cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental-stress-screening using degradation measurements

ESS (environmental stress screening) has been extensively used to reduce infant mortality by precipitating defects. The existing ESS plans precipitate defects by stressing all products for specified durations. The plans usually require long screen durations to allow nearly all defective items to fail, and thus generate excessive aging effects on good items. For some products, failures are defined in terms of performance characteristics exceeding their critical values. This paper describes the principles of using degradation measurements of performance characteristics to screen the products. In an ESS, the performance characteristics of defective items degrade considerably faster than those of good ones, yielding a bimodal distribution of the characteristics. As screen duration increases, the 2 modes of the distribution shift apart. It is possible to find a tightened critical value to weed out the defective items before they fail. This paper, based on these principles, further designs the optimal 2-level screen plans which minimize a segment of life-cycle cost and which simultaneously meet the reliability requirement. The minimum cost is achieved by choosing optimal part-level and unit-level screen durations and tightened critical values of parts. A numerical example is followed by discussion. Because the ESS regime of this paper allows defective parts to be screened out before they fail, the developed optimal ESS plans can reduce life-cycle cost, shorten part-level screen duration, and alleviate aging effects on good products.
Public Opinion Research—An Opportunity for Political Parties.

The purpose of this paper is to describe how public opinion research can aid political parties in adopting sound policies and wise courses of action. In view of the crisis brought to a climax by events in Korea, the analysis is confined to how current public opinion research can be used immediately and to how public opinion methodology can be adapted now for more extensive practical application. In addition, since public opinion research throws into focus the critical problems facing political parties, certain of these problems are noted to show the limitations of public opinion research as it can now be used. Before the 1948 polling difficulties, research in the form of questionnaires showed that politicians had a high regard for public opinion polls. Although apparently no comparable research has been conducted since then on their attitude toward polls, statements of individual politicians have shown that polls have dropped sharply in prestige. At present, public opinion research techniques are perhaps undervalued, as they were once overvalued. There is a primary misconception about polls which has been fostered in part by the pollsters themselves. Polls are not accurate to a percentage point or within an artificial â€œmargin of errorâ€ under certain circumstances.
Flow Effects on the Solidification Environment in a GTA Spot Weld

The ultimate aim in the simulation of weld pools is to depict the final state of the solidified metal. Solidification history determines the metallurgical state, and can be partially derived from macroscale simulation. This requires realistic initial conditions--weld pool temperatures and flows at power off time--in order to produce accurate solidification histories for the pool points. Numerical simulation of the heat and mass transfer is carried out here with a finite volume finite difference scheme on a flat surfaced pool (appropriate for currents of present interest). Surface tension, buoyancy and Lorentz forces are included in the flow model. When the arc heating and Lorentz forces are shut off, continuation of the calculation allows examination of the solidification thermal environment. Welds on stainless steel are simulated with fluid flow driven by an effective surface tension coefficient of [partial derivative][sub y]/[partial derivative]T = [minus]0.01 dyne/cm K. Solidification events consist of an initial phase which smooths the fusion zone boundary and removes the superheat from the pool, followed by a quasisteady stage, and end with a terminal boundary layer with time dependence similar to the singular spherical Stefan solution. Introduction of numerical macrographs allows convenient comparison of simulated conditions with actual weld macrographs.
Posterior cruciate ligament injuries in trauma patients

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the incidence of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries in trauma patients with acute hemarthrosis of the knee. Sixty-one acute knee injuries underwent examination under anesthesia and diagnostic arthroscopy at a tertiary care trauma center over an 11-month period. PCL injuries occurred in 44% (27 of 61) acute knee injuries; 81.5% (22 of 27) were trauma patients and 18.5% (five of 27) were sports related. Higher energy mechanisms of injury may account for the difference. Isolated PCL injuries were rare [7.5% (two of 27)], whereas 92.5% (25 of 27) of PCL injuries occurred in combination with other ligament injuries. Trauma patients have a higher incidence of PCL injuries than does the athletic population. Acute knee hemarthrosis in trauma patients should elevate suspicion for PCL injuries. Arthroscopy is a valuable tool for PCL evaluation and surgical planning.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Interfacial Sliding in Carbon‐Nanotube/Diamond Nanocomposites

