cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Traveling on Shaky Ground: Childe Harold I and II and the Beginning of Byronic Knowing

Although he himself suggests otherwise in Don Juan, with Byron it is not so simple to begin with the beginning. Is that beginning English Bards and Scotch Reviewers? Hours of Idleness? When the topic is Byron and philosophy, however, it seems safe to assert that the beginning is Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage: A Romaunt, Cantos I and II. Seasoned by travel in unknown lands, tried by the deaths of those close to him, and a practiced politician by the time of their publication, the Byron of Childe Harold’s first cantos was an altogether different man from the author of English Bards, and Harold’s first portion heralds an important moment of origin: the first exercise of Byron’s mature thought. Recent scholarship has illuminated complexities and subtleties that reveal Harold I and II as an insightful and iconoclastic political document; these same complexities mark the start of Byron’s investigations into the process of knowing.1 Persistently subverting the ideas and assertions it at first seems to uphold, the poem marks the beginning of Byron’s investigations into the concept of knowledge, simultaneously engaging with, testing, and extending Enlightenment philosophy to draw conclusions of its own.
Modifying the Ni-MoS 2 Contact Interface Using a Broad-Beam Ion Source

Charge transport at the contacts is a dominant factor in determining the performance of devices using 2D MoS2. Using a low-energy beam of Ar ions, the interface between Ni and MoS2 was modified to improve the performance in 2D field-effect transistors (FETs). This broad-beam ion source is integrated into an ultrahigh vacuum, physical vapor deposition system that allowed for in situ modification of the MoS2 immediately prior to Ni contact deposition. The contact resistance decreased leading to a corresponding and highly reproducible boost in the on-current by up to four times. Spectroscopic analysis of the ion beam-modified MoS2 suggests that there are generated defects, which supply dangling bonds that improve carrier injection between the Ni metal contact and MoS2. This approach for modifying the Ni-MoS2 interface opens a promising new path for reducing the impact of contacts on MoS2 FET performance.
Physical calculations of resistance to water loss improve predictions of species range models

Species ranges are constrained by the physiological tolerances of organisms to climatic conditions. By incorporating physiological constraints, species distribution models can identify how biotic and abiotic factors constrain a species' geographic range. Rates of water loss influence species distributions, but characterizing water loss for an individual requires complex calculations. Skin resistance to water loss (ri) is considered to be the most informative metric of water loss rates because it controls for experimental biases. However, calculating ri requires biophysical equations to solve for the resistance of the air that surrounds an organism, termed the boundary layer resistance (rb). Here, we compared theoretical and empirical methods for measuring skin resistance to water loss of a Plethodon salamander collected from nature. For the empirical methods, we measured rb of agar replicas at five body sizes, two temperatures, three vapor pressure deficits, and six flow rates using a flow-through system. We also calculated rb using biophysical equations under the same experimental conditions. We then determined the ecological implications of incorporating skin and boundary layer resistance into a species range model that estimated potential activity time and energy balance throughout the geographic range of the study species. We found that empirical methods for calculating rb resulted in negative values of ri, whereas biophysical calculations produced meaningful values of ri. The species range model determined that ignoring realistic boundary layer and skin resistances reduced average estimates of energy balance by as much as 64% and potential activity time by 88% throughout the spatial extent of the model. We conclude that the use of agar replicas is an inadequate technique to characterize skin resistance to water loss, and incorporating boundary layer and skin resistances to water loss improves estimates of activity and energetics for mechanistic species distribution models. More importantly, our study suggests that incorporating the physical processes underlying rates of water loss could improve estimates of habitat suitability for many animals.
Big Data Security Analytic for Smart Grid with Fog Nodes

Big data throws big security challenges in Smart Grid. Fog computing emerges as a novel technology to bring the ability of Cloud and big data analytic (BDA) to the edge of the networks. However, we lack practice on how to utilize Fog, Cloud, and BDA to address big data security challenges in Smart Grid. In this paper, we propose a Mapreduce-style algorithm, named Mapreduce-style Fast Non-Technical Loss Fraud Detection scheme (Mapreduce-style FNFD), to detect Non-Technical Loss fraud in Smart Grid. Compared to its original version, FNFD, Mapreduce-style FNFD can utilize the ability of Cloud, Fog, and BDA, and thus can solve big data security issues.
Elastic stability of a dual-coated fiber-optic connector

A simple, esy-to-use and physically meaningful analytical model is developed for the evaluation of the critical (Euler) force for a dual-coated fiber-optic connector. The obtained results can be used in the analysis and physical (mechanical) design of connectors of the type in question. The general concepts are illustrated by a practical numerical example.
Reducing Inequality in Higher Education: The Link between Faculty Empowerment and Climate and Retention.

