cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case study of the space shuttle cockpit avionics upgrade software

The purpose of the Space Shuttle cockpit avionics upgrade project was to reduce crew workload and improve situational awareness. The upgrade was to augment the Shuttle avionics system with new hardware and software. An early version of this system was used to gather human factor statistics in the Space Shuttle motion simulator of the Johnson Space Center for one month by multiple teams of astronauts. The results were compiled by NASA Ames Research Center and it was determined that the system provided a better than expected increase in situational awareness and reduction in crew workload. Even with all of the benefits of the system, NASA cancelled the project toward the end of the development cycle. A major success of this project was the validation of the hardware architecture and software design. This was significant because the project incorporated new technology and approaches for the development of human rated space software. The major technological advances were the use of reflective memory concepts for data acquisition and the incorporation of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products in a human rated space avionics system. The infused COTS products included a real-time operating system, a resident linker and loader, a display generation tool set, and a network data manager. Some of the successful design concepts were the engineering of identical outputs in multiple avionics boxes using an event driven approach and inter-computer communication, a reconfigurable data acquisition engine, the use of dynamic linking at runtime, and the use of a dynamic bus bandwidth allocation algorithm. Other significant experiences captured were the use of prototyping to reduce risk, and the correct balance between object oriented and functional based programming
Quasiparticle equation of state for anisotropic hydrodynamics

We present a new method for imposing a realistic equation of state in anisotropic hydrodynamics. The method relies on the introduction of a single finite-temperature quasiparticle mass which is fit to lattice data. By taking moments of the Boltzmann equation, we obtain a set of coupled partial differential equations which can be used to describe the 3+1-dimensional (3+1d) spacetime evolution of an anisotropic relativistic system. We then specialize to the case of a 0+1d system undergoing boost-invariant Bjorken expansion and subject to the relaxation-time approximation collisional kernel. Using this setup, we compare results obtained using the new quasiparticle equation of state method with those obtained using the standard method for imposing the equation of state in anisotropic hydrodynamics. We demonstrate that the temperature evolution obtained using the two methods is nearly identical and that there are only small differences in the pressure anisotropy. However, we find that there are significant differences in the evolution of the bulk pressure correction.
One pot direct synthesis of amides or oxazolines from carboxylic acids using Deoxo-Fluor reagent.

Abstract A mild and highly efficient one pot–one step condensation and/or condensation–cyclization of various acids to amides and/or oxazolines using Deoxo-Fluor reagents is described. Parallel syntheses of various free fatty acids with 2-amino-2,2-dimethyl-1-propanol resulted with excellent yields.
Looking for Critical Thinking in Online Threaded Discussions.

Threaded discussion forums have been a popular topic for the past few years in distance education research and studied as a factor in student participation, satisfaction, learning outcomes, social ...
From eV to EeV: Neutrino Cross Sections Across Energy Scales

Since its original postulation by Wolfgang Pauli in 1930, the neutrino has played a prominent role in our understanding of nuclear and particle physics. In the intervening 80 years, scientists have detected and measured neutrinos from a variety of sources, both man made and natural. Underlying all of these observations, and any inferences we may have made from them, is an understanding of how neutrinos interact with matter. Knowledge of neutrino interaction cross sections is an important and necessary ingredient in any neutrino measurement. With the advent of new precision experiments, the demands on our understanding of neutrino interactions is becoming even greater. The purpose of this article is to survey our current knowledge of neutrino cross sections across all known energy scales: from the very lowest energies to the highest that we hope to observe. The article covers a wide range of neutrino interactions including coherent scattering, neutrino capture, inverse beta decay, low-energy nuclear interactions, quasielastic scattering, resonant pion production, kaon production, deep inelastic scattering, and ultrahigh energy interactions. Strong emphasis is placed on experimental data whenever such measurements are available.
Effects of Particle Shape on Growth Dynamics at Edges of Evaporating Drops of Colloidal Suspensions

We study the influence of particle shape on growth processes at the edges of evaporating drops. Aqueous suspensions of colloidal particles evaporate on glass slides, and convective flows during evaporation carry particles from drop center to drop edge, where they accumulate. The resulting particle deposits grow inhomogeneously from the edge in two dimensions, and the deposition front, or growth line, varies spatiotemporally. Measurements of the fluctuations of the deposition front during evaporation enable us to identify distinct growth processes that depend strongly on particle shape. Sphere deposition exhibits a classic Poisson-like growth process; deposition of slightly anisotropic particles, however, belongs to the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang universality class, and deposition of highly anisotropic ellipsoids appears to belong to a third universality class, characterized by Kardar-Parisi-Zhang fluctuations in the presence of quenched disorder.
Superconducting-contact-induced resistance-anomalies in the 3D topological insulator Bi2Te3