Molecular dynamics simulations are reported for the pullout force and interfacial friction of single-and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) with interwall sp(3) bonds embedded in a diamond matrix. The van der Waals interaction and sp(3) bonding are shown to have a strong influence on friction at the nano-scale interface. Multiwall CNTs (MWCNTs) with interwall sp(3) bonding have friction stresses two times larger than either single-wall CNTs (SWCNTs) or double-wall CNTs with no sp(3) bonding for the same nominal conditions. The friction stress follows the form tau = tau(0) + mu p, where mu is a friction coefficient and p the radial pressure. The measured p compares reasonably well to estimates based on the van der Waals interaction, and we find that the MWCNTs with interwall bonding have a larger friction coefficient mu. The origin of the higher friction is postulated to arise from increased interface roughness associated with the interwall bonding. Because higher interface friction is beneficial to composite strength and toughness, nanoceramic composites composed of MWCNTs could have improved properties as compared with SWCNTs for the same fundamental interface chemistry and composite structure.
Influence of Band Structure on the Nonlocal Conductivity of Metals and the Anomalous Skin Effect

The conductivity kernel entering into the expression for the surface impedance of a metal is calculated for a separable band structure. In the anomalous-skin-effect region, Pippard's expression is found when the Gaussian curvature on the Fermi surface is nonzero, and modifications are indicated when this is not the case.
Instrument Accuracy and Reproducibility in Measurements of Pulmonary Function

Background The objective of the study was to quantify the accuracy and reproducibility of five commercially available pulmonary function test (PFT) instruments (Collins CPL [Ferraris Respiratory; Louisville, CO]; Morgan Transflow Test PFT System [Morgan Scientific; Haverhill, MA]; SensorMedics V ˙ max 22D [VIASYS Healthcare; Yorba Linda, CA]; Jaeger USA Masterscreen Diffusion TP [VIASYS Healthcare]; and Medical Graphics Profiler DX System [Medical Graphics Corp; St. Paul, MN]) that are associated with spirometry and the measurement of pulmonary diffusing capacity. Methods In a multifactor, single-center, repeated-measures, full factorial 90-day study, a pulmonary waveform generator and a single-breath simulator of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D lco ) were used to perform simulations of FVC and D lco maneuvers. Accuracy was assessed as the difference between the observed and simulated values. Reproducibility was determined as the coefficient of variation of all measurements made during the study. Results All instruments demonstrated a high degree of accuracy in the measurement of FVC and FEV 1 . Overall, the accuracies associated with the measurement of peak flow, forced expiratory flow, mid-expiratory phase, and diffusing capacity were generally lower and more variable among the instruments tested. The coefficients of variation of D lco measurements over 90 days were higher than those observed for spirometry. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility of assessing the accuracy and reproducibility of modern PFT instruments using simulation testing. Our results provide an assessment of the component of PFT accuracy and reproducibility that is due to instrumentation alone.
Classification of ion mobility spectra by functional groups using neural networks

Neural networks were trained using whole ion mobility spectra from a standardized database of 3137 spectra for 204 chemicals at various concentrations. Performance of the network was measured by the success of classification into ten chemical classes. Eleven stages for evaluation of spectra and of spectral pre-processing were employed and minimums established for response thresholds and spectral purity. After optimization of the database, network, and pre-processing routines, the fraction of successful classifications by functional group was 0.91 throughout a range of concentrations. Network classification relied on a combination of features, including drift times, number of peaks, relative intensities, and other factors apparently including peak shape. The network was opportunistic, exploiting different features within different chemical classes. Application of neural networks in a two-tier design where chemicals were first identified by class and then individually eliminated all but one false positive out of 161 test spectra. These findings establish that ion mobility spectra, even with low resolution instrumentation, contain sufficient detail to permit the development of automated identification systems.
Spin coherence in photoexcited triplet-state benzophenone and benzil at 77 K: optically detected driven echoes

Abstract Optically detected driven echoes were used to measure spin coherence times at 77 K for triplet-state benzophenone in dibromodiphenylether host crystals (T2ρ = 4.2 ± 0.5 μs) and for triplet X-traps in neat benzil crystals (T2ρ = 2.0 ± 0.2 μs).
Integrating a closed world planner with an open world robot: a case study