Since 2001 the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE program has distributed over $130 million in grants to improve work climate, enhance professional success, and increase recruitment and retention of female faculty in STEM fields. The process by which each institution designs and implements these interventions is seldom studied, however. Using climate surveys, administrative records, and a difference-in-differences regression approach, we assessed whether exposure to the design and implementation process helps explain improvements in climate and retention during the early years of ADVANCE implementation. We found that departments wherein at least one faculty member participated in ADVANCE committee work experienced significant improvements in job satisfaction among female faculty members and significant reduction in turnover among female full professors, suggesting that the ADVANCE design process was itself an intervention.
Paraneoplastic Upbeat Nystagmus in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Received date: February 10, 2015; Accepted date: April 23, 2015; Published date: April 27, 2015Copyright: ©2015 Cherchi M. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Optimizing Baseball and Softball Bats

Collisions between baseballs, softballs and bats are complex and therefore their models are complex. One purpose of this paper is to show how complex these collisions can be, while still being modeled using only Newton’s principles and the conservation laws of physics. This paper presents models for the speed and spin of balls and bats. These models and equations for bat-ball collisions are intended for use by high school and college physics students, engineering students and most importantly students of the science of baseball. Unlike in previous papers, these models use only simple Newtonian principles to explain simple collision configurations.
Simvastatin suppresses invasiveness and cell proliferation through down-regulation of β1-integrin-associated signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4711 PURPOSE: Simvastatin, one of the 3-hydroxy-3methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, derived from fungal fermentation, is currently used widely as a safe and effective therapeutic agent in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, contributing to the reduction in morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are also commonly referred to as the statins. Recent investigations demonstrate that statins have anticancer effects by inhibiting cell proliferation and invasiveness. It is thought that the anticancer effect of statins is based on inactivation of small G-protein and geranylgeranyl protein in mevalonate pathway and cell cycle arrest associated with the activation of p21 and p27. In the current study, we studied the effect of simvastatin on cell viability, cell cycle, invasion, and expressions of adhesion molecules and signaling in 2 cell lines of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (Tu167 and JMAR). METHODS: Tu167 and JMAR cells were treated with simvastatin for 22-48 hours. Cell proliferation and invasion were assessed by colony formation assay, propidium iodide, and Matrigel invasion assay. Expressions of molecules associated with cell-extracellular matrix and MAPK signaling pathway were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR for β1-integrin and Western blot analysis using antibodies for β 1-integrin, ERK1 and phospho-ERK1/2. RESULTS: We found that simvastatin led to dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and migration in Tu167 and JMAR cells. Significant changes in morphology of the cells occurred after treatment with simvastatin. Colony formation assay and flow cytometry exhibited that simvastatin significantly inhibited cell viability and induced cell cycle arrest with increased sub-G1 and decreased total S-phase fractions. Matrigel invasion assay demonstrated a suppression of invasion activity by treatment of 5 and 10 μM simvastatin. RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the expression of β1-integrin, a counter adhesion molecule for extracelluar matrix, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 were inactivated by the treatment with simvastatin. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin has pleiotropic effects on key targets involved with cell survival and migration of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells, implying a novel and effective approach for preventing tumor growth and metastasis in patients.
Visual and ocular motor outcomes in children with posterior fossa tumors

Purpose To describe the clinical characteristics and visual and ocular motor outcomes of a large cohort of pediatric patients treated for tumors of the posterior cranial fossa. Methods The medical records of all patients with posterior fossa tumors evaluated by the ophthalmology services at two large tertiary care academic hospitals between 2005 and 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Data abstracted for each study patient included demographic information, presenting signs and symptoms, pathologic diagnosis, and results of the most recent ophthalmology examination. Results A total of 139 patients were included. Visual outcomes were categorized as “good” (bilateral acuity of 20/20-20/40) in 101 patients (72.7%), “fair” ( P Conclusions The majority of patients had good visual outcomes, although ocular motor abnormalities were common. Tumor type was a significant risk factor for permanent vision loss.
Comparison of laparoscopic gastropexy performed via intracorporeal suturing with knotless unidirectional barbed suture using a needle driver versus a roticulated endoscopic suturing device: 30 cases.

Objective To compare two suturing techniques for prophylactic laparoscopic gastropexy in healthy dogs. Study design Retrospective case series. Animals Thirty healthy client-owned dogs from breeds predisposed to gastric dilation volvulus. Methods Medical records of dogs presented for prophylactic laparoscopic gastropexy performed with knotless unidirectional barbed suture were reviewed. Dogs were grouped based on the device used for suturing, consisting of an endoscopic needle driver (END) vs an endoscopic suturing device (ESD). Signalment, weight, surgery time, number of suture bites per side of gastropexy, and intraoperative complications were compared between groups. Results The END group consisted of 10 dogs, with a median age of 1.09 years (range 0.5-2.67), weight of 41.5 kg (range 25-66), surgical time of 49.5 minutes (range 35-77), and a median of 5 suture bites per side (range 4-6). The ESD group included 20 dogs, with a median age of 1.75 years (range 0.6-8.75, P = .0944), weight was 37.5 kg (range 20-62, P = .5823), surgical time of 55 minutes (range 30-76, P = .808), and a median of 6 suture bites for the first side (range 4-7, P = .072) and 7 for the second side (range 4-8, P = .003). No major complications and no conversion to open celiotomy occured in either group. Minor complications occurred in 3 dogs in the ESD group, all related to device dysfunction and suture breakage. Conclusion Laparoscopic gastropexy may be performed effectively with either of these suturing techniques.
Towards standardized robotic surgery in gastrointestinal oncology

