cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robustness of decoupling with almost redundant inputs

Control design for an ill-conditioned plant is known to be problematic. One reason a plant may be ill-conditioned is that its control inputs may be almost redundant, in the sense that they have an almost identical effect upon the controlled outputs. In this paper we study robustness problems that may occur when a controller that decouples, or partially decouples, the plant is used with a plant that has almost redundant inputs.
Asymptotic state of the two-stream instability

Two stream instability using nonlinear Vlasov equation, noting asymptotic inhomogeneous equilibrium for electron plasma
On the confluence of self processes

Abstract There are currently a large number of models which identify self-evaluation (self-esteem) as an important source of motivation. However, these models often posit qualitatively different antecedents and consequences. The present studies focus on the questions of whether these qualitatively different behavioral systems affect the same or different mediating variables, and whether the motivation is to maximize or simply maintain a particular level of self-evaluation. In Study 1 we found that providing subjects a “self affirmation” ( Steele, 1988 ) opportunity reduced their propensity to engage in self-evaluation maintenance behaviors (SEM; Tesser, 1988 ). In Studies 2 and 3 we found that making salient positive SEM scenarios reduced the propensity to engage in dissonance reduction whereas making salient a threatening SEM scenario did not. These results were interpreted as indicating that these hypothetical self-systems affect the same mediating variable and that the motive is to maintain rather than maximize self-evaluation.
A Virtual Opinion

Social media provides new opportunities for sharing health-related data online. Although crowdsourcing medical diagnoses is not yet the trend, people are using social media to seek answers and better understand treatments and outcomes as doctors, experts, and patients converge online.
Sec6p anchors the assembled exocyst complex at sites of secretion.

The exocyst is an essential protein complex required for targeting and fusion of secretory vesicles to sites of exocytosis at the plasma membrane. To study the function of the exocyst complex, we performed a structure-based mutational analysis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae exocyst subunit Sec6p. Two “patches” of highly conserved residues are present on the surface of Sec6p; mutation of either patch does not compromise protein stability. Nevertheless, replacement of SEC6 with the patch mutants results in severe temperature-sensitive growth and secretion defects. At nonpermissive conditions, although trafficking of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane is unimpaired, none of the exocyst subunits are polarized. This is consistent with data from other exocyst temperature-sensitive mutants, which disrupt the integrity of the complex. Surprisingly, however, these patch mutations result in mislocalized exocyst complexes that remain intact. Our results indicate that assembly and polarization of the exocyst are functionally separable events, and that Sec6p is required to anchor exocyst complexes at sites of secretion.
Structural changes of the thylakoid membrane network induced by high light stress in plant chloroplasts

Land plants live in a challenging environment dominated by unpredictable changes. A particular problem is fluctuation in sunlight intensity that can cause irreversible damage of components of the photosynthetic apparatus in thylakoid membranes under high light conditions. Although a battery of photoprotective mechanisms minimize damage, photoinhibition of the photosystem II (PSII) complex occurs. Plants have evolved a multi-step PSII repair cycle that allows efficient recovery from photooxidative PSII damage. An important feature of the repair cycle is its subcompartmentalization to stacked grana thylakoids and unstacked thylakoid regions. Thus, understanding the crosstalk between stacked and unstacked thylakoid membranes is essential to understand the PSII repair cycle. This review summarizes recent progress in our understanding of high-light-induced structural changes of the thylakoid membrane system and correlates these changes to the efficiency of the PSII repair cycle. The role of reversible protein phosphorylation for structural alterations is discussed. It turns out that dynamic changes in thylakoid membrane architecture triggered by high light exposure are central for efficient repair of PSII.
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis

Food allergy is a common cause of anaphylaxis, and its incidence is rising. The development of allergy is multifactorial, and the mechanisms of tolerance are complex. The natural history of food allergy varies by causative food; some allergies are mostly outgrown, while others are usually life-long. Anaphylaxis caused by food allergy may differ clinically from other causes of anaphylaxis. Death is usually caused by respiratory failure, and patients who have asthma are at greatest risk for severe reactions. At this time, avoiding allergenic triggers, and when that fails, timely administration of epinephrine, are the main approaches to food allergy. Although several experimental medications promise to dramatically change the field of food allergy, none of these treatments are currently available outside of research settings.
Peptide mapping of the epitope on target cells recognized by nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) from channel catfish

Nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) may comprise an important effector population specific for recognition of aberrant (tumour) cells, regulation of cell interactions including antibacterial action and lysis of protozoan parasites. In the present study, peptides were synthesized based on the amino acid sequence of a novel protein (Natural Killer cell Target Antigen, NK Tag) found on the protozoan parasite Tetrahymena pyriformis and on NCC-sensitive tumour target cells. Partially purified NK Tag was obtained from Tetrahymena. It inhibited NCC lysis of a large variety of mammalian tumour target cells. Synthetic peptides composed of short 20 mer sequences obtained from the N-terminal and midregion portions of NK Tag were tested for their ability to inhibit NCC cytotoxicity. Synthetic peptide comprised of aa # 55-74 significantly inhibited NCC lysis of IM-9 target cells. A monoclonal antibody generated against an N-terminal dodecapeptide of NK Tag bound to Tetrahymena and to several mammalian NK-sensitive target cells including K562, YAC-1, U937, NC-37, EL-4, IM-9, HL-60 and MOLT-4. NK Tag sequence comparisons using Swisspro database revealed no significant homologies except in a restricted domain region of several glycolytic pathway enzymes. A supergene family relationship was indicated because of these similarities.
After AIDS Clinical Trial 076: The Changing Pattern of Zidovudine Use during Pregnancy, and the Subsequent Reduction in the Vertical Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in a Cohort of Infected Women and Their Infants

To determine the impact of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Protocol 076 results on the subsequent use of zidovudine during pregnancy and the transmission rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a cohort of mother-infant pairs (Women and Infants Transmission Study), a retrospective analysis was done. Transmission rates were calculated by simple proportion for infants with at least 6 months of follow-up, stratified by date of birth (n = 453 born on or before 1 March 1994; n = 103 born after 1 March 1994). Transmission rates decreased from 19% to 8% (P = .005, Fisher's exact test). Zidovudine use increased during pregnancy (22% vs. 89%) and in newborns (1% vs. 79%). Both cohorts were similar with respect to maternal immunosuppression, mode of delivery, and demographics. In summary, in a perinatal HIV observational study, the release of results of ACTG Protocol 076 was associated with an increase in zidovudine use during pregnancy and a concomitant decline in HIV transmission from mothers to infants.
A New Species of Myrmecina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Southeastern North America

A new species of ant, Myrmecina cooperi sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmecinae) is described and illustrated from specimens collected in Florida and Alabama, USA. This species is characterized by its small size (under 2 mm length), shagreened gastral tergites, and a strong ventral protrusion on the underside of the postpetiole. It is presently known from a small area in the Florida Panhandle and adjacent Alabama. Habitus illustrations and an identification key are provided for the 3 eastern species of Myrmecina.
How Would Cardin's VAT Affect Social Security Recipients?

On December 11, 2014, Senate Finance Committee member Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md., introduced S. 3005, the Progressive Consumption Tax Act of 2014, which calls for the adoption of a 10 percent VAT. The adoption of a VAT would have far-reaching effects on the economy, including the Social Security program.
Logistical Considerations for Integrating Patient-Reported Outcomes in Multiregional Clinical Trials

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly used in clinical trials for a variety of purposes, including demonstration of efficacy as a primary endpoint. Study teams face many unique logistical challenges when implementing PROs in multiregional clinical trials, including in terms of the resources needed to create questionnaires, train staff in their use, andanalyze patient feedback to them. For example, creation and validation of novel questionnaires require special expertise. Being aware of such challenges early in the process will enable successful integration of PROs in multiregional clinical trials.
Integrated land-sea management: recommendations for planning, implementation and management

Marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems face increasing anthropogenic threats that are exacerbated by the ecological connectivity between realms; integrated land-sea management (ILSM) is a framework that can help address this connectivity. However, gaps in our knowledge regarding ILSM remain. This study reviewed 108 relevant studies to understand how ILSM is being utilized. Summarized are: (1) characteristics of integrated land-sea programs; (2) recommendations made from the literature for program planning, implementation and management; (3) how applied programs have been planned, implemented and managed; and (4) recommendations for undertaking ILSM. It was found that applied programs did not often adhere to the strategies recommended by theoretical papers. Applied programs were less likely than theoretical papers to specifically name the land-sea connection, over 50% did not apply a framework or governance approach, many did not include key stakeholders, and over 80% listed at least one conflict or hurdle that decreased program success. This study highlighted the difficulties of undertaking ILSM given the high number of stakeholders, government agencies and experts involved. Based on the findings, recommendations for future ILSM programs are provided.
Identification of a Chemoattractant G-Protein-Coupled Receptor for Folic Acid that Controls Both Chemotaxis and Phagocytosis

Eukaryotic phagocytes search and destroy invading microorganisms via chemotaxis and phagocytosis. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is a professional phagocyte that chases bacteria through chemotaxis and engulfs them as food via phagocytosis. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known for detecting chemoattractants and directing cell migration, but their roles in phagocytosis are not clear. Here, we developed a quantitative phosphoproteomic technique to discover signaling components. Using this approach, we discovered the long sought after folic acid receptor, fAR1, in D. discoideum. We showed that the seven-transmembrane receptor fAR1 is required for folic acid-mediated signaling events. Significantly, we discovered that fAR1 is essential for both chemotaxis and phagocytosis of bacteria, thereby representing a chemoattractant GPCR that mediates not only chasing but also ingesting bacteria. We revealed that a phagocyte is able to internalize particles via a chemoattractant-mediated engulfment process. We propose that mammalian phagocytes may also use this mechanism to engulf and ingest bacterial pathogens.
Vignettes in the history of chemistry. 1. What is the origin of the Gibbs–Helmholtz equation?

