoxic concentrations of As. At submicromolar concentrations, As also induces hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, both in vivo and in vitro. Results in this chapter suggest that As modulates DNA repair and redox levels primarily through post-translation or transcriptional mechanisms.
Lattice Gas Automata: Comparison of Simulation and Theory

In this chapter I will review some of the work that Leo Kadanoff, Guy McNamara and I have done on the study of the hydrodynamic behavior of Lattice Gas Automata, a technique that was recently proposed by Uriel Frisch, Brosl Hasslacher, and Yves Pomeau1,2for the numerical solution of the incompressible Navier Stokes equation. I will give more details later, but, for the time being, it is enough to describe the LGA as a collection of particles that inhabit the sites of a regular lattice, are allowed to hop from a lattice site to its nearest neighbors, and can experience a primitive form of collision at the lattice sites. The “collisions” between particles are implemented as a set of deterministic collision rules that redistribute the particles at each site between the possible hopping directions. The set of rules actually used is a technical detail; what is important is that the rules are constructed to conserve the total number of particles and the total linear momentum present at each site. These conservation laws reappear in the macroscopic dynamics* as differential conservation laws. It is usually argued that, when the underlying regular lattice has been properly chosen (i.e. an hexagonal lattice for the two dimensional LGA) the form of the hydrodynamic equations appropriate for the LGA is very similar to that found for simple fluids. In fact, immediately following Ref. 1 many authors (see the large bibliography in Ref. 3) applied this new method to various test cases and obtained rather promising qualitative, and sometimes semiquantitative, results.
Evaluation of Switching Patterns in FDA’s Sentinel System: A New Tool to Assess Generic Drugs

Nearly 90% of drugs dispensed in the US are generic products. The aim of this study was to develop and implement a tool for analyzing manufacturer-level drug utilization and switching patterns within the US Food and Drug Administration’s Sentinel system. A descriptive tool was designed to analyze data in the Sentinel common data model and was tested with two case studies—metoprolol extended release (ER) and lamotrigine ER—using claims data from four Sentinel data partners. We plotted initiators of each brand and generic product over time. For metoprolol ER, we evaluated rates of switching from generics around the time of manufacturing issues. For lamotrigine ER, we examined rates of switching back to the brand among those who switched from brand to generic. We identified 1,651,285 initiators of metoprolol ER products between July 2008 and September 2015. We observed a large decrease in monthly metoprolol ER initiators (from 25,465 in December 2008 to 13,128 in February 2009), corresponding to recalls by generic manufacturers. We observed simultaneous increases in utilization of the authorized generic and brand products. We identified 4266 initiators of lamotrigine ER with an epilepsy diagnosis between January 2012 and September 2015. Among those who switched from brand to generic, the cumulative incidence of switching back was close to 20% at 2 years. Switchback rates were higher for the first available generic products. This developed tool was able to elucidate novel utilization and switching patterns in two case studies. Such information can be used to support surveillance of generic drugs and biosimilars.
Inappropriate Medication Use in Hospitalized Patients Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate at which potentially inappropriate medications were administered for patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD). This is a single-center, retrospective, case cohort study with data collected at an academic medical center between January 2010 and December 2013. Participants included all adult patients with admission diagnosis codes for PD. Included patients were screened for administrations of 27 potentially inappropriate medications and two potentially appropriate medications to be used for comparison. There were 1736 patients who met inclusion criteria with 175 documented administrations of potentially inappropriate medications to 77 patients. Patients who received potentially inappropriate medications had a longer mean duration of stay than the baseline population of PD patients (3.3 days vs. 1.9 days, p-value < 0.001). Despite recommendations to avoid certain medications in PD patients, a substantial number of administrations still occurred. The use of these medications can have clinical implications and our findings demonstrate increases in duration of stay. The findings from this study can assist in developing technological alerts to reduce inappropriate prescribing to PD patients. Larger prospective studies are warranted to further investigate the administration of inappropriate medications to patients diagnosed with PD.
DYNAMICAL METEOROLOGY | Acoustic Waves