Minimally invasive techniques have revolutionized the field of surgery over the past several decades. Specifically, robotic surgery is increasingly being used for complex operations, although the appreciable learning curve required to become proficient has deterred many surgeons. We describe how use of a proficiency-based training program can decrease the learning curve and lead to standardized robotic surgery. The steps of a proficiency-based robotic training program are described, including (1) a proficiency-based virtual reality simulation curriculum, (2) an inanimate biotissue curriculum, (3) a video library training, (4) intraoperative evaluation, and (5) skill maintenance with ongoing assessment. The learning curve for robotic gastrointestinal surgery is explored, as well as outcomes compared to laparoscopic and open techniques. The implementation of a proficiency-based robotic training program is feasible. Surgical oncology fellows who participated in the program demonstrated improvement in both the simulation and biotissue curricula. Analyzed as a group, the participants improved in time and errors after the biotissue curriculum. Published outcomes from robotic gastrointestinal surgery have demonstrated safety, feasibility, and preserved oncologic resections. A proficiency-based robotic curriculum is ideal to enable surgeons to achieve mastery in robotic surgery while minimizing the learning curve required.
Change in vegetation patterns over a large forested landscape based on historical and contemporary aerial photography.

Changes to vegetation structure and composition in forests adapted to frequent fire have been well documented. However, little is known about changes to the spatial characteristics of vegetation in these forests. Specifically, patch sizes and detailed information linking vegetation type to specific locations and growing conditions on the landscape are lacking. We used historical and recent aerial imagery to characterize historical vegetation patterns and assess contemporary change from those patterns. We created an orthorectified mosaic of aerial photographs from 1941 covering approximately 100,000 ha in the northern Sierra Nevada. The historical imagery, along with contemporary aerial imagery from 2005, was segmented into homogenous vegetation patches and classified into four relative cover classes using random forests analysis. A generalized linear mixed model was used to compare topographic associations of dense forest cover on the historical and contemporary landscapes. The amount of dense forest cover increased from 30 to 43% from 1941 to 2005, replacing moderate forest cover as the most dominant class. Concurrent with the increase in extent, the area-weighted mean patch size of dense forest cover increased tenfold, indicating greater continuity of dense forest cover and more homogenous vegetation patterns across the contemporary landscape. Historically, dense forest cover was rare on southwesterly aspects, but in the contemporary forest, it was common across a broad range of aspects. Despite the challenges of processing historical air photographs, the unique information they provide on landscape vegetation patterns makes them a valuable source of reference information for forests impacted by past management practices.
Temporal Naturalism, Free Will, and the Cartesian Myth: Time Is NOT Illusory and We Are NOT ‘Talking Heads’

So when we are balanced between danger and opportunity and the future is unknown, how do we think usefully about the future? … If we imagine ourselves living in the cosmos in which novelty is an il...
Variability in Intensity Related to Increased Overall Bout Intensity.

Objective We examined the relationship between variability in self-regulated exercise intensity and overall intensity during acute exercise. Methods Overall, 32 participants (age; 20±4y, body mass index (BMI) 24.1±3.6 kg/m2) completed a 30-minute self-regulated treadmill exercise bout. Participants were blinded to treadmill settings and adjusted speed and incline every 5-minutes as desired. Results Variability in exercise intensity (metabolic equivalent standard deviation (METSD)) was positively correlated with (r = .567, p = .001) and explained a significant portion of the overall exercise intensity (s = .574, t = 3.713, p = .001). When accounting for physiological variables, METSD (s = .381, t = 2.242, p = .034) and VO2peak (s = .575, t = 2.864, p = .008) predicted overall intensity. When controlling for physiological and psychological variables, in addition to METSD (s = .388), tolerance for exercise intensity (s = 3.124) became a significant predictor of overall bout intensity (p Conclusions In-task variability in exercise intensity was posi- tively related to the average intensity of the bout. Future studies should explore the utility of explicitly encouraging individuals to incorporate intra-bout variety for increasing the exercise dose while maintaining a degree of autonomy.
Intracellular pH regulation in fresh and cultured bovine corneal endothelium. I. Na+/H+ exchange in the absence and presence of HCO3-.