This column is intended to address questions students and teachers may have about the historical origins of a symbol, name, concept or experimental procedure found in their textbook. If there is a specific subject you would like to see addressed in the series, feel free to e-mail your queries to Dr. Jensen at the above address. This particular installment traces the historical origins of the well-known Gibbs–Helmholtz equation and casts doubt on the role of Gibbs in its formulation. Target audience: chemistry courses at all levels depending on the subject being discussed.
Spallation of Cu by 500- and 1570-MeV π −

Relative yields of 36 products extending from /sup 7/Be to /sup 65/Zn have been measured for the interaction of 500- and 1570-MeV negative pions with Cu. These results are compared with calculations from the ISOBAR model, with earlier studies of Cu spallation with lower (resonance) energy pions, energetic protons, and heavy ions. Relative yield patterns at both ..pi../sup -/ energies show only slight differences when compared to spallation by protons of comparable energy. Calculations from the ISOBAR model adequately reproduce the shapes of the mass yield and charge yield of the experimental data for 500-MeV ..pi../sup -/. The calculation, however, overestimates the yield of neutron-rich isotopes from deep spallation. At the 1570-MeV ..pi../sup -/ energy the yield patterns, charge-dispersion, and mass-yield curves are nearly identical to those for 2-GeV proton spallation. These results suggest that pion-nucleon resonance effects probably decrease at higher energies and that limiting fragmentation and factorization concepts may be applied to understanding high-energy pion spallation.
Sedimentary basins and petroleum systems offshore Newfoundland and Labrador

The sedimentary basins offshore Newfoundland and Labrador include those related to the opening and closing of the Palaeo-Atlantic (Iapetus) Ocean and those formed during the opening of the present Atlantic Ocean. The oldest among these are the Lower Palaeozoic Anticosti Basin and the Carboniferous Maritimes successor basin offshore western Newfoundland. The Mesozoic sedimentary basins on the Grand Banks and on the Labrador Shelf record the progressively northward opening of the present Atlantic Ocean. These include the South Whale Sub-basin of the Scotian Basin, Whale Basin, Horseshoe Basin, Carson Basin, Jeanne d’Arc Basin, Flemish Pass Basin, East Newfoundland Basin, Hopedale Basin and Saglek Basin. Petroleum systems occur in the Anticosti Basin, Maritimes Basin, South Whale Sub-basin, Jeanne d’Arc Basin, Flemish Pass Basin and the Hopedale Basin. In the Anticosti Basin, Lower Palaeozoic marine shales constitute source rocks and carbonates form the reservoir rocks. In the Maritimes Basin, Lower Carboniferous lacustrine rocks form the source rocks and Carboniferous sandstones form the major reservoir rocks. On the Grand Banks, Kimmeridgian shale represents the source and Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sandstones constitute the main reservoir units. Offshore Labrador, Tertiary shales are considered to be the source and Cretaceous sandstones form the principal reservoir rocks. All the basins with petroleum systems have a favourable combination of elements and processes needed for hydrocarbon accumulations.
Repudiation of a Repudiation

THE Department of State in the early 1930s did not like the J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Memorandum on the Monroe Doctrine, the notable document which repudiated the Roosevelt Corollary of 1905, and so officers of the department quietly repudiated the repudiation. It was a confusing business and has confounded historians ever since. Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg had begun this complication in 1928 by asking his undersecretary, Clark, to put together some scholarly commentary showing how the Monroe Doctrine stood against European intervention and did not justify United States intervention in Latin America. Clark delegated the task to an assistant, Miss Anna O'Neill,1 who produced a sizable document from such sources as John Bassett Moore's Digest of International Law and History and Digest of International Arbitration, the Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th ed.), Encyclopedia Americana, and Carlton J. H. Hayes' A Political and Social History of Modern Europe. Miss O'Neill did not explicitly repudiate the Roosevelt Corollary. But Clark did so in a prolix covering letter of seventeen pages, dated December 17, 1928, addressed to Secretary Kellogg. He said, in part, that "it is not believed that this corollary is justified by the terms of the Monroe Doctrine, however much it may be justified by the application of the doctrine of self-preservation." The covering letter and the memorandum became lost in the changeover of Republican administrations in 1929. In some rather odd manner, without much thought at all, the letter and memorandum emerged as a publication of the Government Printing Office in 1930.2 The department then undertook to back out of what it deemed a considerable embarrassment.
Experiment Study on MFL Testing in Cracks

