cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Power to the people: Leveraging human physiological traits to control microprocessor frequency

Any architectural optimization aims at satisfying the end user. However, modern architectures execute with little to no knowledge about the individual user. If architectures could determine whether their users are satisfied, they could provide higher efficiency; improved reliability, reduced power consumption, increased security, and a better user experience. A major reason for this limitation is their input devices. Specifically, the traditional input devices (e.g., the mouse and keyboard) provide limited information about the user. In this paper, we make a case for the addition of new biometric input devices for providing the computer information about the userpsilas physiological traits. We explore three biometric devices as potential sensors: an eye tracker, a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor, and force sensors. We first present two user studies that explore the link between the sensor readings and user satisfaction when the performance of the processor is varied as a video game is being played. In the first study, we drastically drop the processor clock frequency at a set point in the game. In the second study, we set the clock frequency to randomly-selected levels during game play. Both studies show that there are significant changes in human physiological traits as performance decreases. More importantly, we show that physiological changes correlate strongly to the satisfaction levels reported by the users. Based upon these observations, we construct a Physiological Traits-based Power-management (PTP) system that can be applied to existing dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) schemes. We apply PTP to a typical CPU-utilization-based adaptive DVFS policy and evaluate our scheme using a third user study. An aggressive version of our PTP scheme reduces the total system power consumption of a laptop by up to 33.3% for an application averaged across users (18.1% averaged across three applications), while a conservative version reduces the total system power consumption by up to 25.6% across users (11.4% averaged across three applications).
Consistent feature-aligned 4D image registration for respiratory motion modeling

This paper presents a consistent feature-aligned 4D image registration algorithm and its medical application. The matching across a temporal sequence of volumetric images is based on a 4D (3D spatial + 1D temporal) free-form B-spline deformation model, which ensures interpolated motions with both spatial and temporal smoothness. We first develop the forward and inverse matching models with feature alignment constraints, then iteratively refine the registration results by incorporating extra inverse consistency. Experimental results show that our method achieves better registration accuracy than previous 3D registration and 4D registration methods. This algorithm can be used to parameterize temporal CT lung volume images for motion analysis and tracking.
Noninvasive measurement of blood pressure in African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops)

Indirect measurements of arterial blood pressure were made in African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) employing a Doppler ultrasound stethoscope and standard cuff and an Infrasonde automatic blood pressure recorder. Measurements were obtained from anesthetized (10 mg/kg ketamine (HCI) and unanesthetized (1.5 mg/kg ketamine HCI) animals. Ketamine had no significant effect on blood pressure. Indirect measurements from the brachial artery were compared with direct femoral artery measurements and with each other. Systolic blood pressures measured by the Doppler (r = .948) and Infrasonde (r = .920) methods correlated closely with direct measurements but were significantly lower than systolic blood pressures measured by the direct method. Diastolic blood pressures measured by the Infrasonde method agreed closely with direct measurements (r = .947). Systolic blood pressures measured by the indirect methods correlated closely in both anesthetized (r = .973) and unanesthetized (r = .834) animals and were not significantly different. Mean blood pressures calculated from direct and Infrasonde measurements also correlated closely (r = .963), with direct measurements being 4 mmHg higher on the average. Mean blood pressures are less influenced by methodology and are more reproducible than other pressures. These noninvasive methods can be used to obtain simple and accurate measurements of blood pressure from anesthetized and unanesthetized monkeys and are of value in long-term studies in monkeys.
Adenosine and the regulation of cerebral blood flow

Abstract Objectives: This review summarizes the 30 year effort of my collaborator and mentor Dr J. W. Phillis to establish the role of adenosine in the regulation of cerebral blood flow. Methods: While most of the experiments described utilized the rat cerebral cortex as a model, several different and complementary methodologies were employed. Superfusate samples were collected from the cortical surface and analysed for purines using HPLC. Laser-Doppler flowmetry was utilized to measure blood flow in the pial vasculature, while pial diameters were monitored by videomicroscopy. An additional series of experiments looked at coronary blood flow in a Langendorff preparation. Results: Adenosine is released from the cortex in response to decreased nutrient supply (hypoxia/ ischemia) and during conditions that mimic alterations in the extracellular environment associated with increased metabolism. The application of pharmacological agents that alter adenosine metabolism resulted in the appropriate alterations in...
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

Tenofovir is a nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor approved recently by the US FDA for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in adult patients based on the results of two double-blind randomized trials demonstrating superiority of tenofovir compared with adefovir. Tenofovir is available orally as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (ester pro-drug of tenofovir) and inhibits replication of both hepatitis B virus and HIV-1. Owing to its potent antiviral activity, favorable safety profile, and higher barrier to the development of resistance, tenofovir has replaced adefovir as a first-line oral monotherapy option in the treatment of CHB in the 2009 update of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Practice Guidelines. Additionally, tenofovir monotherapy or in combination with nucleoside analogs are options for patients who have developed resistance to other CHB therapies including lamivudine and adefovir.
Singular optical phenomena in nature