A detailed comparison of intracellular pH (pHi) regulatory mechanisms was made between fresh (FBCE) and cultured (CBCE) bovine corneal endothelium to: (1) identify the ion transport mechanisms that could directly or indirectly affect transendothelial HCO3- transport; and (2) determine if cultured cells could serve as a model for studying transendothelial bicarbonate transport. We used the pH-sensitive fluorescent probe BCECF-AM to measure pHi. FBCE and CBCE readily incorporated the dye and showed pHi calibration curves that were not significantly different with respect to pK (7.39 for FBCE and 7.35 for CBCE). Resting pHi in bicarbonate free Ringer's (pH 7.5) was significantly lower in cultured cells (7.17 +/- .02, n = 50) than in fresh cells (7.30 +/- .02, n = 54). Steady-state pHi was reduced by addition of 0.5 mmol/l amiloride, a Na+/H+ exchange blocker (-.16 pH U for FBCE, -.18 for CBCE) or removal of Na+ (-.47 pH U for FBCE, -.51 for CBCE). Recovery from an (NH4)2SO4-induced acid load was blocked by Na+ removal, and the rate of recovery was inhibited 74% and 79% in the presence of amiloride for FBCE and CBCE, respectively. The dependence of proton efflux on Na+0 showed simple saturating kinetics (apparent Km = 30 and 31 mmol/l for FBCE and CBCE, respectively), consistent with the presence of Na+/H+ exchange in FBCE and CBCE. Na+/H+ exchange activity, as measured by amiloride-sensitive acid recovery, was inversely proportional to pHi. The activity in FBCE was about twice that in CBCE. Furthermore, the zero flux point for Na+/H+ exchange was at least 0.1 pH U higher in FBCE. Changing from bicarbonate-free Ringer's to bicarbonate Ringer's (5% CO2/28 mmol/l HCO3-, pH 7.5) induced a rapid and short acidification followed by an alkalinization .09 and .18 pH U above the starting pHi for FBCE (final pHi 7.37) and CBCE (final pHi 7.33), respectively. This transition was unaffected by amiloride. Similarly, amiloride had no effect on resting pHi in bicarbonate Ringer's for FBCE or CBCE, indicating that Na+/H+ exchange does not contribute to the maintenance of the steady-state resting pHi in bicarbonate Ringer's. Although most of the characteristics of Na+/H+ exchange for FBCE and CBCE were similar, the differences in overall activity and the low levels of activity in resting cells must be considered when using CBCE to model ion coupled fluid transport in BCE.
Ubiquitin/ATP-Dependent Protease

In 1980, Hershko et al. 1 proposed that attachment of ubiquitin (Ub) to substrate proteins marks those proteins for destruction. The marking hypothesis, which is shown schematically in Figure 1, has received substantial support during the past seven years. Five studies have demonstrated a good correlation between ubiquitination of a protein and its rapid proteolysis. First, when hemoglobin is injected into cultured mammalian cells, which are then treated with phenylhydrazine, globin is rapidly degraded. The concentration of globin-ubiquitin conjugates that form upon denaturation of hemoglobin is proportional to the rate of globin degradation.2 Second, proteins that incorporate amino acid analogs are generally degraded rapidly, and the concentration of Ub conjugates increases in Ehrlich ascites cells exposed to analogs.3 Third, Dictyostelium calmodulin is ubiquitinated at lysine 115 and subsequently degraded after being added to reticulocyte lysate; bovine calmodulin, which contains a methylated lysine 115, is not conjugated to Ub and is more stable.4 Fourth, phytochrome, a cytoplasmic light receptor in plants, exists in two interconvertible forms that differ in half-life by more than 100-fold. When dark-grown oat seedlings receive a light-flash, rapid degradation of phytochrome follows. At the same time, a portion of the phytochrome molecules become multiply ubiquitinated.5 Fifth, it has been found that upon expression of ubiquitin-β-galactosidase fusion proteins in yeast, ubiquitin is rapidly removed from the N terminus of β-galactosidase.6 When site-directed mutagenesis is used to produce enzymes with different residues at the N terminus, the resulting proteins vary considerably in stability. Those with Met, Ser, Ala, Thr, Val, or Gly are stable; those with N-terminal Phe, Leu, Asp, Lys, or Arg were degraded with half-lives less than 3 min. Western blots show that the latter set of proteins are ubiquitinated, some with as many as 15 attached ubiquitins.6
Vapor Transport of Fission Products in Postulated Severe Light Water Reactor Accidents

A methodology based on chemical thermodynamics has been developed to treat the transport of volatile fission products (FPs) through the core and the primary system. The FPs considered are cesium, iodine, tellurium, strontium, and ruthenium, which may pose the major biohazard in postulated severe accidents in light water reactors. The vapor transport of FPs depends on the volatilities of the chemical compounds that are formed in the carrier gas environment in which the FPs are released and transported. Chemically stable forms were evaluated by minimizing the total free energies of the FP/ fuel/gas environment systems. Many gaseous species for each FP were considered and their partial pressures calculated over a range of temperatures (600 to 3000K), the carrier gas environments (total pressure and ratio of H/sub 2//H/sub 2/O), and the total amount of FPs in the system. It was found that the major dependence of the concentration of the FPs was on the gas temperature, and a model was developed to predict the source of volatile FPs. The model showed that the FPs leaving the core region would condense in the cooler regions of the upper plenum and/or the primary system either on the cold surfaces or be transported furthermore » as aerosols.« less
A net mold-based method of scaffold-free three-dimensional cardiac tissue creation