The experiments are applied into analyzing the parameters' influence on the crest values of test signals,just as the depth, the angle of incline and another cracks in sight of it whether or not.And the curves are given.The outcome may offer the frame of reference in practical cracks' MFL testing.
Directed plateau search for MAX-k-SAT

Local search algorithms for MAX-k-SAT must often explore large regions of mutually connected equal moves, or plateaus, typically by taking random walks through the region. In this paper, we develop a surrogate plateau "gradient" function using a Walsh transform of the objective function. This function gives the mean value of the objective function over localized volumes of the search space. This information can be used to direct search through plateaus more quickly. The focus of this paper is on demonstrating that formal analysis of search space structure can direct existing algorithms in a more principled manner than random walks. We show that embedding the gradient computation into a hill-climbing local search for MAX-k-SAT improves its convergence profile.
Motivated Reasoning, Accuracy, and Updating in Perceptions of Bush's Legacy*

Objective This study sets out to examine the roles of party identification, political knowledge, education, and media use in citizens’ perceptions of changes in the economy, federal deficit, poverty, and crime rates between 2001 and 2008. It also tests the predictions of motivated reasoning versus Bayesian updating in seeing how (or if) perceptions of the economy changed as conditions worsened during 2008. Method This research used American National Election Studies (ANES) panel data in creating regression analyses for perceptions in January and November 2008, with the former as a control for the latter. A repeated-measures analysis of variance tracked changes in partisans’ perceptions of the economy during the year. Results Partisanship was a robust predictor of perceptions. Political knowledge and education tended to promote perceptions that were in the same direction as actual trends, but political knowledge interacted with party identification to promote partisan polarization in perceptions. Television news exposure was the most important media variable, although it promoted pessimism on all trends. As economic conditions worsened throughout 2008, partisans’ perceptions of the economy converged, suggesting that citizens, especially Republicans, updated their perceptions. Conclusion The findings for partisanship and its interaction with political knowledge are consistent with the motivated reasoning literature, but the emergence of a bipartisan consensus about the worsening of the economy by the end of 2008 supports Bayesian updating, although it may take pretty undeniable facts for it to work.
Active transport of sodium by human colon in vitro.

Unidirectional and net fluxes of sodium were measured isotopically in studies of planar segments of freshly resected human colonic mucosa “short-circuited” according to the technique of Ussing and Zerahn. Spontaneous transmural electrical potentials of more than 20 mv were recorded from those tissues which were most rapidly mounted in the perfusion chamber. Potentials declined asymptotically toward zero, reaching 50% of initial values approximately 90 min after mounting. Transmural potential, short-circuit current, and sodium net flux showed parallel increases when antidiuretic hormone was added to the serosal perfusion solution, but application to the mucosal surface was ineffective. No potentiation was produced by D-glucose or L-alanine. Inhibition was produced by either dinitrophenol or mechanically decreased oxygenation. Selected tissues with high initial potentials gave short-circuit current values of 3.2 ± 0.2 (mean ± se ) μEq per hr per cm2 of tissue surface while the corresponding net flux of sodium was 4.0 ± 0.5, a current to flux ratio of 0.8 ± 0.1. Whether the discrepancy between net llux and short-circuit current was methodological or was due to asymmetrical fluxes of ions other than sodium could not be determined since the latter were not measured simultaneously. However, if allowance is made for the age of the ex vivo preparation, active transport of sodium exhibits the appropriate magnitude, direction, and metabolite responses to account for most of the spontaneous transmural potential and short-circuit current.
Interaction between prenatal maternal stress and autonomic arousal in predicting conduct problems and psychopathic traits in children

Evidence has suggested that neurobiological deficits combine with psychosocial risk factors to impact on the development of antisocial behavior. The current study concentrated on the interplay of prenatal maternal stress and autonomic arousal in predicting antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. Prenatal maternal stress was assessed by caregiver’s retrospective report, and resting heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were measured in 295 8- to 10-year-old children. Child and caregiver also reported on child’s antisocial behavior and psychopathic traits. Higher prenatal maternal stress was associated with higher caregiver-reported antisocial and psychopathy scores, even after the concurrent measure of social adversity was controlled for. As expected, low heart rate and high RSA were associated with high antisocial and psychopathic traits. More importantly, significant interaction effects were found; prenatal stress was positively associated with multiple dimensions of psychopathic traits only on the conditions of low arousal (e.g., low heart rate or high RSA). Findings provide further support for a biosocial perspective of antisocial and psychopathic traits, and illustrate the importance of integrating biological with psychosocial measures to fully understand the etiology of behavioral problems.
Tandem Reaction Progress Analysis as a Means for Dissecting Catalytic Reactions: Application to the Aza-Piancatelli Rearrangement