This study examines the magnetotransport response observed in flakes of the 3D topological insulator (TI) Bi2Te3, including indium superconducting electrodes, and demonstrates two critical transitions in the magnetoresistive response with decreasing temperatures below T=3.4 K. The first transition is attributed to superconductivity in the indium electrodes, and the second transition, with a critical field exceeding the transition field of indium, is attributed to a proximity effect at the 2D planar interface of this hybrid TI/superconductor structure.
Decentralized K-means clustering with MANET swarms

A swarm intelligent system is robust, scalable, adaptable, and can efficiently solve complex problems, all through simple behavior. Inspired by biology, swarm intelligent systems, or swarms, utilize emergence, where simple local behaviors distributed across many agents lead to global phenomena, yielding a whole greater than the sum of parts. But the absence of models that quantify emergence, or the lack of an emergent calculus, has challenged swarm engineering. How simple behaviors and interactions lead to complex phenomena is not well understood, let alone developing such behaviors for problem solving.A swarm intelligent solution is presented to a computationally challenging problem with quantifiable results in support of future models of emergence. The swarm intelligent Decentralized K-Means Clustering technique is introduced within the context of rechargeable Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs). Through engineered emergent behavior, cluster centroids relocate to minimize the sum of the squared error between sensors and the nearest centroid, similar to K-means clustering. An agent-based simulation is developed to evaluate the technique, demonstrating the sum of squared error is consistently reduced for both supervised and random scenarios.
Chemical and Electrical Engineering of Fuel Cell Systems

Abstract The engineering problems associated with fuel cell systems show the interrelation between chemical and electrical engineering considerations. The electrical response analysis of a fuel cell system and the derivation of its electrical equivalent circuit is discussed. The effect of the chemical engineering design layout on the electrical response time is considered for those fuel cell systems which use liquid hydrocarbons as fuel and air as the oxidant.
PaxtoolsR: pathway analysis in R using Pathway Commons

Purpose: PaxtoolsR package enables access to pathway data represented in the BioPAX format and made available through the Pathway Commons webservice for users of the R language to aid in advanced pathway analyses. Features include the extraction, merging and validation of pathway data represented in the BioPAX format. This package also provides novel pathway datasets and advanced querying features for R users through the Pathway Commons webservice allowing users to query, extract and retrieve data and integrate these data with local BioPAX datasets. Availability and implementation: The PaxtoolsR package is compatible with versions of R 3.1.1 (and higher) on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux using Bioconductor 3.0 and is available through the Bioconductor R package repository along with source code and a tutorial vignette describing common tasks, such as data visualization and gene set enrichment analysis. Source code and documentation are at http://www.bioconductor.org/packages/paxtoolsr. This plugin is free, open-source and licensed under the LGPL-3. Contact: gro.ccksm.oibc@slootxap or gro.ccksm.oibc@aanul
Non-periodic continued fractions for quadratic irrationalities

A well-known theorem of Lagrange states that the simple continued fraction of a real number α is periodic if and only if α is a quadratic irrational. We examine non-periodic and non-simple continued fractions formed by two interlacing geometric series and show that in certain cases they converge to quadratic irrationalities. This phenomenon is connected with certain sequences of polynomials whose properties we examine further.
Rhodium-Catalyzed C–H Bond Functionalization with Amides by Double C–H/C–N Bond Activation

The first C-H bond functionalization with amides as the coupling partners via selective activation of the amide N-C bond using rhodium(I) catalysts under highly chemoselective conditions is reported. Notably, this report constitutes the first catalytic activation of the amide N-C(O) bond by rhodium. We expect that this concept will have broad implications for using amides as coupling partners for C-H activation beyond the work described herein.
Trade in Intermediate Inputs and Business Cycle Comovement

Abstract Does input trade synchronize business cycles across countries? I incorporate input trade into a dynamic multisector model with many countries, calibrate the model to match bilateral input-...
Retinoid signaling alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neuromuscular disease for which effective therapeutic interventions and an understanding of underlying disease mechanism are lacking. A variety of biochemical pathways are believed to contribute to the pathophysiology of ALS that are common to both sporadic and familial forms of the disease. Evidence from both human and animal studies indicates that expression of retinoid signaling genes is altered in ALS and may contribute to motor neuron loss. Our goals were to examine the expression and distribution of proteins of the retinoid signaling pathway in spinal cord samples from patients with sporadic and familial ALS and to evaluate the role of these proteins in motor neuron cell survival. In sporadic ALS, the cytoplasmic binding protein that facilitates nuclear translocation of retinoic acid, cellular retinoic acid binding protein-II (CRABP-II), was localized to the nucleus and retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) was significantly increased in motor neuron nuclei when compared to either familial ALS patients or non-neurologic disease controls. Motor neurons with increased nuclear RARβ were negative for markers of apoptosis. Pre-treatment of primary motor neuron-enriched cultures with a pan-RAR or RARβ-specific agonist decreased motor neuron cell death associated with oxidative injury/stress while a RARβ-specific antagonist enhanced cell death. Our data suggest retinoid signaling is altered in ALS and increased nuclear RARβ occurs in motor neurons of sporadic ALS patients. Activation of RARβ protects motor neurons from oxidative-induced cell death.
Efficient Preparation of Pyridinyl‐1,2,4‐Triazines via Telescoped Condensation with Diversely Functionalized 1,2‐Dicarbonyls