This protocol describes a novel and easy net mold-based method to create three-dimensional (3-D) cardiac tissues without additional scaffold material. Human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs), and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are isolated and used to generate a cell suspension with 70% iPSC-CMs, 15% HCFs, and 15% HUVECs. They are co-cultured in an ultra-low attachment "hanging drop" system, which contains micropores for condensing hundreds of spheroids at one time. The cells aggregate and spontaneously form beating spheroids after 3 days of co-culture. The spheroids are harvested, seeded into a novel mold cavity, and cultured on a shaker in the incubator. The spheroids become a mature functional tissue approximately 7 days after seeding. The resultant multilayered tissues consist of fused spheroids with satisfactory structural integrity and synchronous beating behavior. This new method has promising potential as a reproducible and cost-effective method to create engineered tissues for the treatment of heart failure in the future.
The World Was Not Built for Us: Improving Access to Care for Transgender Youth.

* Abbreviation: LGBTQ — : lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer > In our November issue, we shared with you the winning submission to our annual essay contest—this year focusing on access to care—by Dr Michael Mattiucci. We are pleased to publish the other competition finalist, written by Drs Sarah Bernstein and Holly Lewis. Bernstein and Lewis's essay explores another aspect of access to care. They argue that "access" is not just about helping to get patients through the door, but about providing culturally-sensitive and affirming care. The authors conclude by offering up several practical suggestions that can help providers to create office and hospital environments where all patients—particularly those who identify as LGBTQ—feel welcome and supported. Expelling a heavy breath, Emily discarded the plush towel clinging to her waist and pressed her toes into the icy tile. Inhaling the sterile scent of Lysol, she shifted awkwardly in front of the mirror; staring down at her scrotum, she tried to reconcile what she saw externally with what she knew internally. “Brian! Hurry up!” her father shouted. Glancing around the bathroom, she noted that everything was intentionally blue and deliberately masculine. Despondent, she conjured the image of Picasso’s Old Guitarist, the disjointed figure, the loneliness, and the despair. It would be several years before she would learn the words “queer” or “transgender” and longer still before she was able to fully claim her identity. During that time, she would struggle with isolation, depression, alcohol addiction, and drug abuse. Sitting solemnly in clinic, staring at the thick scars of self-harm etched into her forearms, Emily looked up at me and sighed, “Had just 1 doctor … Address correspondence to Sarah M. Bernstein, MD, MHA, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital at University of Illinois, 840 S. Wood, Room 1421, MC 856, Chicago, IL 60612. E-mail: sarahbernsteinmd{at}gmail.com
Invasive Species Removal Promotes Habitat Restoration but Does Not Immediately Improve the Condition of a Threatened Plant Subspecies

Abstract Impacts of invasive species on rare species are relevant to conservation. We studied the response of Leedy's roseroot Rhodiola integrifolia subsp. leedyi, a subspecies listed as threatened...
Streamflow partitioning and transit time distribution in snow-dominated basins as a function of climate

Abstract Snowmelt is the principal control on the timing and magnitude of water flow through mountainous watersheds. The effects of precipitation type and quantity on storage and hydrologic connectivity in mountainous systems were explored by combining the observed stable isotope δ18O in rain, snow, snowmelt, and streamflow with numerically simulated hydrologic boundary fluxes and inverse techniques applied to transient travel time distributions (TTD) using StorAge Selection (SAS) functions. Hydrologic simulations of the East River (ER, 85 km2), a snow-dominated Colorado River headwater basin, for water years 2006–2017 were used to test a diverse set of snow accumulation scenarios. During the snowmelt period, the ER released younger water during high storage periods across seasonal and annual timescales (an “inverse storage effect”). Additionally, more young water was released from storage during wet years than during dry years. However, wet years also appeared to increase hydrologic connectivity, which simultaneously flushed older water from the basin. During years with reduced snowpack, flow paths were inactivated and snowmelt remained in the subsurface to become older water that was potentially reactivated in subsequent wet years. Incremental warming in hydrologic model simulations was used to evaluate TTD sensitivity to precipitation changing from snow to rain. Despite the altered timing of boundary fluxes because of warming, years with basin average precipitation above 3.25 mm d−1 (1200 mm y−1) were resilient to temperature increases up to 10 °C with respect to annual water balance partitioning and streamflow TTD. In contrast, years with less precipitation were sensitive to increased temperatures, showing marked increases in the fraction of inflow lost to evapotranspiration. Younger water was preferentially lost to evapotranspiration, which led to an increase in the mean age of streamflow in drier years.
Genetic Sample Provision Among National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Participants.