Optical singularities serve as scientific landmarks in the topological landscape of light patterns. These curious features exhibit conservation properties and unique diffraction patterns that are finding increasing importance in many branches of modern optics. Caustics are singularities in ray optics that are markedly different from those in wave optics owing to the inclusion of phase and polarization in the latter case. Optical vortices and polarization singularities are examples of singular patterns in electromagnetic fields. There is some evidence that single photons can also exhibit singular attributes. This talk will describe examples of both naturally occurring and man-made optical singularities, how they may be put to use, and future directions in this field.
BRET TILSON: HIS LIFE AND WORK

I discuss Bret Tilson's life, both personal and mathematical, and his impact on semigroup theory.
Variation in excretion of certain amino acids with age.

By relating amino acid excretion to creatinine excretion in a specimen of urine from fasting patients, the normal variation of cystine, glutamine, glycine, and alanine excretion in relation to creatinine excretion and the age of the individual has been defined. No amino acid excretion differences between the two sexes were detectable. In general, the excretion levels for these four amino acids were found to be highest in infancy and decreased markedly with age. However, this decrease is not a uniform or gradual one. The greatest decrease occurs between the 3-5-year and 6-8-year groups, and the excretion levels again increase slightly between the 9-11-year and 12-14-year groups.
SYNAPTIC VESICLE DEPLETION AND RECOVERY IN CAT SYMPATHETIC GANGLIA ELECTRICALLY STIMULATED IN VIVO: Evidence for Transmitter Secretion by Exocytosis

This study examined the ultrastructure of presynaptic terminals after short periods of vigorous acetylcholine (ACh) secretion in the cat superior cervical ganglion in vivo. Experimental trunks of cats anesthetized with chloralose-urethane were stimulated supra-maximally for periods of 15–30 min and at several frequencies including the upper physiological range (5–10 Hz). Stimulated and contralateral control ganglia from each animal were fixed by intra-arterial aldehyde perfusion, processed simultaneously, and compared by electron microscopy. Stimulation produced an absolute decrease in the number of synaptic vesicles, an enlargement of axonal surface membrane, and distinct alterations in the shape of presynaptic terminals. Virtually complete recovery occurred within 1 h after stimulation at 10 Hz for 30 min. These results support the hypothesis that ACh release at mammalian axodendritic synapses occurs by exocytosis of synaptic vesicles resulting in the incorporation of vesicle membrane into the presynaptic membrane and that synaptic vesicles subsequently are reformed from plasma membrane.
Focal region field expressions for a spherical reflector backed by chiral substrate

Abstract High frequency field expression at the focal region of a spherical reflector antenna backed by isotropic and homogeneous chiral substrate is derived using Maslov's method. As Geometrical Optics (GO) solution fails at the focal point, so Maslov's method is used to overcome this problem. Field patterns are calculated numerically and the results are plotted. Analysis is done to show the effects of thickness (d) of chiral substrate, chirality parameter (β) of the chiral substrate and permittivity (ɛ) of the medium.
School Location and Teacher Supply: Understanding the Distribution of Teacher Effects

Recent research suggests that lower-income schools have less effective teachers than do more affluent schools. This study seeks to build upon this literature by also examining how teacher effectiveness varies across urbanicity and location. The results of this study support the notion that teacher effectiveness is not equal across the poverty level of schools, as it finds a meaningful and robust connection between school FRPL rates and teacher value-added scores. This study also finds that teacher effects vary across location, as does the connection between teacher effects and school FRPL rates. Evidence is put forth which suggests that this variability may do due in part to the supply of teachers in a given region, and policy solutions are explored.
Beware the Inequitable Conduct Charge! (Why Practitioners Submit What They Submit)

In recent years, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit presided over an expansion in the doctrine of inequitable conduct. As a result, practitioners have become increasingly concerned that they and the patents they prosecute may one day become embroiled in an inequitable conduct challenge, with potentially devastating consequences for both the patent owner and practitioner. At the same time, the USPTO has proposed new restrictions and requirements on applicant information submissions, including a requirement that applicants specifically refer to and explain the relevance of particular portions of references if they submit information in excess of set limits on the number and/or length of references. According to the agency, “ensuring a focused and thorough examination is a joint responsibility of the examiner and the applicant” and the goal is to help the “examination system to ‘get it right’ the first time.” During the same period, Congress has entertained proposals to authorize the USPTO to require applicants to submit analyses of the pertinence of references found in prior art searches.Thus, while various Federal Circuit decisions have evidenced an increasing judicial receptiveness to inequitable conduct-based challenges, the USPTO and Congress have considered enlarging the obligations of applicants to affirmatively participate in the examination process. Practitioners feel squeezed. On the one hand, the USPTO has sought to require applicants to either limit the amount of information submitted, or to go on record with explanations relating to the precise relevance of that information. At the same time, the evolving law of inequitable conduct seems to dictate the submission of more and more information, and to make such elaboration very risky.This paper discusses various aspects of this “disconnect” from the point of view of the practitioner seeking to comply with his or her disclosure obligations, within the confines imposed by the practical realities that govern modern prosecution practice.
kmlmap: A Stata command for producing Google's Keyhole Markup Language