In this paper, we present an integrated planning and robotic architecture that actively directs an agent engaged in an urban search and rescue (USAR) scenario. We describe three salient features that comprise the planning component of this system, namely (1) the ability to plan in a world open with respect to objects, (2) execution monitoring and replanning abilities, and (3) handling soft goals, and detail the interaction of these parts in representing and solving the USAR scenario at hand. We show that though insufficient in an individual capacity, the integration of this trio of features is sufficient to solve the scenario that we present. We test our system with an example problem that involves soft and hard goals, as well as goal deadlines and action costs, and show that the planner is capable of incorporating sensing actions and execution monitoring in order to produce goal-fulfilling plans that maximize the net benefit accrued.
The predictive power of Horney's psychoanalytic approach: an empirical study.

This study investigated the construct validity of a measure of Karen Horney’s (1945) psychoanalytic theory that postulated three neurotic trends: compliant, aggressive, and detached. Her theory was operationalized by the Horney-Coolidge Type Indicator (HCTI). One hundred seventy-two adults completed the HCTI and the short form of the Coolidge Axis II Inventory, a measure of the three DSM-IV personality disorder clusters. Multiple regression and canonical correlation analyses revealed significant and differential patterns of the three HCTI dimensions with the three clusters. Because Paris (1994) has noted that Horney’s neurotic trends may today be conceived of as personality disorders, one implication of the present findings is that Horney’s dynamic theory can be valid and useful in the general understanding of personality disorders from a cluster perspective. This study investigated the construct validity of a new measure of Karen Horney’s (1945) psychoanalytic theory. Horney proposed that people would defend against a basic anxiety (loss or separation from their mothers and helplessness in a hostile world) by various combinations of three strategies: moving towards other people (Compliant Trend), against other people (Aggressive Trend), and/or away from other people (Detached Trend). Horney saw the role of predetermined triangular conflicts, that is, Oedipal conflicts as secondary to child-mother or child-parent dyadic failure in the psychogenesis of character disturbances. She further postulated that healthy adults might operate freely and flexibly along all three dimensions, while ‘‘neurotic adults’’ may become crystallized or fixated along a single dimension. It has been suggested that her term ‘‘neurosis’’
Aspiration and Poverty: A Neglected Aspect of Merton's Anomie*

(1967). Aspiration and Poverty: A Neglected Aspect of Merton's Anomie. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 439-446.
E-textile based automatic activity diary for medical annotation and analysis

Health monitoring applications often require that the patient maintain a diary of activities so that the physiological data can be correlated to what the user was doing. However, patients are notoriously bad at self-reporting. Consequently, it would be beneficial to automatically generate an activity diary. This paper presents a proof-of-concept prototype electronic textile system for recording both physiological data and context information. It also presents some of the issues that arise in the design and use of a health monitoring and activity annotation system.
Minimizing the Formation of Coke and Methane on Co Nanoparticles in Steam Reforming of Biomass‐Derived Oxygenates

Fundamental understanding and control of chemical transformations are essential to the development of technically feasible and economically viable catalytic processes for efficient conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals. Using an integrated experimental and theoretical approach, we report high hydrogen selectivity and catalyst durability of acetone steam reforming (ASR) on inert carbon supported Co nanoparticles. The observed catalytic performance is further elucidated on the basis of comprehensive first-principles calculations. Instead of being considered as an undesired intermediate prone for catalyst deactivation during bioethanol steam reforming (ESR), acetone is suggested as a key and desired intermediate in proposed two-stage ESR process that leads to high hydrogen selectivity and low methane formation on Co-based catalysts. The significance of the present work also sheds a light on controlling the chemical transformations of key intermediates in biomass conversion such as ketones. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences, and the Laboratory directed research and development (LDRD) project of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Computing time was granted by the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL). The EMSL is a U.S. DOE national scientific usermore » facility located at PNNL, and sponsored by the U.S. DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research.« less
Filipinos in Toronto: Residential Segregation and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Inequality