Background Genetic data help detect preclinical Alzheimer's disease and target individuals for clinical trials, making genetic research engagement critical for continued advancement in dementia prevention and treatment. Objective To understand what individual and institutional factors may relate to provision of genetic samples within the Alzheimer's Disease Centers. Methods Data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set (2009-2016) were obtained along with genetic sample availability. Logistic regression was used to assess independent contributions of demographic and clinical characteristics to the probability of sample provision. Sites contributing data completed a brief survey exploring regulatory and scientific issues related to genetic research engagement. Results Just over half (52.1%) of the 27,519 unique participants had genetic data available. Female sex, white race, non-Hispanic ethnicity, normal cognition, and greater than 5 years of follow-up were associated with greater probability of availability. Sites identified refusals as the most frequent barrier to sample provision, followed by staff availability. Conclusion These results highlight the importance of strategies to promote minority engagement and encourage earlier genetic research participation.
A novel macrophage subtype directs hematopoietic stem cell homing and retention

Early embryonic hematopoiesis in vertebrates proceeds in two consecutive waves ( Figure 1 ). The first wave, defined as primitive hematopoiesis, takes place in the extraembryonic yolk sac and generates transitory hematopoietic cell populations consisting of primitive erythrocytes. During this first wave, small number of myeloid cells (e.g., primitive monocytes/macrophages and megakaryocytes) are also generated.
What church administration can learn from the secular world

In many ways, it could be argued that the Reformation was a fight for a theology of administration. Whether one is speaking of Luther in relation to the Pope or Calvin and the Anabaptists, tremendous attention was given to the administrative relationships.
Intussusception in children: lessons learned from intestinal lymphoma as a rare lead-point.

Most cases of intussusception in children are idiopathic. Rarely, a malignant disease such as intestinal lymphoma may cause intussusception. Due to dramatic changes of expected outcome with chemotherapy regime alone, the surgical management of patients with intestinal lymphoma presenting with intussusception has to be reevaluated. Retrospective chart review from May 2011 to February 2017. We included all patients with intestinal lymphoma presenting with intussusception. We found five patients with a mean age of 6.4 years (range 3–16). The most common presenting symptom was abdominal pain for several weeks which had acutely worsened. In all but one patient an ultrasound before pneumatic or hydrostatic reduction showed a finding suspicious of a pathological lead-point. Pneumatic or hydrostatic reduction was attempted in all patients, no complications were noted. In one patient reduction was not successful. Recurrence after reduction occurred in two patients. Two patients needed surgery, three had a percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsy for diagnostic purposes. All patients had aggressive mature B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A high index of suspicion for the presence of a pathological lead-point in children older than 4 years and children with recurrent intussusception is necessary in patients presenting with intussusception. Malignant, highly aggressive B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, although rare, must actively be searched for. Pneumatic or hydrostatic reduction should remain the first line treatment in most cases.
Dominant Negative Effect of Palmitoylation-Deficient NRAS In Suppression of BCR/ABL Leukemogenesis

Abstract 3157 RAS mutations are found in ∼30% of all human cancers, with NRAS being the RAS isoform found most frequently mutated in hematological malignancies including acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). We have previously shown that expression of oncogenic NRAS efficiently induces a CMML- or AML-like disease in mice. Like all RAS proteins, NRAS must undergo a series of post-translational modifications for differential targeting to distinct cellular membrane microdomains. We have previously found that palmitoylation, in addition to prenylation, is an essential process for NRAS leukemogenesis. The results suggest that targeting RAS palmitoylation may be an effective therapy for hematological malignancies as well as other NRAS related cancers. In addition to the direct activation by mutations, RAS can also be functionally activated by other oncogenic mutations, including activated protein tyrosine kinases such as BCR/ABL. While significant advances have been made in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) by targeting the kinase activity of BCR/ABL, these treatments do not constitute a cure, as BCR/ABL-positive cells persist and eventually develop mutations that cause resistance to the kinase inhibitors. In addition, although advances have also been achieved in the treatment of BCR/ABL+ B-acute lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-ALL) through the use of combination chemotherapy along with the ABL kinase inhibitor imatinib, BCR/ABL+ B-ALL continues to pose a huge challenge; they are highly refractory to imatinib, and are still the least treatable subtype of ALL. The identification of molecular targets that impede the progression of BCR/ABL+ leukemias not relying on targeting the kinase activity of BCR/ABL is likely beneficial. Previous studies have shown that RAS is a critical downstream transducer of the oncogenic signaling by BCR/ABL. We have shown that palmitoylation-deficient oncogenic NRAS is mislocalized away from the plasma membrane yet still capable of binding GTP in cells. This finding suggests that palmitoylation-deficient, activated RAS may have a dominant negative effect in RAS signaling. As a proof-of-concept study for treating cancers driven by RAS regulators through blocking RAS palmitoylation, we evaluated the effect of blocking RAS palmitoylation in BCR/ABL leukemogenesis. We found that expression of palmitoylation-deficient oncogenic NRAS or palmitoylation-deficient wild type NRAS significantly impeded progression of BCR/ABL induced B-ALL- and CML-like diseases in mice. The palmitoylation-deficient NRAS suppresses the activation of downstream effectors of RAS, possibly by sequestrating RAS effectors away from the plasma membrane. The results suggest that targeting RAS palmitoylation may also constitute an effective therapy in cancers driven by oncogenes upstream of RAS. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Ubiquitous Privacy: Research and Design for Mobile and IoT Platforms