kmlmap produces a Keyhole Markup Language file by using Stata data and geographical coordinates. This file produces a map when uploaded to Google Maps. The resulting map is a so-called choropleth or thematic map, where units of analysis are colored according to values of a variable. You can click on units of analysis on the map to display more information, to zoom, and to do all other things that Google Maps can do. The units of analysis can be points or polygons.
Lung toxicity in mice of airborne particulate matter from a modern layer hen facility containing Proposition 2-compliant animal caging

Proposition 2, which requires that egg-laying hens be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely, was passed by the voters of California in 2008. These new housing requirements were introduced in the USA and European Union without considering the potential impact of changes in layer hen housing on the health of poultry workers in the new facilities. Particles were collected from ambient air inside a large layer hen complex featuring separate barns with conventional battery caging, enriched caging, or 'free range' (aviary) housing during winter, spring, and summer seasons over one year. Toxicity of the particles was evaluated by analysis of inflammatory cell influx into lung lavage fluid after intratracheal instillation into mice. Capacity of the particles to elicit oxidative stress was evaluated using a macrophage cell line engineered with a reporter gene sensitive to nuclear factor κB activation. We observed similar pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects of the particles collected from different types of barns and over different seasons, suggesting that standard industrial hygiene techniques for evaluating respirable particles in ambient air can adequately monitor worker risk. Based on particle concentrations found in ambient air in the barns, we can rank the facilities for worker exposure to particles as conventional caging (now banned) approximately equal to enriched caging (permitted under Proposition 2). Aviary housing is associated with increased exposure of workers to particulate matter and, therefore, to greater risk of allergic reactions and/or decreased respiratory function.
Economics of insecticide use on staked tomatoes in western North Carolina

Field studies were conducted in 1988 and 1989 to determine the economic benefits associated with use of various insecticides on fresh-market staked tomatoes in western North Carolina. Tomato fruitworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), was the most important direct insect pest, causing estimated losses of $3,385 and $941/ha in nonsprayed tomatoes in 1988 and 1989, respectively. Indirect damage (i.e., reduction in total yield) due to potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphoribae (Thomas), and tomato fruitworm in 1988 caused additional losses in net profits estimated at $956, $2,186, and $1,687/ha for carbaryl, Bacillus thuringiensis val. Kurstaki , and untreated tomatoes, respectively. The broadspectrum insecticides endosulfan, esfenvalerate, and methomyl were generally more profitable than carbaryl and B. thuringiensis . Under dry weather conditions in 1988, most insecticides were as profitable at 10-d as at 5-d intervals, but under wet conditions in 1989, the shorter-residual insecticides methomyl and B. thuringiensis had higher net profit increases at 5-d opposed to 10-d intervals.
Morphology Maps of Small Particles

Real time High Resolution Electron Microscopy quantitative analysis of morphological transformations of Au particles supported on SiO were conducted to determine the relative probabilities of the different morphologies. The analysis indicates that the single crystal structure is the most preferred structure at all sizes. Among the multiply twinned structures (MTPs), the icosahedral MTPs occur most at smaller sizes and decrease with increase in size. The decahedral MTP population increases with size.
Control of Sweetpotato Whitefly Adults with Foliar Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Spring Cantaloupes, 2014

With the loss of the endosulfan on melons, this trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of several neonicotinoid alternatives against adult sweetpotato whiteflies and the associated incidence of cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) in spring melons. Cantaloupe plots planted with ‘Sol Dorado’ were established at the Yuma Agricultural Center on 20 March, 2014, and managed similarly to local growing practices. Plots consisted of a 84-inch bed, 45-ft-long with a 7-ft buffer between each plot. The study was designed as a randomized complete block design with four replicates per treatment. Product formulations and rates are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Three foliar spray applications were applied on 29 April …
U.S. Fiscal Imbalance Over Time: This Time is Different