The development of materials for efficient chemoselective extraction of minor actinides remains at the forefront of research efforts in the area of separation science. Lewis basic complexants derived from nitrogen-donor scaffolds are often employed in this area due to favorable complexation with the transuranic element americium. In the present work an efficient procedure for the preparation of eight useful 3-pyridin-2-yl-1,2,4-triazines (2 novel) is demonstrated via telescoped condensation with the requisite 1,2-dicarbonyl in two-pots without additives, differentially extractive work-up procedures, or recrystallization. Additional efforts in this area have demonstrated the utility of polar aprotic solvents for the preparation of nine functionalized pyridinyl-2,6-bis-1,2,4-triazines (4 novel) directly from the requisite 2,6-pyridine dicarbonitrile in 49–99% yield over four total steps. The streamlined preparation of these important materials and detailed synthetic procedures is reported herein.
Controlled Rh-Catalyzed Mono- and Double-decarbonylation of Alkynyl α-Diones To Form Conjugated Ynones and Disubstituted Alkynes.

A Rh-catalyzed controlled decarbonylation of alkynyl α-diones is described. By using different ligand and solvent combinations, mono- and double-decarbonylation can be selectively achieved to give conjugated ynones and disubstituted alkynes, respectively. A fundamental study on catalytic activation of unstrained C–C bonds under nonoxidative conditions is presented.
Synthetic studies pertaining to the 2,3-pyridyne and 4,5-pyrimidyne

We report synthetic studies pertaining to two heterocyclic aryne intermediates: the 2,3-pyridyne and the 4,5-pyrimidyne. First, a 2,3-pyridyne precursor was readily accessed from 2-pyridone using a known procedure. Subsequently, 2,3-pyridyne generation and trapping were used to access several functionalized pyridines in a regioselective manner. In addition, we report synthetic routes to two isomeric silyltriflates, which were intended to serve as precursors to the 4,5-pyrimidyne. Consecutive 4,5-pyrimidyne generation and trapping experiments were ultimately deemed unfruitful. We expect these findings will promote the use of 2,3-pyridyne and other heterocyclic arynes as building blocks for the synthesis of functionalized heterocycles.
EIE: efficient inference engine on compressed deep neural network

State-of-the-art deep neural networks (DNNs) have hundreds of millions of connections and are both computationally and memory intensive, making them difficult to deploy on embedded systems with limited hardware resources and power budgets. While custom hardware helps the computation, fetching weights from DRAM is two orders of magnitude more expensive than ALU operations, and dominates the required power.Previously proposed 'Deep Compression' makes it possible to fit large DNNs (AlexNet and VGGNet) fully in on-chip SRAM. This compression is achieved by pruning the redundant connections and having multiple connections share the same weight. We propose an energy efficient inference engine (EIE) that performs inference on this compressed network model and accelerates the resulting sparse matrix-vector multiplication with weight sharing. Going from DRAM to SRAM gives EIE 120× energy saving; Exploiting sparsity saves 10×; Weight sharing gives 8×; Skipping zero activations from ReLU saves another 3×. Evaluated on nine DNN benchmarks, EIE is 189× and 13× faster when compared to CPU and GPU implementations of the same DNN without compression. EIE has a processing power of 102 GOPS working directly on a compressed network, corresponding to 3 TOPS on an uncompressed network, and processes FC layers of AlexNet at 1.88×104 frames/sec with a power dissipation of only 600mW. It is 24,000× and 3,400× more energy efficient than a CPU and GPU respectively. Compared with DaDianNao, EIE has 2.9×, 19× and 3× better throughput, energy efficiency and area efficiency.
COBE Observations of the Early Universe

AbstracL The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite Ditkrential Microwave Radiometer (DMR) instrument has recently reponed the observation of very large scale StNCtUre in the microwave sky. The microwave sky as a whole U remarkably uniform in the millimeter to centimeter wavelength range, However, there are variations at a level < lo-? The natural interpretation of these variations is as the imprint of spatial curvature fluctuations in the early univene. The implications for gravitation and gravitational instability theories of structure formation are discussed along with a review of the experiment. The results are generally supponive of gravitational instability theories and inflaiionarylquantum cosmology models. Failure to find fluctuations within a factor of two of the COBE DMR level would have contradicted gravitational instability models with a scale-free approximately scale-invariant spectra.
Avoidant coping and self-efficacy mediate relationships between perceived social constraints and symptoms among long-term breast cancer survivors.