Filipinos are one of nine groups racialized as visible minorities. The degree of racialization varies, resulting in diverse spatial and socioeconomic patterns, processes, and adaptation among immigrant groups. The variation occurs because of (1) the conditions of immigrant departure, i.e., whether immigrants entered Canada as legal immigrants, state-sponsored refugees, or undocumented workers; (2) the initial resources or human and social capital that immigrants brought to Canada combined with their family structure; and (3) the social and economic conditions, including federal and provincial immigration policies and practices. The degree to which Filipinos are racialized compared to Chinese, South Asians, Koreans, Southeast Asians, Japanese, or other groups is related to the interaction of these factors.
In-Situ Polymerized Nylon 6/Mwnt Nanocomposite Fibers

Uniform dispersion, orientation and adhesion between carbon nanotubes and polymer matrix are essential for the improved mechanical properties in the nanocomposite. We prepared multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT)-nylon 6 nanocomposites using an in-situ polymerization technique, assisted with a few minutes (3-4 minutes) of ultrasonication. Fibers were then extruded from prepared nanocomposite using a single screw extruder and stretched for draw ratio 3 and 4 respectively. Uniform dispersion was achieved due to the effect of ultrasonication and quick polymerization. DSC studies indicated the presence of interactions between nylon 6 polymer and MWNTs. SEM studies showed the nearly oriented carbon nanotubes inside the nanocomposite fibers. Improved mechanical properties were observed as a result of proper dispersion, orientation and interfacial interactions. However at higher MWNT loadings (> 0.5 %), molecular weight of the synthesized nylon 6 reduced significantly, resulting in decreased mechanical properties.
Fishes, Biodiversity of

A fish is an aquatic vertebrate with scales, fins, and gills. About 32,000 fish species are known, divided into jawless fishes (agnathans), cartilaginous fishes (chondrichthyans), and bony fishes (osteichthyans). Fishes occur wherever water of reasonable integrity exists, from sea depths of 8000 m to mountain streams and lakes at 5000 m altitude. Marine fishes constitute 58% of all species, freshwater species 41%, with 1% of fishes moving regularly between sea and fresh water. Tropical areas have the highest diversity. Fish biodiversity is threatened by many human activities, but habitat modification, overharvest, and introduced species are particularly injurious.
Zebrafish learn to forage in the dark.

A large diversity of fishes struggle early in life to forage on zooplankton while under the threat of predation. Some species, such as zebrafish (Danio rerio), acquire an ability to forage in the dark during growth as larvae, but it is unclear how this is achieved. We investigated the functional basis of this foraging by video-recording larval and juvenile zebrafish as they preyed on zooplankton (Artemia sp.) under infrared illumination. We found that foraging improved with age, to the extent that 1-month-old juveniles exhibited a capture rate that was an order of magnitude greater than that of hatchlings. At all ages, the ability to forage in the dark was diminished when we used a chemical treatment to compromise the cranial superficial neuromasts, which facilitate flow sensing. However, a morphological analysis showed no developmental changes in these receptors that could enhance sensitivity. We tested whether the improvement in foraging with age could instead be a consequence of learning by raising fish that were naive to the flow of prey. After 1 month of growth, both groups foraged with a capture rate that was significantly less than that of fish that had the opportunity to learn and indistinguishable from that of fish with no ability to sense flow. This suggests that larval fish learn to use water flow to forage in the dark. This ability could enhance resource acquisition under reduced competition and predation. Furthermore, our findings offer an example of learning in a model system that offers promise for understanding its neurophysiological basis.
Daily Life Satisfaction in Older Adults as a Function of (In)Activity

Objectives. This 14-day daily diary study tested the between-person and within-person associations between sedentary behavior, physical activity, and life satisfaction in community-dwelling older adults. Method. Older adults (n=100) wore ActivPAL3 activity monitors for 14 days and, at the end of each day, answered questions regarding their health behaviors and life satisfaction. Results. Separate multilevel models were tested for self-reported and objectively measured behavioral data. In the model using objectively measured behavioral data, life satisfaction was (a) negatively associated with sedentary behavior at the within-person level and unassociated with sedentary behavior at the between-person level and (b) unassociated with physical activity at either the between-person or within-person level. In the model using self-reported behavioral data, life satisfaction was (a) unassociated with sedentary behavior at either the between-person or within-person level and (2) positively associated with physical activity at the within-person, but not at the between-person, level. Discussion. Results indicated that daily deviations in objectively measured sedentary behavior and self-reported physical activity have implications for older adults’ well-being. Interventions designed to enhance well-being and quality of life in older adults should consider targeting daily changes in total sedentary behavior and daily changes in the volume or frequency of physical activity.
Hematopoiesis and the Inosine Modification in Transfer RNA