The U.S. fiscal imbalance — the excess of what we expect to spend, including repayment of our debt, over what government expects to receive in revenue — is large and growing. And with politicians proposing large new expenditures, little is being done to rectify the country’s fiscal health. Although some policymakers argue that fiscal meltdowns have never happened in U.S. history and that therefore “this time is no different,” the reality is that the nation’s fiscal situation has been deteriorating since the mid-1960s, is far worse than ever before, and could lead to a fiscal crisis if no major spending adjustments occur in the next few decades.To demonstrate this argument, this paper projects fiscal imbalance as of every year between 1965 and 2014, using data-supported assumptions about gross domestic product (GDP) growth, revenue, and trends in mandatory spending on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs. The projections reveal that the United States has faced a growing fiscal imbalance since the early 1970s, largely as a consequence of continuous growth in mandatory spending. As of 2014, the fiscal imbalance stands at $117.9 trillion, with few signs of future improvement even if GDP growth accelerates or tax revenues increase relative to historic norms. Thus the only viable way to restore fiscal balance is to scale back mandatory spending policies, particularly on large health care programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Clinical Problem Solving Series

(1989). Clinical Problem Solving Series. Acta Clinica Belgica: Vol. 44, No. 5, pp. 347-353.
Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: Hirsutism

ABSTRACT Hirsutism is a common clinical problem. The pathogenesis of hirsutism in most women is not clearly defined. In this review, the characteristic endocrinologic findings in women with hirsutism are described, and the disorder’s evaluation and treatment are discussed.
Growth performance and whole-body composition of pigs experimentally infected with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mh) is the primary infectious pathogen responsible for enzootic pneumonia in pigs. Although Mh is thought to impair growth performance, whole-body composition, and fat and protein accretion in pigs with pneumonia have not been reported and the mechanism through which Mh reduces growth is unknown. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of Mh on growth performance, whole-body composition, and protein and fat accretion in nursery pigs and to determine whether Mh infection increases the expression of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Sixty-four 2-wk-old Mh-free pigs were used (two trials) in a randomized complete block design. In each trial, two pigs were housed in each of 16 disease-containment chambers. At 4 wk of age, pigs were inoculated intratracheally with 3 mL of Mh broth (P5722-3, 10(7) cfu/mL) or sterile Friis culture medium. Clinical signs of disease and feed intake were monitored daily and body weight was determined weekly for 4 wk. Whole-body composition was determined from pigs killed 0, 14, and 28 d after inoculation, and the comparative slaughter technique was used to estimate protein and fat accretion. At death, gross lung lesions were quantified, and lung tissue was collected to verify the presence or absence of Mh, and to determine cytokine mRNA levels. Control pigs displayed no overt signs of infection and were Mh-negative and free of pulmonary lesions. Pigs inoculated with Mh showed pneumonic coughing (P 0.10). Moreover, Mh did not affect whole-body fat or protein accretion (P > 0.10). Thus, in spite of inducing disease and expression of inflammatory cytokines, Mh alone did not affect growth performance and whole-body composition of nursery pigs during the 4-wk experiment. The ability of pigs to contend with Mh may have resulted from the absence of other pathogens that generally co-exist with Mh under commercial conditions.
GADOXETATE DISODIUM (GD-EOB-DTPA) CONTRAST ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CHARACTERISTICS OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN DOGS

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary hepatic tumor in dogs and is amenable to surgical resection in many cases. Unfortunately, overlap of sonographic findings between benign and malignant hepatic lesions typically requires more invasive diagnostic tests to be performed (e.g., biopsy for histopathology). The availability of a noninvasive diagnostic test to identify hepatocellular carcinoma would be beneficial. The use of a liver-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent such as gadoxetate disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA; Eovist® or Primovist®) has improved lesion detection in human patients. In this descriptive study, gadoxetate disodium contrast-enhanced MRI characteristics in dogs were evaluated in seven dogs (total of eight lesions). The imaging characteristics were variable with the exception of all lesions being hypointense to surrounding normal hepatic parenchyma on 3D T1-weighted gradient recalled echo images at all postcontrast time points. All lesions displayed signal intensity ratios less than 1, consistent with retained but impaired hepatocyte function. Hepatic lesions not identified on previous imaging were found in 3/7 patients which may affect surgical planning. In two patients, several hepatic nodules were identified during surgery which had not been visualized on MRI and were found to be benign on histopathology. This descriptive study reports the MRI characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in dogs using the liver-specific contrast agent gadoxetate disodium.
Multivariable vibration control of a coupled flexible structure using QFT

Quantitative feedback theory (QFT) is a valuable control strategy for multivariable systems that contain parametric uncertainty. This paper uses multivariable quantitative feedback theory (QFT) to design an internal model reference loop (IMRL) controller. The QFT IMRL method allows a single controller to be designed for large time-invariant parameter variations by forcing the system transfer function matrix to be diagonally dominant. The controller architecture causes the coupled system to behave like the uncoupled system with proper choice of reference model. The design method is extended to discrete time by using a pseudo-continuous time (PCT) approach. The control application is extended to robust disturbance rejection rather than robust tracking by designing an outer-loop controller to reduce the sensitivity of each diagonal element. The structure to be controlled is a two degree of freedom flexible beam with variable coupling. The result of the control method is one single discrete decentralized cont...
Micro/nanostructures formation by femtosecond laser surface processing on amorphous and polycrystalline Ni60Nb40