Objective Many breast cancer survivors feel constrained in discussing their cancer experience with others. Limited evidence suggests that social constraints (e.g., avoidance and criticism) from loved ones may negatively impact breast cancer survivors' global health, but research has yet to examine relationships between social constraints and common physical symptoms. Informed by social cognitive processing theory, this study examined whether perceived social constraints from partners and healthcare providers (HCPs) were associated with fatigue, sleep disturbance, and attentional functioning among long-term breast cancer survivors (N = 1052). In addition, avoidant coping and self-efficacy for symptom management were examined as potential mediators of these relationships. Methods Long-term breast cancer survivors (mean years since diagnosis = 6) completed questionnaires assessing social constraints from partners and HCPs, avoidant coping, self-efficacy for symptom management, and symptoms (i.e., fatigue, sleep disturbance, and attentional functioning). Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the hypothesized relationships among variables in two models: one focused on social constraints from partners and one focused on social constraints from HCPs. Results Both models demonstrated good fit. Consistent with theory and prior research, greater social constraints from both partners and HCPs were associated with greater symptom burden (i.e., greater fatigue and sleep disturbance, poorer attentional functioning). In addition, all relationships were mediated by avoidant coping and self-efficacy for symptom management. Conclusions Findings are consistent with social cognitive processing theory and suggest that symptom management interventions may be enhanced by addressing the impact of social constraints from survivors' partners and HCPs on their coping and self-efficacy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel and efficient tributyltin azide-mediated synthesis of 1H-tetrazolylstilbenes from cyanostilbenes

Abstract A novel and efficient route was established for the synthesis of a series of ( Z )-5-(2-(heteroaryl-2-yl) and ( Z )-5-(3-(heteroaryl-3-yl)-1-(phenyl)vinyl)-1 H -tetrazoles ( 3a – g and 6a – f , respectively) from cyanostilbene analogs containing benzo[ b ]thiophene, benzo[ b ]furan, and indole moieties utilizing tributyltin azide as a Lewis acid. This 1,3-dipolar [3+2]cycloaddition of azide to the cyano group of the cyanostilbene precursor molecule affords good yields of the corresponding tetrazolylstilbene analog and constitutes a simple and cost-effective procedure.
Expertise in Online Markets

We examine the effect of the presence of expert buyers on other buyers, the platform, and the sellers in online markets. We model buyer expertise as the ability to accurately predict the quality, or condition, of an item, modeled as its common value. We show that nonexperts may bid more aggressively, even above their expected valuation, to compensate for their lack of information. As a consequence, we obtain two interesting implications. First, auctions with a “hard close” may generate higher revenue than those with a “soft close.” Second, contrary to the linkage principle, an auction platform may obtain a higher revenue by hiding the item’s common-value information from the buyers. We also consider markets where both auctions and posted prices are available and show that the presence of experts allows the sellers of high-quality items to signal their quality by choosing to sell via auctions. This paper was accepted by J. Miguel Villas-Boas, marketing.
The impact of tax rate changes on intercorporate investment

Abstract We examine how tax rates impact investment by corporations in the stock market. We regress changes in intercorporate investment on changes in the various individual and corporate top statutory marginal tax rates (MTRs). We find a significant negative association between changes in individual capital gains MTRs and changes in intercorporate investment, while no such association is evident for changes in either individual ordinary or dividend MTRs. These results support the notion that corporations respond to the after-tax rate of return and/or market efficiency consequences brought about by a change in individual capital gains MTRs. We find a significant positive relation between changes in intercorporate investment and changes in corporate MTRs on ordinary income. These results are consistent with corporations scaling back expansion plans and instead investing free cash flows in equity securities as MTRs increase.
Multiproduct firms and product scope adjustment in trade

A recent theoretical literature has emphasized the importance of multiproduct firms in trade. However, models within this literature have reached contradictory conclusions regarding the product-level response of firms to changes in trade costs. This paper attempts to resolve these contradictions by employing Bayesian techniques to estimate the product portfolio response throughout the distribution of US firms following the Canada–US Free Trade Agreement of 1989. I find evidence of a differential response among firms that are heterogeneous in terms of their involvement in foreign markets. Firms with less than 10–20% of total sales accounted for by foreign markets reduced product diversification as trade costs fell, while more foreign-oriented firms increased diversification.
Locally Conservative Continuous Galerkin FEM for Pressure Equation in Two-Phase Flow Model in Subsurfaces