Continuing developments in the elucidation techniques of complex catalytic processes is of foremost importance to modern synthetic chemistry, and the identification of efficient synthetic techniques relies on precise, reliable, and adaptable methods to dissect the mechanism of a given transformation. Currently, methods of reaction development are grounded upon the systematic modification of specific variables—such as temperature, time, concentration, etc.—to account for and control the dynamic series of coupled equilibria within a catalytic environment. On the other hand, tandem reaction analytical methods that involve the concomitant use of different instruments to probe a reaction can provide time-resolved information regarding active chemical species and facilitate the interrogation and optimization of the system. Herein, we report our study applying tandem in situ ReactIR and HPLC-MS monitoring to the dysprosium(III) triflate-catalyzed aza-Piancatelli rearrangement of 2-furylcarbinols, a reaction that...
What Makes an Annular Mode “Annular”?

AbstractAnnular patterns with a high degree of zonal symmetry play a prominent role in the natural variability of the atmospheric circulation and its response to external forcing. But despite their apparent importance for understanding climate variability, the processes that give rise to their marked zonally symmetric components remain largely unclear. Here the authors use simple stochastic models in conjunction with an atmospheric model and observational analyses to explore the conditions under which annular patterns arise from empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the flow. The results indicate that annular patterns arise not only from zonally coherent fluctuations in the circulation (i.e., “dynamical annularity”) but also from zonally symmetric statistics of the circulation in the absence of zonally coherent fluctuations (i.e., “statistical annularity”). It is argued that the distinction between dynamical and statistical annular patterns derived from EOF analysis can be inferred from the asso...
Endurance properties of ferroelectric PZT thin films

The fatigue behavior of sol-gel derived PZT (lead zirconate titanate) thin films was studied to determine the endurance of nonvolatile ferroelectric memories. The observed capacitance characteristics following polarization cycling are consistent with a domain pinning model. Cycling at low fields improves the endurance significantly. In addition, poling at fields above the cycling field increases the initial remanent polarization and restores the polarization lost from cycling. Both poling and low-field operation may be promising means of improving ferroelectric-memory endurance. >
Changes in undergraduates' marijuana, heavy alcohol and cigarette use following legalization of recreational marijuana use in Oregon.

Background and Aims Recreational marijuana legalization (RML) went into effect in Oregon in July 2015. RML is expected to influence marijuana use by adolescents and young adults in particular, and by those with a propensity for substance use. We sought to quantify changes in rates of marijuana use among college students in Oregon from pre- to post-RML relative to college students in other states across the same time period. Design Repeated cross-sectional survey data from the 2012–16 administrations of the Healthy Minds Study. Setting Seven 4-year universities in the United States. Participants There were 10 924 undergraduate participants. One large public Oregon university participated in 2014 and 2016 (n = 588 and 1115, respectively); six universities in US states where recreational marijuana use was illegal participated both in 2016 and at least once between 2012 and 2015. Measurements Self-reported marijuana use in the past 30 days (yes/no) was regressed on time (pre/post 2015), exposure to RML (i.e. Oregon students in 2016) and covariates using mixed-effects logistic regression. Moderation of RML effects by recent heavy alcohol use was examined. Findings Rates of marijuana use increased from pre- to post-2015 at six of the seven universities, a trend that was significant overall. Increases in rates of marijuana use were significantly greater in Oregon than in comparison institutions, but only among students reporting recent heavy alcohol use. Conclusions Rates of Oregon college students’ marijuana use increased (relative to that of students in other states) following recreational marijuana legislation in 2015, but only for those who reported recent heavy use of alcohol. Such alcohol misuse may be a proxy for vulnerabilities to substance use or lack of prohibitions (e.g. cultural) against it.
Precision Medicine in Children and Young Adults with Hematologic Malignancies and Blood Disorders: The Columbia University Experience

Abstract Background: The advent of comprehensive genomic profiling has markedly advanced the understanding of the biology of pediatric hematologic malignancies, however its application to clinical care is still unclear. We present our experience integrating genomic data into the clinical management of children with high-risk hematologic malignancies and blood disorders and describe the broad impact that genomic profiling has in multiple aspects of patient care. Methods: The Precision in Pediatric Sequencing (PIPseq) Program at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) instituted prospective clinical next generation sequencing (NGS) for high-risk malignancies and blood disorders. Testing included cancer whole-exome sequencing (WES) of matched tumor-normal samples or targeted sequencing of 467 cancer-associated genes, when sample adequacy was a concern, and tumor transcriptome (RNA-seq). A multidisciplinary molecular tumor board conducted interpretation of results and final tiered reports were transmitted to the electronic medical record according to patient preferences. Results: Sixty-nine samples from 56 patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies and blood disorders were sequenced. Patients carried diagnoses of myeloid malignancy (n=25), lymphoid malignancy (n=25) or histiocytic disorder (n=6). Six patients had only constitutional WES performed for a suspicion of an inherited predisposition for their disease. For the remaining 50 patients, tumor was sequenced with matched normal tissue when available. The mean number of somatic variants per sample was low across the different disease categories (2.85 variants/sample). Interestingly, a gene fusion was identified by RNA-seq in 58% of samples that had adequate RNA available for testing. Molecular profiling of tumor tissue led to clinically impactful findings in 90% of patients. Forty patients (80%) had at least one targetable gene variant or fusion identified in their tumor tissue; however, only seven received targeted therapy. Importantly, NGS findings contributed to the refinement of diagnosis and prognosis for 34% of patients. Known or likely pathogenic germline alterations were discovered in 24% of patients involving cancer predisposition genes in 12% of cases. Conclusion: Incorporating whole exome and transcriptome profiling of tumor and normal tissue into clinical practice is feasible, and the value that comprehensive testing provides extends beyond the ability to target specific mutations.
Fetal interventions for structural heart disease.