AbstractHuman promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells were used to begin to evaluate the role in hematopoiesis of inosine biosynthesis in the tRNA anticodon wobble position; a reaction involving the enzymatic insertion of preformed hypoxanthine. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and hypoxanthine were found to induce the differentiation of HL-60 cells in a synergistic manner, and the induced differentiation was independent of changes in the purine catabolic enzymes adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase. The short-term exposure of HL-60 cells to DMSO plus hypoxanthine resulted in enhanced leucine incorporation, and a model is presented showing how the inosine modification reaction in tRNA may be involved. A means by which hypoxanthine insertion into tRNA may modulate the synthesis of regulatory proteins (e.g., lymphokines and cell surface receptors) is also outlined.
Prediction of Limit Cycle Oscillation in an Aeroelastic System using Asymptotic Nonlinear Normal Modes

This paper demonstrates the use of nonlinear normal modes to predict limit cycle oscillation in a pitch-plunge airfoil with cubically nonlinear pitch sti ness. Aeroelastic systems with quasi-steady and unsteady aerodynamics are presented. An alternative rst order derivation of nonlinear normal modes is o ered for systems that cannot t the standard second-order form. The e ect of the master coordinate chosen to construct the nonlinear normal modes is examined and found to have a signi cant impact on the accuracy of the results. Based on the results herein the nonlinear normal mode method is found to be a viable approach to studying and predicting limit cycle oscillation in aeroelastic systems.
Laboratory Evaluation of Urinary Tract Infections in an Ambulatory Clinic

A 4-month evaluation of ambulatory patients with a suspicion of a urinary tract infection was performed. Specific objectives included assessment of five urinary screening methods, reevaluation of the necessity of the phenylethyl alcohol plate (PEA), and cost-effectiveness of screening for low colony count bacteriuria. Urine samples were collected as midstream, clean-caught specimens. A total of 142 samples, 87 from 79 symptomatic patients and 55 negative controls, were evaluated. All urine specimens were cultured using a 0.01 mL loop and a 0.001 mL loop onto Columbia sheep blood agar, MacConkey agar, and PEA agar. Twenty-four specimens (17%) were sterile, 64 (45%) were contaminated, and 54 (38%) were infected. Five urine screening methods were performed. These tests and their associated sensitivity and specificity are as follows. The Chemstrip 9 (Behring, Inc., Somerville, NJ) for leukocyte esterase and nitrate, 67%, 98%; microscopic analysis on spun urine, 79%, 93%; methylene blue stain for pyuria, 60%, 99%; Gram stain for pyuria, 45%, 93%; Gram stain for bacteriuria, 65%, 75%; and the URISCREEN (Analytab Products, Plainview, NY), 92%, 89%. Inclusion of a PEA plate for isolation of gram-positive organisms provided no additional information. Routine culture of urine samples at 10(-2) mL increased the contamination rate by 19%.
Religion & race : southern Presbyterians, 1946-1983

Joel Alvis focuses on the relationships and tensions in the American Presbyterian Church, whose ecclesiastical boundaries never expanded significantly beyond its original territory in the Confederacy and border South. By the time of the civil rights movement, the church was actively involved in ecumenical activities despite its regional isolation; that involvement created unease in some quarters of the denomination. This institutional history describes how the church shaped and was shaped by its regional culture and explores the denomination's own culture as it struggled to determine what role racial issues and realities would have in the definition of being "Presbyterian".
Red, White, and Black: The Meaning of Loyalty in Georgia Education