A typical two-phase model for subsurface flow couples the Darcy equation for pressure and a transport equation for saturation in a nonlinear manner. In this paper, we study a combined method consisting of continuous Galerkin finite element methods (CGFEMs) followed by a post-processing technique for Darcy equation and a nodal centered finite volume method (FVM) with upwind schemes for the saturation transport equation, in which the coupled nonlinear problem is solved in the framework of operator decomposition. The post-processing technique is applied to CGFEM solutions to obtain locally conservative fluxes which ensures accuracy and robustness of the FVM solver for the saturation transport equation. We applied both upwind scheme and upwind scheme with slope limiter for FVM on triangular meshes in order to eliminate the non-physical oscillations. Various numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the performance of the overall methodology.
Aqueous Lanthanide Chemistry in Asymmetric Catalysis and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This account describes lanthanide coordination chemistry with a focus on the similarities between lanthanide complexes used in catalysis and those used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging.
Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of trisubstituted aziridines

A method is described which provides for the direct asymmetric catalytic synthesis of trisubstituted aziridines from imines and diazo compounds. While unactivated imines were not reactive to α-diazo carbonyl compounds in which the diazo carbon was disubstituted, N-Boc imines react with both α-diazo esters and α-diazo-N-acyloxazolidinones to give trisubstituted aziridines with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.
The Relationship between Glass Temperature, Molar Cohesion, and Polymer Structure

An empirical equation relating glass temperature, molar cohesion, and polymer structure has been developed from data found in the literature. A fairly extensive list of group cohesion values has been obtained from this relationship and glass temperatures which are in good agreement with reported values have been calculated. The equation is where Hc is the molar cohesion and n is an empirical number obtained from the polymer structure.
State–to–state dynamics in the high Rydberg states of polyatomic molecules

Rydberg states in polyatomic molecules exhibit dynamics that bear on issues of longstanding importance for theory. Coupling is made complicated, however, by the presence of many rovibrational degrees of freedom and the existence of multiple pathways for intramolecular relaxation. In work on vibrationally autoionizing states of HCO and NO 2 , we have applied multiple resonance excitation strategies to isolate single rovibrational Rydberg–Rydberg transitions, the positions, lineshapes and intensities of which reflect coupling strengths for state–detailed relaxation processes.
Architectural enclosure's effect on office worker performance: A comparison of the physical and symbolic attributes of workspace dividers

Most studies of offices examine their physical or symbolic attributes independently. Yet office components can contain both attributes. To minimize unintended but potentially negative effects on occupants, researchers must consider both the physical and symbolic attributes of components when making recommendations about their deployment. This study compares the effects of the physical and symbolic attributes of architectural enclosure on worker performance using a survey database that contains workers' ratings of their office components. The amount of enclosure is determined by the height of the occupant's workspace divider, with taller dividers offering more enclosure. Divider height is positively associated with ratings of the two physical attributes considered: speech privacy and visual privacy. Divider height, however, does not affect occupants' ratings of a home-like atmosphere or workplace pride, the symbolic attributes considered. Yet, the occupants indicate that the two symbolic attributes are more important than the two physical attributes in improving their work performance. This might lead to office design choices. An office designed to maximize worker performance might do so by maximizing its symbolic impact. This analysis suggests that an office's symbolic impact may not always be increased by including more offices with tall dividers like enclosed, private offices.
Spatially projected generalized valence bond description of the pi-states of allyl radical

Ab initio, spatially projected generalized valence bond [GVB(SP)] calculations are reported for the ground and (pi-electron) excited states of allyl radical. We find that the wavefunctions of the ground and first excited state correspond closely to the classical valence bond description of resonant and anti-resonant states, . The higher states involve excitation of Rydberg orbitals, but even here the orbitals of the GVB(SP) wavefunctions are basically localized. The theoretical value obtained for the allyl resonance energy is 14 kcal in good agreement with thermochemical estimates.
The activation of gold and the water-gas shift reaction: insights from studies with model catalysts.

The activation of gold in catalytic reactions has been the subject of intensive research that has led to the transformation of one of the least chemically reactive elements to a catalyst with excellent activity and selectivity. Scientists have performed numerous systematic experimental and theoretical studies using model systems, which have explained the role of Au in chemical reactions with progressively increasing degrees of structural and chemical complexity. We present an overview of recent studies of model Au(111), CeOx/Au(111), and Au/CeOx/TiO2(110) surfaces that use Au in different structural configurations specifically for the water–gas shift reaction (WGS, CO + H2O → CO2 + H2), an important industrial process for the purification of CO. We demonstrate the significance of key structural components of the Au-based supported catalysts such as the metal–oxide interface (Au–Ox) toward the WGS catalytic activity, a “structure–activity” relationship.In the WGS reaction, Au(111) or Au nanoparticles have ...
The photochemistry of cod liver oil