Fetal cardiac intervention (FCI) offers the potential to alter in utero anatomy and physiology. For aortic stenosis with evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum with evolving hypoplastic right heart syndrome, FCI may result in maintenance of a biventricular circulation, thus avoiding single-ventricle palliation and its attendant complications. In the case of hypoplastic left heart syndrome with intact atrial septum, FCI may ameliorate in utero pathophysiology and portend a more favorable postnatal prognosis. In all cases, a detailed fetal echocardiographic assessment to identify the appropriate FCI candidate is essential. This article reviews the three aforementioned lesions for which FCI can be considered. The pathophysiology and rationale for intervention, echocardiographic assessment, patient selection criteria, and outcomes for each lesion will be reviewed. A primary focus will be the echocardiographic evaluation of each lesion.
A variant of von Willebrand's disease with abnormal expression of factor VIII procoagulant activity

Reports on variants of von Willebrand's disease are numerous, but many of these are based on tests that will show marked fluctuations with time and tests that might not be similar in affected family members. This report describes 8 patients with a new variant of von Willebrand';s disease in which there is a normal APTT, slightly reduced one-stage factor VIII:C assay (VIII:C-1), and a drastically reduced two-stage factor VIII:C assay (VIII:C-2). The VIII:C in this variant is more readily adsorbed to AI(OH)3. This variability in VIII:C assays and excessive adsorption to AI(OH)3 are corrected by the addition of either hemophilic plasma or hemophilic factor-VIII-related antigen. This variant is stable with restudy on multiple occasions and is inherited in a stable fashion in three generations of one family. The multimeric structure of the VIIIR:Ag appears normal, although the concentration is moderately reduced. The differences in functional activity, the adsorption to AI(OH)3, and the differences between functional and antigenic (VIII:C Ag) assays of VIII:C support that this is a functional abnormality of type I von Willebrand's disease.
Universal access to participatory musical experiences for people with disabilities

Participating in music is a promising way to provide therapy for people with neurological and developmental disabilities. Unfortunately people are often unable to participate in music because of cognitive or physical impairment, and the steep learning curve of playing an instrument. We developed the Sensor to MIDI Interface (SMIDI) controller in order to provide a common platform to create MIDI-based musical instruments that are appropriate for people with disabilities. In this paper we discuss the SMIDI controller and three unique applications that use the system. The first is the MusicGlove, a musical instrument that motivates use of the hand through practicing functional gripping movements. The second is a fabric-based sensor technology that can be cut into any size or shape and connects with SMIDI to turn ordinary objects into a musical instrument. The third is a sensor laden stuffed animal that elicits sounds through bending and squeezing various appendages. Through the SMIDI system we hope to make music participation an accessible and enjoyable medium for therapy.
Sepsis alerts in EMS and the results of pre-hospital ETCO2.

Abstract Background Field sepsis alerts have the ability to expedite initial ED sepsis treatment. Our hypothesis is that in patients that meet EMS sepsis alert criteria there is a strong relationship between prehospital end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) readings and the outcome of diagnosed infection. Methods In 2014, our EMS service initiated a protocol requiring hospitals to receive notification of a “sepsis alert” on all suspected sepsis patients. The EMS service transports 70,000 patients/year to a number of urban centers. All patients transported to our major urban teaching hospital by our EMS service in one year in which a sepsis alert was announced were included in this study. The primary outcome variable was diagnosed infection and secondary outcomes were hospital admission, ICU admission and mortality. Positive lactate was defined as >4.0 mmol/L. ROC curve analysis was used to define the best cutoff for ETCO2. Results 351 patients were announced as EMS sepsis alert patients and transported to our center over a one year period. Positive outcomes were as follows: diagnosed infection in 28% of patients, hospital admission in 63% and ICU admission in 11%. The correlation between lactate and ETCO2 was −0.45. A ROC curve analysis of ETCO2 vs. lactate >4 found that the best cutoff to predict a high lactate was an ETCO2 of 25 or less, which was considered a positive ETCO2 (AUC = 0.73). 27% of patients had a positive ETCO2 and 24% had a positive lactate. A positive ETCO2 predicted a positive lactate with 76% accuracy, 63% sensitivity and 80% specificity. 27% of those with a positive ETCO2 and 44% of those with a positive lactate had a diagnosed infection. 59% of those with a positive ETCO2 and 89% of those with a positive lactate had admission to the hospital. 15% of those with a positive ETCO2 and 18% of those with a positive lactate had admission to the ICU. Neither lactate nor ETCO2 were predictive of an increased risk for diagnosed infection, hospital admission or ICU admission in this patient population. Conclusion While ETCO2 predicted the initial ED lactate levels it did not predict diagnosed infection, admission to the hospital or ICU admission in our patient population but did predict mortality.
Phase Signature of Topological Transition in Josephson Junctions.