The overall objective of the research presented in this dissertation is to establish ways in which the Red Scare and Cold War eras impacted social studies education in Georgia from the 1930s through the 1960s. My position is that the decision by the Communist Party’s international leadership to support African Americans in the southern United States through legal defense and the organization of sharecroppers’ unions impacted white segregationists’ interpretation of subversive activity as being inclusive of racially liberal ideas. Social studies education in Georgia was affected by the policies and curriculum decisions made in the context of Red Scare and Cold War influences. An analysis of the historiography of communism in the United States reflects the changing tenor of uncertainty and fear that gripped Americans when it came to radical ideas contrary to the democratic capitalist tradition. Historians tend to agree that the Party’s efforts in
Pediatric renal neoplasms

The clinical presentation and radiologic features of neoplastic lesions of the pediatric kidney are presented. Emphasis is placed on Wilms' tumor because it is overwhelmingly the most common pediatric renal neoplasm. Other malignant and benign neoplasms are discussed. Nonneoplastic differential diagnoses are briefly considered.
The PKC- Inhibitor Enzastaurin Inhibits MM Cell Growth, Survival and Migration in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment.

Abstract Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine- threonine protein kinases mediate multiple physiological functions including differentiation, growth and survival, invasiveness, angiogenesis and drug efflux. Dysregulation of PKC signaling has been implicated in tumor progression and prompted the development of novel anticancer therapeutics. In multiple myeloma (MM) PKC isoforms are: (1) involved in MM cell apoptosis; (2) associated with VEGF- and Wnt- induced MM cell migration; and (3) controlling shedding of IL-6 receptor alpha. However, to date the potential of targeting PKC signaling sequelae in MM has not been evaluated. Here we investigated the novel orally available protein- kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Enzastaurin (Eli Lilly and Company) for its therapeutic efficacy in MM. We first tested the ability of Enzastaurin to suppress MM cell proliferation in a wide array of MM cell lines. Our data show that Enzastaurin inhibits 3H[dT] uptake in all cell lines tested in a low micromolar range equivalent to the concentration range achieved in the patient plasma during clinical trials. Importantly, Enzastaurin also abrogates MM cell proliferation in a BMSC-MM coculture system. We next sought to determine whether Enzastaurin can inhibit cell survival and found dose- dependent induction of MM cell apoptosis in MM cell lines MM.1S, MM.1R, OPM-1, OPM-2, RPMI-8226, and RPMI-dox40. Moreover, Enzastaurin significantly inhibited VEGF- induced MM cell migration on fibronectin. Importantly, IGF-1- induced MM cell migration was abrogated by Enzastaurin, demonstrating the requirement of PKC. Signaling pathways mediating these effects were next examined: Our data show that Enzastaurin abrogates phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3beta, which is required for MM cell growth and migration. Furthermore, ongoing studies are evaluating the efficacy of Enzastaurin in a murine model of human MM. Taken together, these studies show for the first time the preclinical efficacy of the orally available PKC inhibitor Enzastaurin providing the basis for its clinical evaluation to improve patient outcome in MM.
Arthroscopic 360° Capsular Release for Adhesive Capsulitis in the Lateral Decubitus Position

Idiopathic adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder is a relatively common condition that results in pain and loss of motion due to capsular thickening and fibrosis. Most cases are successfully treated with conservative management including physical therapy and intra-articular steroid injections. If conservative management fails, arthroscopic capsular release allows precise release of thickened capsular tissue with a lower risk of complications and less soft-tissue trauma than manipulation under anesthesia alone. Arthroscopic capsular release in the beach-chair position typically requires some degree of manipulation to release the inferior capsule, which is often not visualized intraoperatively. In this technique article and video, we describe and demonstrate a technique of arthroscopic capsular release in the lateral decubitus position, providing a clear view of the inferior capsule, which facilitates a complete, 360° capsular release and mitigates the need for any manipulation under anesthesia.
Identification of small molecule inhibitors of ERCC1-XPF that inhibit DNA repair and potentiate cisplatin efficacy in cancer cells