SummaryThe results of Kugelmass and McQuarrie reported in Science, Vol. 60, No. 1551, Sept. 19, 1924, in which cod liver oil and other antirachitic substances were found to radiate ultraviolet light upon oxidation with atmospheric oxygen in alkaline solution have not been confirmed. The positive results obtained by the authors were traced to faulty technique and presumably were due to black body radiation, since controls gave the same photographic results as the cod liver oil.
Evaluation of the mirn23a Cluster through an iTRAQ-based Quantitative Proteomic Approach

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that are implicated in a number of disease states. MiRNAs can exist as individual entities or may be clustered and transcribed as a single polycistron. The mirn23a cluster consists of three miRNAs: miR-23a, miR-24-2, and miR-27a. Although these miRNAs are transcribed together, they often exist at varying levels in the cell. Despite the fact that the mirn23a cluster is known to play a role in a number of diseases and developmental processes, few direct targets have been identified. In this study, we examined the effects of miR-23a, miR-24-2, miR-27a, or the mirn23a cluster overexpression on the proteome of 70Z/3 pre-B lymphoblast cells. Quantitative mass spectrometry using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) allowed for the global profiling of cell lines after miRNA overexpression. We identified a number of targets of each miRNA that contained predicted miRNA seed sequences and are likely direct targets. In addition, we discovered a cohort of shared miRNA targets and cluster targets, demonstrating the importance of studying miRNA clusters in their entirety.
Expedient Synthesis of α-(2-Azaheteroaryl) Acetates via the Addition of Silyl Ketene Acetals to Azine-N-oxides

A new and expedient synthesis of α-(2-azaheteroaryl) acetates is presented. The reaction proceeds rapidly under mild conditions via the addition of silyl ketene acetals to azine-N-oxides in the presence of the phosphonium salt PyBroP. This procedure affords diverse α-(2-azaheteroaryl) acetates which are highly desirable components/building blocks in molecules of pharmaceutical interest but are traditionally challenging to synthesize via contemporary methods. The reaction optimization and mechanism as well as a novel electronically enhanced PyBroP derivative are described.
Economically sustainable scaling of photovoltaics to meet climate targets

To meet climate targets, power generation capacity from photovoltaics (PV) in 2030 will have to be much greater than is predicted from either steady state growth using today's manufacturing capacity or industry roadmaps. Analysis of whether current technology can scale, in an economically sustainable way, to sufficient levels to meet these targets has not yet been undertaken, nor have tools to perform this analysis been presented. Here, we use bottom-up cost modeling to predict cumulative capacity as a function of technological and economic variables. We find that today’s technology falls short in two ways: profits are too small relative to upfront factory costs to grow manufacturing capacity rapidly enough to meet climate targets, and costs are too high to generate enough demand to meet climate targets. We show that decreasing the capital intensity (capex) of PV manufacturing to increase manufacturing capacity and effectively reducing cost (e.g., through higher efficiency) to increase demand are the most effective and least risky ways to address these barriers to scale. We also assess the effects of variations in demand due to hard-to-predict factors, like public policy, on the necessary reductions in cost. Finally, we review examples of redundant technology pathways for crystalline silicon PV to achieve the necessary innovations in capex, performance, and price.
Carbon and Sulfur Cycling below the Chemocline in a Meromictic Lake and the Identification of a Novel Taxonomic Lineage in the FCB Superphylum, Candidatus Aegiribacteria.

Mahoney Lake in British Columbia is an extreme meromictic system with unusually high levels of sulfate and sulfide present in the water column. As is common in strongly stratified lakes, Mahoney Lake hosts a dense, sulfide-oxidizing phototrophic microbial community where light reaches the chemocline. Below this ‘plate’, the euxinic hypolimnion is anoxic, eutrophic, saline, and rich in sulfide, polysulfides, elemental sulfur, and other sulfur intermediates. While much is known regarding microbial communities in sunlit portions of euxinic systems, the composition and genetic potential of organisms living at aphotic depths have rarely been studied. Metagenomic sequencing of samples from the hypolimnion and the underlying sediments of Mahoney Lake indicate that multiple taxa contribute to sulfate reduction below the chemocline and that the hypolimnion and sediments each support distinct populations of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) different from the SRB populations observed in the chemocline. After assembling and binning the metagenomic datasets, we recovered near-complete genomes of dominant populations, including two Deltaproteobacteria. One of the deltaproteobacterial genomes encoded a 16S rRNA sequence that was most closely related to the sulfur-disproportionating genus Dissulfuribacter and the other encoded a 16S rRNA sequence that was most closely related to the fatty acid- and aromatic acid-degrading genus Syntrophus. We also recovered two near-complete genomes of Firmicutes species. Analysis of concatenated ribosomal protein trees suggests these genomes are most closely related to extremely alkaliphilic genera Alkaliphilus and Dethiobacter. Our metagenomic data indicate that these Firmicutes contribute to carbon cycling below the chemocline. Lastly, we recovered a nearly complete genome from the sediment metagenome which represents a new genus within the FCB (Fibrobacteres, Chlorobi, Bacteroidetes) super phylum. Consistent with the geochemical data, we found little or no evidence for organisms capable of sulfide oxidation in the aphotic zone below the chemocline. Instead, comparison of functional genes below the chemocline are consistent with recovery of multiple populations capable of reducing oxidized sulfur. Our data support previous observations that at least some of the sulfide necessary to support the dense population of phototrophs in the chemocline is supplied from sulfate reduction in the hypolimnion and sediments. These studies provide key insights
Sex, violence, and drugs among Latin American and Caribbean adolescents: Do engaged parents make a difference?