This one-day workshop aims to explore ubiquitous privacy research and design in the context of mobile and IoT by facilitating discourse among scholars from the networked privacy and design communities. The complexity in modern socio-technical systems points to the potential of utilizing various design techniques (e.g., speculative design, design fiction, and research through design practices) in surfacing the potential consequences of novel technologies, particularly those that traditional user studies may not reveal. The results will shed light on future privacy designs for mobile and IoT technologies from both empirical and design perspectives.
The neural basis of executive functioning deficits in adolescents with epilepsy: a resting-state fMRI connectivity study of working memory.

Working memory deficits are common in youth with epilepsy and consistently associated with long-term negative outcomes. Existing research on the neural basis of working memory disruptions in pediatric epilepsy is limited. The question of whether differences in the functional connectivity of neural networks underlie working memory disruptions in pediatric patients with epilepsy remains unanswered. A total of 49 adolescents between the ages of 13–17 years participated in this study. Twenty-nine adolescents had confirmed epilepsy (n = 17 generalized epilepsy, n = 6 localization-related, n = 6 unclassified). The control group included 20 healthy adolescents. A total of 10-min resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging was obtained for all participants. NeuroSynth-derived regions of interest were used as nodes that comprise working memory neural networks. Group differences in resting state functional connectivity were examined between adolescents with epilepsy and controls. Functional connectivity was computed as the temporal correlation of functional magnetic resonance imaging signal fluctuations between any two regions of interest. Compared to controls, adolescents in the epilepsy group demonstrated both hypoconnectivity and hyperconnectivity in cortical areas that map onto fronto-parietal and cingulo-opercular networks, as well as cerebellar regions. Functional connectivity between pairs of regions of interest was also significantly associated with behavioral measures of working memory across epilepsy and control groups. This study demonstrates that the presence of abnormal patterns in resting state neural network connectivity may underlie the working memory disruptions that frequently characterize the neurocognitive profile of youth with epilepsy.
Local SU(2) × U(1) quark flavor symmetry in the RS bulk

We propose a model of quark flavor based on an additional SU(2) × U(1) local symmetry in a warped extra dimensional bulk. In contrast to other works, we break the additional gauge symmetry in the bulk via two complex scalars which acquire bulk vevs, rather than relying on brane-localized symmetry breaking. A gauge-covariant Kaluza-Klein decomposition of a theory with a bulk spontaneously broken gauge symmetry is performed, and exact expressions for the bulk profiles of all physical particles in such systems are given. The SM quark masses and mixings are then recreated using gauge-covariant bulk quark mass terms and Yukawa-like couplings to the new bulk scalars. A numerical sampling of points in the model parameter space that recreate the quark masses and mixings is performed at a KK scale of MKK = 5 TeV. We then compute the ∆F = 2 4-quark operators arising from our new flavor gauge bosons and scalars, and those arising from Kaluza-Klein modes of SM gauge bosons. By decoupling one of our bulk scalar fields to all quark fields except the right-handed up-like sector, we find that it is possible to greatly suppress tree-level contributions to the highly constrained Kaon mixing parameters. Instead, the dominant constraints on the model emerge from neutral Bd and D meson mixing. These constraints are explored with our numerical sampling of the model parameter space, and the specific contribution of the new flavor gauge bosons and scalars is discussed. We find that for a significant range of realistic flavor gauge couplings, the new gauge bosons compete with the normally dominant gluon flavor-changing currents, but flavor-changing operators emerging from the bulk scalar fields are highly suppressed. Finally, we briefly comment on flavor constraints that are independent of the flavor gauge sector arising from the $$ Z{\overline{b}}_L{b}_L $$ coupling and rare top decays.
Genome-wide local ancestries discriminate homoploid hybrid speciation from secondary introgression in the red wolf (Canidae:Canis rufus)