Femtosecond laser surface processing is a technology that can be used to functionalize many surfaces, imparting specialized properties such as increased broadband optical absorption or superhydrophilicity/superhydrophobicity. In this study, two unique classes of surface structures, below surface growth (BSG) and above surface growth (ASG) mounds, were formed by femtosecond laser surface processing on amorphous and polycrystalline Ni60Nb40 with two different grain sizes. Cross sectional imaging of these mounds revealed thermal evidence of the unique formation processes for each class of surface structure. BSG mounds formed on all three substrates using the same laser parameters had similar surface morphology. The microstructures in the mounds were unaltered compared with the substrate before laser processing, suggesting their formation was dominated by preferential valley ablation. ASG mounds had similar morphology when formed on the polycrystalline Ni60Nb40 substrates with 100 nm and 2 [H9262]m grain size. However, the ASG mounds had significantly wider diameter and higher peak-to-valley heights when the substrate was amorphous Ni60Nb40. Hydrodynamic melting was primarily responsible for ASG mound formation. On amorphous Ni60Nb40 substrates, the ASG mounds are most likely larger due to lower thermal diffusivity. There was clear difference in growth mechanism of femtosecond laser processed BSG and ASG mounds, and grain size does not appear to be a factor.
National Trends in Statin Use and Expenditures in the US Adult Population From 2002 to 2013: Insights From the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Importance Statins remain a mainstay in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Objective To detail the trends in use and total and out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures associated with statins in a representative US adult population from 2002 to 2013. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted from January 2002 to December 2013. Demographic, medical condition, and prescribed medicine information of adults 40 years and older between 2002 and 2013 were obtained from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey database. Main Outcomes and Measures Estimated trends in statin use, total expenditure, and OOP share among the general adult population, those with established ASCVD, and those at risk for ASCVD. Costs were adjusted to 2013 US dollars using the Gross Domestic Product Index. Results From 2002 to 2013, more than 157 000 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey participants were eligible for the study (mean [SD] age, 57.7 [39.9] years; 52.1% female). Overall, statin use among US adults 40 years of age and older in the general population increased 79.8% from 21.8 million individuals (17.9%) in 2002-2003 (134 million prescriptions) to 39.2 million individuals (27.8%) in 2012-2013 (221 million prescriptions). Among those with established ASCVD, statin use was 49.8% and 58.1% in 2002-2003 and 2012-2013, respectively, and less than one-third were prescribed as a high-intensity dose. Across all subgroups, statin use was significantly lower in women (odds ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.79-0.85), racial/ethnic minorities (odds ratio, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.61-0.70), and the uninsured (odds ratio, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.30-0.37). The proportion of generic statin use increased substantially, from 8.4% in 2002-2003 to 81.8% in 2012-2013. Gross domestic product–adjusted total cost for statins decreased from $17.2 billion (OOP cost, $7.6 billion) in 2002-2003 to $16.9 billion (OOP cost, $3.9 billion) in 2012-2013, and the mean annual OOP costs for patients decreased from $348 to $94. Brand-name statins were used by 18.2% of statin users, accounting for 55% of total costs in 2012-2013. Conclusion and Relevance Statin use increased substantially in the last decade among US adults, although the uptake was suboptimal in high-risk groups. While total and OOP expenditures associated with statins decreased, further substitution of brand-name to generic statins may yield more savings.
Emotions and Affect in Human Factors and Human–Computer Interaction: Taxonomy, Theories, Approaches, and Methods

Abstract This chapter presents an overview of emotional and affective components in human factors (HF) and human–computer interaction (HCI). First, the definitions of terminologies are clarified. After describing neural and cognitive mechanisms of affect, I provide theories of affective effects so that researchers can apply them to their research areas and develop their own theory further. Then, the chapter focuses on introducing and comparing four different approaches to Affective Sciences in HF/HCI, including Emotional Design, Hedonomics, Kansei Engineering, and Affective Computing. After delineating advantages and disadvantages of affect induction and detection methodologies, theoretical and practical issues and future works of this domain are discussed. This short review is expected to guide HF/HCI researchers and practitioners who begin to study emotions and affect, and to facilitate communication about emotions and affect within the HF/HCI community.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to exposure to Alternaria.

eiiviroiimeiits. Recently we have seen several paper mill workers witil progressive )ulmonary (liseaSe resembling idiopathic pulnionary fibrosis. The symptoms were cough and progressive dyspnea, present over the past seven years and accentuated viiile at work. Pilvsical examination revealed bilateral crepitant i)asilar males and pulmonary functioll tests demonstrated restriction and diffusion (lefects. Chest x-ray films of the individuals revealed bilateral nodular infiltrates which progressed with worsening of tile symptoms. Lung biopsies demonstrate(l lym )hocytic and plasma cell infiltration of the interstitium, as vell as granulomatous changes. Since tile sVnlptoms suggested a possible hyper-
Shortest path poset of finite Coxeter groups