This paper uses data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey to investigate the prevalence of health risk behaviors, in particular substance use, risky sexual behavior, and violence among adolescents in 15 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Using logit regressions and meta-analysis, we find that having parents engaged in raising their children is associated with significantly reduced problem behaviors in adolescents. That said, in the Caribbean the prevalence of health risk behaviors in adolescents is higher and engaged parents is lower than in Latin America, and the correlation between engaged parenting and reduced risk behaviors is generally weaker. Nonetheless, for both subgroups of countries, engaged parents do appear to make a difference.
Effect of Variable Properties and Radiation on Convective Heat Transfer Measurements at Engine Conditions

Experiments measuring film cooling performance are often performed near room temperature over small ranges of driving temperature. For such experiments, fluid properties are nearly constant within the boundary layer and radiative heat transfer is negligible. Consequently, the heat flux to the wall is a linear function of driving temperature. Therefore, the convective heat transfer coefficient and adiabatic wall temperature can be extracted from heat flux measurements at two or more driving temperatures.For large driving temperatures, like those seen in gas turbine engines, significant property variations exist within the boundary layer. In addition, radiative heat transfer becomes sufficiently large such that it can no longer be neglected. As a result, heat flux becomes a non-linear function of driving temperature. Thus, for these high temperature cases, ambient temperature methods utilizing a linear heat flux assumption cannot be employed to characterize the convective heat transfer.The present study experimentally examines the non-linearity of heat flux for large driving temperatures flowing over a flat plate. The results are first used to validate the temperature ratio method presented in a previous study to account for variable properties within a boundary layer. This validation highlighted the need to account for the radiative component of the overall heat transfer. A method is subsequently proposed to account for the effects of both variable properties and radiation simultaneously. Finally, the method is validated with the experimental data.While this methodology was developed in a flat plate rig, it is applicable to any relevant configuration in a hot environment. The method is general and independent of the overall radiative component magnitude and direction. Overall, the technique provides a means of quantifying the impact of both variable properties and the radiative flux on the conductive heat transfer to or from a surface in a single experiment.
Assessment of Ventricular Shunt Patency by Sonography: A New Noninvasive Test

This report describes a new test of patency of the ventricular component of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt that precludes injection into the shunt reservoir. Preliminary clinical experience confirms that digital compression of the ventricular shunt reservoir (Cordis standard and pediatric reservoir), while occluding the shunt distal to the reservoir, generates microbubbles that increase the echogenicity of the catheter, demonstrating shunt patency. In vitro, the extrusion of microbubbles from catheter side holes can be imaged during digital compression of the reservoir, but so far this has not been imaged in patients as a direct sign of shunt patency. A sonographic means of assessing shunt function offers the advantage of simultaneously imaging the ventricular catheter, determining its location, and assessing the etiology of shunt failure. Its usefulness is limited to pediatric cases in which an adequate transfontanelle cranial sonographic study can be obtained and to individuals with large craniotomy defects.
QFix: Diagnosing Errors through Query Histories

Data-driven applications rely on the correctness of their data to function properly and effectively. Errors in data can be incredibly costly and disruptive, leading to loss of revenue, incorrect conclusions, and misguided policy decisions. While data cleaning tools can purge datasets of many errors before the data is used, applications and users interacting with the data can introduce new errors. Subsequent valid updates can obscure these errors and propagate them through the dataset causing more discrepancies. Even when some of these discrepancies are discovered, they are often corrected superficially, on a case-by-case basis, further obscuring the true underlying cause, and making detection of the remaining errors harder. In this paper, we propose QFix, a framework that derives explanations and repairs for discrepancies in relational data, by analyzing the effect of queries that operated on the data and identifying potential mistakes in those queries. QFix is flexible, handling scenarios where only a subset of the true discrepancies is known, and robust to different types of update workloads. We make four important contributions: (a) we formalize the problem of diagnosing the causes of data errors based on the queries that operated on and introduced errors to a dataset; (b) we develop exact methods for deriving diagnoses and fixes for identified errors using state-of-the-art tools; (c) we present several optimization techniques that improve our basic approach without compromising accuracy, and (d) we leverage a tradeoff between accuracy and performance to scale diagnosis to large datasets and query logs, while achieving near-optimal results. We demonstrate the effectiveness of QFix through extensive evaluation over benchmark and synthetic data.
An active set algorithm for nonlinear optimization with polyhedral constraints