A brief overview of basic acoustic wave propagation is given, followed by a discussion of refraction and diffraction of audible sound in realistic daytime and nighttime atmospheres. Numerical examples show the effect of atmospheric turbulence on sound propagation in an upward-refracting (daytime) unstable atmosphere and a downward-refracting (nighttime) stable boundary layer. Experimental results for pulse propagation in a stable nighttime boundary layer with internal gravity waves are presented and discussed. Finally, remote sensing of the atmosphere using a sodar and a radio acoustic sounding system is briefly discussed. A grayscale plot from a sodar is presented and explained. The plot shows the evolution of the atmospheric boundary layer over a diurnal cycle.
Periodontal disease, smoking, cardiovascular complications and mortality in type 1 diabetes

Abstract Aim To assess the role of periodontal disease (PD) as a predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) and mortality in a prospective type 1 diabetes (T1D) cohort and to evaluate the role of smoking in this relationship. Methods Data were based on 320 participants of the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications study of T1D who, during 1992–94, received a partial mouth periodontal exam, and who were followed for up to 19 years to ascertain complication incidence. PD was defined as clinical attachment loss of ≥4 mm for at least 10% of the examined sites. Predictors of all-cause mortality; Hard CAD (CAD death, myocardial infarction or revascularization), and Total CAD (Hard CAD, angina, ischemic ECG) were assessed using Cox models. Results During 19 years of follow-up, 33.7% (97/288) developed CAD, 27.3% (83/304) developed Hard CAD, and 16.9% (54/320) died. Among current smokers, 46.4% (26/56) developed CAD, 42.7% (24/56) developed Hard CAD and 29.5% (18/61) died. PD was not associated with all-cause mortality, although it was a significant predictor of both CAD (HR = 1.12, CI = 1.01–1.23) and Hard CAD (HR = 1.30, CI = 1.11–1.51). As smoking modified the PD-CAD and PD-Hard CAD associations, analyses were stratified by smoking status. PD was associated with an increased risk of CAD (HR = 1.25, CI = 1.03–1.50) and Hard CAD (HR = 1.85, CI = 1.17–2.93) only among smokers. Conclusion PD was a significant predictor of CAD and Hard CAD among current smokers with T1D.
Wonder, Value and God

In Wonder, Value and God, Robin Attfield extrapolates on ideas developed throughout his long and productive career as an environmental philosopher. The chapters that comprise the book explore, from...
Recent Updates in the Role of Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death.

The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) or LifeVest may protect against sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients awaiting insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The purpose of this communication is to review the rationale behind WCD therapy and to critically analyze recent data regarding its clinical efficacy. We seek to provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the potential role of the WCD in certain populations. The only randomized controlled trial that evaluated WCD therapy did not demonstrate a reduced rate of arrhythmic death in patients prescribed the WCD during the first 90-day post-myocardial infarction (MI). However, when considering trial results alongside previous retrospective data, patient noncompliance with WCD therapy—rather than ineffectiveness of WCD therapy—remains an important theme. The uncertainty of data regarding the use of WCD therapy in patients during ICD waiting periods should be considered as part of the shared decision processes between healthcare providers and patients. Higher rates of adherence are needed to ensure efficiency. Well-designed future studies with appropriate cost-effectiveness analyses are indicated to define the clinical efficacy of WCD therapy on arrhythmic and non-arrhythmic morbidity and mortality in patients who are not yet candidates for ICDs.
Testing Influence of Network Structure on Team Performance Using STERGM-Based Controls

We demonstrate an approach to perform significance testing on the association between two different network-level properties, based on the observation of multiple networks over time. This approach may be applied, for instance, to evaluate how patterns of social relationships within teams are associated with team performance on different tasks. We apply this approach to understand the team processes of crews in long-duration space exploration analogs. Using data collected from crews in NASA analogs, we identify how interpersonal network patterns among crew members relate to performance on various tasks. In our significance testing, we control for complex interdependencies between network ties: structural patterns, such as reciprocity, and temporal patterns in how ties tend to form or dissolve over time. To accomplish this, Separable Temporal Exponential Random Graph Models (STERGMs) are used as a parametric approach for sampling from the null distribution, in order to calculate p-values.
High Frame Rate Imaging to Enhance the Dissolution of Histotripsy-Induced Bubble Clouds