We define a poset using the shortest paths in the Bruhat graph of a finite Coxeter group $W$ from the identity to the longest word in $W, w_0$. We show that this poset is the union of Boolean posets of rank absolute length of $w_0$; that is, any shortest path labeled by reflections $t_1,\ldots,t_m$ is fully commutative. This allows us to give a combinatorial interpretation to the lowest-degree terms in the complete $\textbf{cd}$-index of $W$.
Trying it Out with College Library: The Role of Beta-testing and the Pilot Process in Establishing Successful Services

UW-Madison's College Library is always on the lookout for new and interesting technologies in the hope of providing access to our patrons. In recent years, we have attempted to better define our beta-testing/piloting as a process of finding, testing, and implementing new solutions to gather usage data and user feedback. Once the pilot process is complete, we decide on the future path for solutions based on collected data.With budget uncertainty and an ever-changing technology landscape, projects that are of interest are often hard to roll out in scale in a timely fashion. The pilot process allows for relatively small upfront investment to assess a technology's success in a given setting before full investment and rollout; it also allows for data collection and feedback that may lead to better solutions in future iterations and assistance in funding procurement and partnership formation.Focusing on successes and pitfalls of the pilot process, we will use examples from recent memory to explain the framework we have developed and provide guidance to assist in the development of such frameworks for others.
The relationship between pectoral fin ray stiffness and swimming behavior in Labridae: insights into design, performance and ecology.

ABSTRACT The functional capabilities of flexible, propulsive appendages are directly influenced by their mechanical properties. The fins of fishes have undergone extraordinary evolutionary diversification in structure and function, which raises questions of how fin mechanics relate to swimming behavior. In the fish family Labridae, pectoral fin swimming behavior ranges from rowing to flapping. Rowers are more maneuverable than flappers, but flappers generate greater thrust at high speeds and achieve greater mechanical efficiency at all speeds. Interspecific differences in hydrodynamic capability are largely dependent on fin kinematics and deformation, and are expected to correlate with fin stiffness. Here we examine fin ray stiffness in two closely related species that employ divergent swimming behaviors, the flapping Gomphosus varius and the rowing Halichoeres bivittatus. To determine the spatial distribution of flexural stiffness across the fin, we performed three-point bending tests at the center of the proximal, middle and distal regions of four equally spaced fin rays. Pectoral fin ray flexural stiffness ranged from 0.0001 to 1.5109 µN m2, and the proximal regions of G. varius fin rays were nearly an order of magnitude stiffer than those of H. bivittatus. In both species, fin ray flexural stiffness decreased exponentially along the proximodistal span of fin rays, and flexural stiffness decreased along the fin chord from the leading to the trailing edge. Furthermore, the proportion of fin area occupied by fin rays was significantly greater in G. varius than in H. bivittatus, suggesting that the proportion of fin ray to fin area contributes to differences in fin mechanics.
c-Abl phosphorylation of Yin Yang 1's conserved tyrosine 254 in the spacer region modulates its transcriptional activity

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a multifunctional transcription factor that can activate or repress transcription depending on the promotor and/or the co-factors recruited. YY1 is phosphorylated in various signaling pathways and is critical for different biological functions including embryogenesis, apoptosis, proliferation, cell-cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. Here we report that YY1 is a substrate for c-Abl kinase phosphorylation at conserved residue Y254 in the spacer region. Pharmacological inhibition of c-Abl kinase by imatinib, nilotinib and GZD824, knock-down of c-Abl using siRNA, and the use of c-Abl kinase-dead drastically reduces tyrosine phosphorylation of YY1. Both radioactive and non-radioactive in vitro kinase assays, as well as co-immunoprecipitation in different cell lines, show that the target of c-Abl phosphorylation is tyrosine residue 254. c-Abl phosphorylation has little effect on YY1 DNA binding ability or cellular localization in asynchronous cells. However, functional studies reveal that c-Abl mediated phosphorylation of YY1 regulates YY1's transcriptional ability in vivo. In conclusion, we demonstrate the novel role of c-Abl kinase in regulation of YY1's transcriptional activity, linking YY1 regulation with c-Abl tyrosine kinase signaling pathways.
Effect of SO2 on the oxygen storage capacity of ceria-based catalysts