Topological superconductivity holds promise for fault-tolerant quantum computing. While planar Josephson junctions are attractive candidates to realize this exotic state, direct phase measurements as the fingerprint of the topological transition are missing. By embedding two gate-tunable $\mathrm{Al}/\mathrm{InAs}$ Josephson junctions in a loop geometry, we measure a $\ensuremath{\pi}$ jump in the junction phase with an increasing in-plane magnetic field ${\mathbit{B}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$. This jump is accompanied by a minimum of the critical current, indicating a closing and reopening of the superconducting gap, strongly anisotropic in ${\mathbit{B}}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$. Our theory confirms that these signatures of a topological transition are compatible with the emergence of Majorana bound states.
Domain-Specific Languages

Recently, there has been a growing interest in what have come to be known as domain-specific languages (DSLs). This paper introduces a definition for DSLs, explains how DSLs can have a far-reaching impact on our lives, and discusses why DSLs are here to stay.
Feasability of On-Body Backscattering in the UHF-RFID Band using Screen-Printed Dipole Antennas

An increasing number of wearable applications require wireless on-body connections. Some of these links will use radio-frequency (RF) backscattering. A potential technology for this backscattering is ultra-high frequency RF identification (UHF RFID). To investigate the feasibility of using UHF RFID in such links, on-body path loss measurements using screen-printed folded dipole antennas are presented in five different on-body scenarios. These are used to determine a relationship between the on-body links’ dynamic range and the potential propagation distance, given a certain outage probability.
Physical and Functional Impairment Among Older Adults With a History of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objectives To examine the association of lifetime history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with later-life physical impairment (PI) and functional impairment (FI) and to evaluate the impact of neurobehavioral symptoms that frequently co-occur with TBI on these relations. Participants A total of 1148 respondents to the 2014 Wave of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of older community-dwelling adults, randomly selected to participate in a TBI exposure survey. They reported no prior TBI (n = 737) or prior TBI (n = 411). Design Cross-sectional survey study. Main measures Physical impairment (self-reported difficulty with ≥1 of 8 physical activities); FI (self-reported difficulty with ≥1 of 11 activities of daily living); self-reported current neurobehavioral symptoms (pain, sleep problems, depression, subjective memory impairment); The Ohio State University TBI Identification Method (OSU-TBI-ID)-short form. Analyses Stepwise logistic regression models ([1] unadjusted; [2] adjusted for demographics and medical comorbidities; [3] additionally adjusted for neurobehavioral symptoms) compared PI and FI between TBI groups. Results Traumatic brain injury-exposed (mean: 33.6 years postinjury) respondents were younger, less likely to be female, and reported more comorbidities and neurobehavioral symptoms. Although TBI was significantly associated with increased odds of PI and FI in unadjusted models and models adjusted for demographics/comorbidities (adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: PI 1.62, 1.21-2.17; FI 1.60, 1.20-2.14), this association was no longer statistically significant after further adjustment for neurobehavioral symptoms. Conclusion History of TBI is associated with substantial PI and FI among community-dwelling older adults. Further research is warranted to determine whether aggressive management of neurobehavioral symptoms in this population may mitigate long-term PI and FI in this population.
Evidence for sk in German as a Complex Segment

This squib provides evidence from the superlative in support of Wiese’s (1996) position that s (sibilant) + stop sequences in German behave as complex segments. With the exception of the sequence /sk/, the consonants that require schwa epenthesis before the superlative suffix are all coronal obstruents: nettest- [ˈnɛtəst] ‘nicest’, susest- [ˈzyːsəst] ‘sweetest’, frischest- [ˈfrɪʃəst] ‘freshest’, bruskest- [ˈbrʏskəst] ‘most abrupt’. If one assumes that the sequence /sk/ is a single, complex segment with the feature [coronal] as well as [dorsal], the formation of the superlative can be accounted for with a simple rule of schwa epenthesis.*
Bringing Creative Thinking Exercises into the Computing Classroom with Ready-to-Use Video Scenarios