Hybridization is well recognized as a driver of speciation, yet it often remains difficult to parse phylogenomically in that post-speciation gene flow frequently supersedes an ancestral signal. Here we examined how interactions between recombination and gene flow shaped the phylogenomic landscape of red wolf to create non-random retention of introgressed ancestry. Our re-analyses of genomic data recapitulate fossil evidence by demonstrating red wolf was indeed extant and isolated prior to more recent admixture with other North American canids. Its more ancient divergence, now sequestered within low-recombition regions on the X-chromosome (i.e., chromosomal refugia), is effectively masked by multiple, successive waves of secondary introgression that now dominate its autosomal ancestry. These interpretations are congruent with more theoretical explanations that describe the manner by which introgression can be localized within the genome through recombination and selection. They also tacitly support the large-X effect, i.e., the manner by which loci that contribute to reproductive isolation can be enriched on the X-chromosome. By contrast, similar, high recombinant regions were also found as enriched within very shallow gene trees, thus reflecting post-speciation gene flow and a compression of divergence estimates to 1/20th of that found in recombination cold spots. Our results effectively reconcile conflicting hypotheses regarding the impact of hybridization on evolution of North American canids, and support an emerging framework within which the analysis of a phylogenomic landscape structured by recombination can be used to successfully address the macroevolutionary implications of hybridization.
A 235 Kb deletion at 17q21.33 encompassing the COL1A1, and two additional secondary copy number variants in an infant with type I osteogenesis imperfecta: A rare case report.

Background Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare group of disorders characterized by increased susceptibility to fractures due to genetically determined bone fragility. About 90% of cases are due to mutations in COL1A1 (17q21.33) or COL1A2 (7q21.3) resulting in quantitative or qualitative defects in type I collagen, a key structural constituent of bone. OI due to complete COL1A1 deletion is rare. Methods We present a case of OI type I in a Caucasian female referred at 10 months of age for investigation of multiple fractures associated with minimal or no known trauma, small stature, and blue sclera. Her father has four to five lifetime fractures, blue sclera, normal stature, and a 14.5 kilobase (kb) deletion of COL1A1 detected by targeted array performed at an outside institution. Microarray comparative genomic hybridization was performed on the proband and all members of the family. Results A previously unreported 235 kb deletion at 17q21.33 encompassing COL1A1, ITGA3, PDK2, SGCA, and HILS1 was detected in the proband. Also identified in both the proband and sibling is a maternally inherited 283 kb gain at 8p21.3 encompassing CSGALNACT1 and a 163 kb loss at 10q21.3 encompassing CTNNA3. Analysis in the father revealed the same size deletion at 17q21.33 as in the proband. Conclusion Together with previously reported cases of COL1A1 deletions, this case report emphasizes the importance of a whole-genome DNA copy number assessment in patients suspected for OI, which will elucidate the presence of precise COL1A1 deletions and any pathogenic secondary copy number variations.
A Quantitative Comparison of the Littoral Clutter Model (LCM) to Collected Data in the Ku-Band

Accurate, site-specific clutter modeling is vital to both the radar operating community, in the areas of mission planning and survivability analysis, and to the design community for radar performance assessment and design studies. Accuracy is achieved through rigorous accounting of radar parameters, local terrain features (height, natural and cultural features, slope, roughness, and land cover types), and propagation effects (diffraction, refraction, shadowing, and multipath) [1], [3], [4]. Through the years, a number of clutter models have been generated to varying degrees of complexity. Authors of the past have studied the accuracy of their respective models largely in a qualitative or overarching statistical manner [1]–[5], [15]–[17]. The Littoral Clutter Model (LCM) is a robust, site-specific land and sea clutter model developed and maintained by Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) [4], [5]. This paper compares LCM modeled data with radar data collected in the Ku-band. The data were collected at two disparate test sites representing desert and littoral terrain types and propagation conditions. In order to increase the achieved accuracy, high-resolution terrain elevation and land cover databases were used as input to the model. A comparison method is presented which directly quantifies the ability of LCM to simulate clutter power. A high-quality match requires that LCM accurately simulate the spatial manifestation and power of clutter as seen by the radar. Results show that the LCM simulation compares favorably to the collected data.
Validation of the Greek translation of the multicultural quality of life index (MQLI-gr).

The aim of the current study was to examine the internal structure and convergent and discriminant validity of the Multicultural Quality of Life Index (MQLI) in a Greek sample of community-dwelling adults in a major Greek city. The authors developed a Greek version of the Multicultural Quality of Life Index (MQLI-Gr). It was translated following cross-cultural adaptation procedures for self-report measures and administered to community members (N = 884). Participants completed a brief demographic survey, the MQLI-Gr, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42). The MQLI-Gr is brief, easy to use, and demonstrates strong internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = .90). In terms of internal structure there were mixed results. In terms of discriminant validity, statistically significant differences in mean MQLI-Gr scores were observed between two groups: those with none-mild symptoms versus those with severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (p < .05). The MQLI-Gr was also able to discriminate among groups assumed to vary on quality of life; marital status, income, and employment. In terms of convergent validity, results were in the expected direction, with participants reporting high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, also reporting lower quality of life on the MQLI-Gr (p < .001). Consistent with other translations, the MQLI-Gr demonstrated feasibility, strong internal consistency, and good convergent and discriminant validity. This is the first step in the development of a psychometrically sound measure to assess quality of life in a community-dwelling population in Greece. With the addition of further validation studies, this measure will be a useful tool for assessing the quality of life in the Greek community.