We have examined the effect of SO2 poisoning on a series of catalysts having Pd supported on ceria, alumina, and ceria–zirconia. For pre-exposure of 20 ppm SO2 at 673 K, we observed no changes in the light-off curves for CO oxidation on Pd/alumina. This pre-exposure of SO2 to Pd/ceria resulted in a significant upward shift in the light-off curve, so that the poisoned Pd/ceria catalyst exhibited similar rates to that of Pd/alumina. Similar upward shifts were observed for the water–gas-shift reaction upon exposure of Pd/ceria or Pd/ceria–zirconia samples to SO2. However, pulse-reactor data with alternating CO and O2 pulses showed that SO2 poisoning actually increased the amount of oxygen that could be transferred to and from the catalyst over the entire temperature range that was examined. The implication of these results for understanding the effect of SO2 poisoning and the measurement of OSC are discussed.
Stochastic Control Theory

Methods of applied stochastic control may be viewed as extensions of the deterministic control approach in two ways. One is the characterization of the stochastic process over time that may generate the deterministic control model. The second is the estimation aspect where the parameters of the deterministic control model are assumed to be unknown, and time series data are used for estimating those parameters.
Territorializando STS: an analysis of current discussions about agro-biotechnology governance in Latin America, Europe, and the USA

In this article I examine current discussions about the governance of agro-biotechnology in Latin America, Europe, and the USA, based on a comparative reading of critical scholarship about the topi...
Acute neurologic toxicity of palliative radiotherapy for brain metastases in patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade.

Background The interaction between immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and radiation (RT) for brain metastases has not been well understood. Given that acute neurotoxicity from this combination is not well characterized, we reviewed patients receiving ICB and RT for brain metastases. Methods Patients treated with ICB and cranial RT from 2010 through 2017 were reviewed. ICB and RT must have been administered within 30 days of each other. Treatment parameters, performance status, symptoms prior to treatment, and toxicity were extracted from the electronic medical record. Survival was calculated from the end of RT to last follow-up or death. Results Seventy-eight patients were included. Median follow-up was 177 days (range, 12-1603). Median age was 64 years old (range, 29-98) and 47 (63%) were male. The main tumor types were melanoma (n = 47) and nonsmall-cell lung cancer (n = 19). Fifty-seven patients were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and 21 with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Most patients received single-agent ICB, though 4 patients received nivolumab and ipilimumab. Forty-one (53%) patients reported no neurologic toxicity. Grade 2 or greater neurologic toxicities were reported in 12 (21%) and 8 (38%) patients in the SRS and WBRT groups, respectively. WBRT was associated with a greater risk of any neurotoxicity, though there was no correlation between ICB agent and toxicity. Sequencing of ICB and RT (ie, <30 days vs <7) did not influence rates of toxicity. Conclusions ICB during SRS or WBRT does not appear to worsen acute neurotoxicity compared to historical controls of RT alone.
Work-in-Progress: Precise Scheduling of Mixed-Criticality Tasks by Varying Processor Speed

The traditional mixed-criticality (MC) model does not allow less critical tasks to execute during an event of the error and exception. Recently, the imprecise MC (IMC) model has been proposed where, even for exceptional events, less critical tasks also receive some amount of (degraded) service, e.g., a task overruns its execution demand. In this work, we present our ongoing effort to extend the IMC model to the precise scheduling of tasks and integrate with the dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) scheme to enable energy minimization. Precise scheduling of MC systems is highly challenging because of its requirement to simultaneously guarantee the timing correctness of all tasks under both pessimistic and less pessimistic assumptions. We propose an utilization-based schedulability test and sufficient schedulability conditions for such systems under earliest deadline first with virtual deadline (EDF-VD) scheduling policy. For this unified model, we present a quantitative study in the forms of speedup bound and approximation ratio. Finally, both theoretical and experimental analysis will be conducted to prove the correctness of our algorithm and to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Early CDH repair on ECMO: Improved survival but no decrease in ECMO duration (A CDH Study Group Investigation)

Abstract Purpose “Early on-ECMO” repair of CDH entails repair within 48–72 h of cannulation in an effort to optimize pulmonary physiology, shorten ECMO duration, and, ultimately, improve survival. This study evaluated the effect of early on-ECMO repair as compared to leaving patients unrepaired during ECMO. Methods The CDH Study Group database was queried for CDH patients requiring ECMO who either underwent repair within the first 72 h after cannulation or remained unrepaired on ECMO. Primary outcomes were survival to decannulation and ECMO duration. Results A total of 248 patients underwent early repair and 922 remained unrepaired on ECMO. The early repair group had increased risk factors for poor outcomes, including higher odds of cardiac defects and thoracic liver location, and lower odds of hernia sac presence. Nonetheless, ECMO survival for the early repair group was 87.1% compared to 78.4% in the unrepaired group (p = 0.002). However, the early repair group had a longer median ECMO duration than the unrepaired group (240.6 vs 196.8 h, p = 0.001). Conclusion While early ECMO repair does not shorten ECMO duration, it results in increased survival to decannulation as compared to those unrepaired on ECMO. This suggests that there may be a physiologic benefit leading to increased ECMO survival in a subset of patients undergoing on-ECMO repair over those designated to undergo post-ECMO repair. Level of evidence Level III.
Sex and Death on the Western Emigrant Trail: The Biology of Three American Tragedies