The need to integrate the development of innovative thinking and creative problem-solving skills into computer science curricula has been increasingly recognized. However, two major hurdles face many computer science educators: (1) What exercises can be used to develop creative and innovative thinking in the context of computing? and (2) How, in crowded curricula, can the time be found to engage students in creative problem-solving exercises? This demonstration presents a solution to both questions using video scenarios. These short films, with associated discussion questions, feature fictitious companies facing problems that computing solutions could alleviate. For example: Can an art gallery please a patron who wants paintings categorized by redness? In what innovative ways can a pet shop create customer communities? The problems the characters are facing are not explicitly stated nor do they have a single solution. Instead, the viewer must discern the problems through critical listening and observation, and then develop creative solutions to solve them. Since the videos decouple problem-solving from implementation, they also provide an equal-footing environment that allows students with varying technical abilities to participate productively in the exercises. Participants will be introduced to how video-based creative problem-solving exercises can be used, even in time-restricted situations. The videos and associated discussion questions are available at http://www.youtube.com/virt-university.
Veno-venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Respiratory Failure in COVID-19 Patients: Early Experience From a Major Academic Medical Center in North America.

And background data VV ECMO can be utilized as an advanced therapy in select patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure refractory to traditional critical care management and optimal mechanical ventilation. Anticipating a need for such therapies during the pandemic, our center created a targeted protocol for ECMO therapy in COVID-19 patients that allows us to provide this life-saving therapy to our sickest patients without overburdening already stretched resources or excessively exposing healthcare staff to infection risk. Methods As a major regional referral program, we used the framework of our well-established ECMO service-line to outline specific team structures, modified patient eligibility criteria, cannulation strategies, and management protocols for the COVID-19 ECMO program. Results During the first month of the COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts, 6 patients were placed on VV ECMO for refractory hypoxemic respiratory failure. The median (interquartile range) age was 47 years (43-53) with most patients being male (83%) and obese (67%). All cannulations were performed at the bedside in the intensive care unit in patients who had undergone a trial of rescue therapies for acute respiratory distress syndrome including lung protective ventilation, paralysis, prone positioning, and inhaled nitric oxide. At the time of this report, 83% (5/6) of the patients are still alive with 1 death on ECMO, attributed to hemorrhagic stroke. 67% of patients (4/6) have been successfully decannulated, including 2 that have been successfully extubated and one who was discharged from the hospital. The median duration of VV ECMO therapy for patients who have been decannulated is 12 days (4-18 days). Conclusions This is 1 the first case series describing VV ECMO outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Our initial data suggest that VV ECMO can be successfully utilized in appropriately selected COVID-19 patients with advanced respiratory failure.
Research Progress of the Techology of Correcting Point Mutation by Especially Modified Oligonucleotides

The technology that correcting the point mutation by specially designed oligonucleotides is a laest molecular biological technique developed from late 1990s'. Successful repair has been achieved in yeast,plant, mammalian cells and other biological material, even in more and more animal models. But the technology is still in its developing and growing stage, and the gene repair mechanisms need to be elucidated more exactly.At present, the following factors are considered to be related; the structures and transport systems of oligonucleotides, transcription of the target gene, DNA replication, mismatch repair, damage repair and other relate biological processes. Key words: Oligonucleotide; Point mutation; Site-specific gene repair
Novel Approaches to Reduce Symptomatic Neuroma Pain After Limb Amputation

A considerable number of major limb amputation patients will develop symptomatic neuromas within the residual limb. There has been a paradigm shift in the surgical treatment of symptomatic neuromas from techniques that attempt to interrupt axonal regeneration in favor of techniques that permit reinnervation. In addition, growing evidence suggests that successful treatment of peripheral nerve pain may diminish the development of phantom limb pain. We discuss novel surgical techniques that seek to prevent neuroma formation and in turn reduce phantom limb pain. Targeted muscle reinnervation and regenerative peripheral nerve interface surgery provide regenerating peripheral nerves denervated targets for reinnervation thus reducing the number of free axons available to form neuromas. While very different in technique, both approaches decrease the formation of symptomatic neuromas. In doing so, these methods reduce the experience of residual limb pain and phantom limb pain. Implementation of innovative surgical techniques after peripheral nerve transection can transform the management of postamputation pain. Decreasing the impact of neuroma pain and phantom limb pain will facilitate prosthetic rehabilitation, decrease analgesic use, and improve quality of life after limb amputation.
Sino-Vatican Rapprochement: An Assessment of Pope Francis’ Realpolitik and the Provisional Agreement on the Appointment of Bishops

In September 2018, the Vatican and the People’s Republic of China reached a landmark provisional agreement, marking a new phase of relations between the two states since the severance of ties in 19...