A polyhedral active set algorithm PASA is developed for solving a nonlinear optimization problem whose feasible set is a polyhedron. Phase one of the algorithm is the gradient projection method, while phase two is any algorithm for solving a linearly constrained optimization problem. Rules are provided for branching between the two phases. Global convergence to a stationary point is established, while asymptotically PASA performs only phase two when either a nondegeneracy assumption holds, or the active constraints are linearly independent and a strong second-order sufficient optimality condition holds.
Quality control in health care: developments in the law of medical malpractice.

Physicians and institutional providers face expanding liability exposure today, in spite of state tort reform legislation and public awareness of the costs of malpractice for providers. Standards of practice are evolving rapidly; new medical technologies are being introduced at a rapid rate; information is proliferating as to treatment efficacy, patient risk, and diseases generally. Tort standards mirror this change. As medical standards of care evolve, they provide a benchmark against which to measure provider failure. The liability exposure of physicians is affected by (1) the generation of data, including outcomes data usable to profile physician practice, and statistical data that allows for predictions as to treatment efficacy, and patient prognosis; (2) obligations to inform patients and third parties of risk created by contagious disease and other sources of harm; (3) obligations of physicians to disclose risks that the provider creates for the patient; (4) obligations to disclose conflicts of interest arising out of the practice setting; and (5) duties arising from new epidemiological knowledge.
Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a generic classification of clonally-derived malignancies of phenotypic helper/inducer T cells with a propensity to infiltrate the skin, migrate into the epidermis, localize in T cell zones of lymphoid structures and spare the bone marrow. One clinical presentation has a tendency to evolve into another as subclones of progressively less mature and less epidermotropic neoplastic cells arise and overgrow the relatively more mature other subclones. In this manner, localized, scaling plaques of typical parapsoriasis develop into more infiltrated plaques of classical mycosis fungoides which are themselves predecessors of tumor or erythroderma stage CTCL. With loss of epidermotropism, systemic dissemination occurs: first microscopically with blood involvement and seeding of internal organs and finally with visceral tumor formation. The relationship between CTCL and adult T cell lymphoma/leukemia is unclear because of tremendous overlap in the clinical and immunologic findings and because a fraction of patients with classical CTCL have low titers of anti-HTLV-1 antibodies. It is important to distinguish the skin-limited and systemic phases of CTCL in order to select appropriate treatments. New diagnostic techniques which are quite helpful include immunotyping with monoclonal antibodies, karyotype analysis and T cell receptor studies. Photopheresis, a very promising new therapeutic approach for the management of patients with systemically disseminated disease, and a suggested pathogenetic scheme are discussed.
Graph analysis of structural brain networks in Alzheimer's disease: beyond small world properties.

Changes in brain connectivity in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been investigated using graph analysis. However, these studies were based on small data sets, explored a limited range of network parameters, and did not focus on more restricted sub-networks, where neurodegenerative processes may introduce more prominent alterations. In this study, we constructed structural brain networks out of 87 regions using data from 135 healthy elders and 100 early AD patients selected from the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies (OASIS) database. We evaluated the graph properties of these networks by investigating metrics of network efficiency, small world properties, segregation, product measures of complexity, and entropy. Because degenerative processes take place at different rates in different brain areas, analysis restricted to sub-networks may reveal changes otherwise undetected. Therefore, we first analyzed the graph properties of a network encompassing all brain areas considered together, and then repeated the analysis after dividing the brain areas into two sub-networks constructed by applying a clustering algorithm. At the level of large scale network, the analysis did not reveal differences between AD patients and controls. In contrast, the same analysis performed on the two sub-networks revealed that small worldness diminished with AD only in the sub-network containing the areas of medial temporal lobe known to be heaviest and earliest affected. The second sub-network, which did not present significant AD-induced modifications of ‘classical’ small world parameters, nonetheless showed a trend towards an increase in small world propensity, a novel metric that unbiasedly quantifies small world structure. Beyond small world properties, complexity and entropy measures indicated that the intricacy of connection patterns and structural diversity decreased in both sub-networks. These results show that neurodegenerative processes impact volumetric networks in a non-global fashion. Our findings provide new quantitative insights into topological principles of structural brain networks and their modifications during early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.