In his book, Sex and Death on the Western Emigrant Trail: The Biology of Three American Tragedies, Donald Grayson continues his interpretation, first advanced in the 1990s, that biology is the ulti...
Evorus: A Crowd-powered Conversational Assistant That Automates Itself Over Time

Crowd-powered conversational assistants have found to be more robust than automated systems, but do so at the cost of higher response latency and monetary costs. One promising direction is to combined the two approaches for high quality and low cost solutions. However, traditional offline approaches of building automated systems with the crowd requires first collecting training data from the crowd, and then training a model before an online system can be launched. In this paper, we introduce Evorus, a crowd-powered conversational assistant with online-learning capability that automate itself over time. Evorus expands a previous crowd-powered conversation system by reducing its reliance on the crowd over time while maintaining the robustness and reliability of human intelligence, by (i) allowing new chatbots to be added to help contribute possible answers, (ii) learning to reuse past responses to similar queries over time, and (iii) learning to reduce the amount of crowd oversight necessary to retain quality. Our deployment study with 28 users show that automated responses were chosen 12.84% of the time, and voting cost was reduced by 6%. Evorus introduced a new framework for constructing crowd-powered conversation systems that can gradually automate themselves using machine learning, a concept that we believe can be generalize to other types of crowd-powered systems for future research.
Single-Molecule Mechanistic Study of Enzyme Hysteresis

Hysteresis is an important feature of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, as it reflects the influence of enzyme regulation in the presence of ligands such as substrates or allosteric molecules. In typical kinetic studies of enzyme activity, hysteretic behavior is observed as a "lag" or "burst" in the time course of the catalyzed reaction. These lags and bursts are due to the relatively slow transition from one state to another state of the enzyme molecule, with different states having different kinetic properties. However, it is difficult to understand the underlying mechanism of hysteresis by observing bulk reactions because the different enzyme molecules in the population behave stochastically. In this work, we studied the hysteretic behavior of mutant β-glucuronidase (GUS) using a high-throughput single-molecule array platform and investigated the effect of thermal treatment on the hysteresis.
Characterizing the choice to disclose nonsuicidal self-injury.

Objective Despite nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) being a prevalent and problematic behavior, only approximately half of those who engage in NSSI disclose their behavior. Yet, limited research has explored the choice to disclose. This study sought to identify if NSSI characteristics, emotional distress, and perceived interpersonal obstacles discriminated between NSSI disclosure status. Exploratory aims also investigated reasons for one's disclosure decision and disclosure contextual factors. Method Participants included 977 undergraduate students (83% female) with a lifetime history of NSSI. Results Greater NSSI intrapersonal functions, suicide risk, and significant other support, and lower depression symptoms were associated with NSSI disclosure. Exploratory results highlight perceptions of one's NSSI severity and desire to receive support in disclosure choice; intrapersonal functions and peer support were associated with the timing of disclosure. Conclusions Findings underscore the potential importance of individual attitudes toward NSSI, in addition to traditionally measured risk factors, as potential drivers in NSSI disclosure.
Risk and Protective Factors for Gun Violence in Male Juvenile Offenders.

To examine several risk and protective factors as predictors of future gun violence among male juvenile offenders. Data came from a longitudinal cohort of 1,170 male juvenile offenders (42.1% Black...
Stochastic-Deep Learning Parameterization of Ocean Momentum Forcing

Coupled climate simulations that span several hundred years cannot be run at a high-enough spatial resolution to resolve mesoscale ocean dynamics. These mesoscale dynamics backscatter to macroscale...
Herding CATS: Building Student Engagement in Remote Learning in the U.S. and Uzbekistan

Reflecting on the experience of faculty at Boston College Law School and Tashkent State University of Law in Uzbekistan during the early months of the covid-19 pandemic, this essay discusses how law teachers can promote student engagement in remote learning by adapting classroom assessment techniques, or CATs, to the remote learning environment. Originally promoted in a 1988 book by Thomas A. Angelo and K. Patricia Cross as tools “to help teachers find out what students are learning in the classroom and how well they are learning it,” CATs are well-designed and well-tested in-class activities that require students to interact with the teacher and with content; thus, in addition to providing information about learning, CATs can be used as methods to engage students in learning. CATs adapt easily from the physical to the virtual classroom, which to many law teachers in the U.S. offers the promise of engaging students in a manner similar to the physical classroom. In light of drawbacks of the virtual classroom, however, U.S. law teachers may find instructive the experience of teachers at TSUL, who have devised ways to employ activities that function similarly to CATs in lower bandwidth contexts.