Histotripsy is a focused ultrasound therapy for tissue ablation with bubble cloud activity. Persistent bubble clouds reduce the ablative capacity of histotripsy. Thus, there is a need for bubble-specific imaging to track bubble cloud dissolution between the application of histotripsy pulses. In this study, standard plane wave, pulse inversion, and chirp-coded excitation imaging were utilized to visualize bubble clouds at a 2-kHz frame rate. For all imaging schemes, a monotonic decrease in the bubble cloud grayscale was observed over a 45-ms period following the histotripsy insonation. The change in bubble cloud grayscale was dependent on the imaging scheme, with faster grayscale reduction for larger peak negative pressures of the imaging pulse. Bubble-specific sequences resulted in faster decreases in the bubble cloud grayscale compared with standard plane wave imaging. Overall, these results highlight high-frame rate imaging as a means to monitor and modulate histotripsy bubble cloud dissolution.
Free energy of proton transfer at the water–TiO2 interface from ab initio deep potential molecular dynamics

TiO2 is a widely used photocatalyst in science and technology and its interface with water is important in fields ranging from geochemistry to biomedicine. Yet, it is still unclear whether water adsorbs in molecular or dissociated form on TiO2 even for the case of well-defined crystalline surfaces. To address this issue, we simulated the TiO2-water interface using molecular dynamics with an ab initio-based deep neural network potential. Our simulations show a dynamical equilibrium of molecular and dissociative adsorption of water on TiO2. Water dissociates through a solvent-assisted concerted proton transfer to form a pair of short-lived hydroxyl groups on the TiO2 surface. Molecular adsorption of water is ΔF = 8.0 ± 0.9 kJ mol-1 lower in free energy than the dissociative adsorption, giving rise to a 5.6 ± 0.5% equilibrium water dissociation fraction at room temperature. Due to the relevance of surface hydroxyl groups to the surface chemistry of TiO2, our model might be key to understanding phenomena ranging from surface functionalization to photocatalytic mechanisms.
Identification, deployment, and transferability of quantitative trait loci from genome-wide association studies in plants

Abstract Over the past decade, the use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in plant breeding for discovery and validation of quantitative trait loci (QTL) has vastly increased. Successful deployment and transferability of these findings, however, have been limited. To increase the value of GWAS for plant breeding, experimental and methodological aspects must be addressed and refined. Population designs and statistical techniques are necessary to properly account for the effect of long-range linkage disequilibrium. Success of current methods has been restricted to the detection of common-variants with moderate additive effects; discovery of rare variants or QTL that depart from additivity has been elusive. Pleiotropy casts doubt on the cause-effect relationships between markers and multiple traits. Major criticisms of association studies center on reproducibility of results and the lack of transferability to other environments and populations. We also discuss population structure, phenotypic plasticity, epistasis, and genotype-by-environment interactions as they apply to GWAS. Perspectives are given for environment-dependent QTL, experimental settings, use of next-generation populations, and deployment of GWAS results for breeding applications and strategic exploitation of genotype-by-environment interactions. In summary, we present an overview of contemporary issues in identification and deployment of marker-trait associations and suggest future avenues of research towards new methods and new sources of data.
What are the functions of nails

What are the functions of nails? The nails embryonic origin starts composing at t​he seventh to eighth weeks during development and is entirely constructed at childbirth. The human anatomy of the nail comprises epithelial and connective tissue components; nail matrix, nail bed, nail plate, nail folds, mantle, hyponychium, and isthmus. The nail functions to provide sensory, thermoregulatory, and protective features to the distal fingers and toes. The average nail lengthens two-three millimeters every four weeks, replacing itself entirely once every six-nine months, depending on the individual.​ The nail growth, color, consistency, and appearance may provide insight into an individual's health and manifestations of localized or deeper systemic conditions