// Sanjeevani Arora 1 , Joshua Heyza 2 , Hao Zhang 2 , Vivian Kalman-Maltese 1 , Kristin Tillison 1 , Ashley M. Floyd 2 , Elaine M. Chalfin 1 , Gerold Bepler 2 , Steve M. Patrick 2 1 Department of Biochemistry & Cancer Biology, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, Toledo, OH, USA 2 Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA Correspondence to: Steve M. Patrick, email: patricks@karmanos.org Keywords: ERCC1-XPF, cisplatin, chemoresistance, DNA repair inhibitor, high-throughput screen Received: April 28, 2016 Accepted: September 02, 2016 Published: September 16, 2016 ABSTRACT ERCC1-XPF heterodimer is a 5′-3′ structure-specific endonuclease which is essential in multiple DNA repair pathways in mammalian cells. ERCC1-XPF (ERCC1-ERCC4) repairs cisplatin-DNA intrastrand adducts and interstrand crosslinks and its specific inhibition has been shown to enhance cisplatin cytotoxicity in cancer cells. In this study, we describe a high throughput screen (HTS) used to identify small molecules that inhibit the endonuclease activity of ERCC1-XPF. Primary screens identified two compounds that inhibit ERCC1-XPF activity in the nanomolar range. These compounds were validated in secondary screens against two other non-related endonucleases to ensure specificity. Results from these screens were validated using an in vitro gel-based nuclease assay. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) further show that these compounds do not inhibit the binding of purified ERCC1-XPF to DNA. Next, in lung cancer cells these compounds potentiated cisplatin cytotoxicity and inhibited DNA repair. Structure activity relationship (SAR) studies identified related compounds for one of the original Hits, which also potentiated cisplatin cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Excitingly, dosing with NSC16168 compound potentiated cisplatin antitumor activity in a lung cancer xenograft model. Further development of ERCC1-XPF DNA repair inhibitors is expected to sensitize cancer cells to DNA damage-based chemotherapy.
The Death of the Public Community College

Community colleges have been in existence for over 100 years in the United States. They began by offering the first two years of undergraduate education for students in local communities. Over the decades they evolved into comprehensive institutions of higher education with a multi-faceted mission. Today, in an era of accountability and mistrust of governmental institutions, they are under siege. There are external and internal forces that are causing their troubles. Perhaps, the unthinkable could happen and they might cease to exist if bold steps aren’t taken to save them. There appears to be little time to waste.
Periodic motions and limit cycles of linear cable galloping

In this paper, analytical galloping dynamics of linear cables with the uniform airflow of the wind is discussed through a two-degree-of-freedom nonlinear oscillator. The nonlinearity in the two-degree-of-freedom oscillator is only from aero-dynamic forces caused by the uniform airflow. The analytical solutions of periodic motions for linear cable galloping are discussed from the analytical method with the finite Fourier series. The corresponding stability and bifurcation of the periodic motions of the linear cable galloping are determined through the two-degree-of-freedom nonlinear system. Frequency-amplitude analysis of periodic motions and limit cycles of linear cable galloping are presented. Numerical illustrations of trajectories and amplitude spectrums are given for galloping motions of linear cables. From such analytical solutions, galloping phenomenon in flow-induced vibration can be further understood. The galloping dynamics of linear cables is similar to the dynamics of the van der Pol oscillator.
Hotspot Size Effect on Conductive Heat Spreading

Solid heat spreaders, particularly those made of copper or graphite, are often benchmark solutions for hotspot thermal management. In this paper, we present exact and approximate analytical solutions of steady-state hotspot cooling with a planar heat spreader, which is subjected to adiabatic conditions except for a hotspot centered at the top surface and a constant temperature at the bottom surface. The approximate solution bridges exact solutions at two limits of hotspot size: infinitesimal hotspot at the center and uniform heat flux across the spreader. The approximate solution accounts for variable hotspot size and anisotropic thermal conductivity in a compact form, which is useful for estimating thermal parameters such as conduction shape factor and effective thermal conductivity.
Cardiac Function in Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Knockout Mice with Heart Failure

P57 Nitric oxide(NO)released by endothelial NO synthase(eNOS)is impaired during the development of heart failure (HF). We tested the hypotheses that 1)lack of eNOS (-/-) may affect cardiac function and remodeling after MI induced by coronary ligation; and 2) the cardioprotective efffect of ACEi will be lessened or absent in -/- mice. 1 month after MI, mice were treated with either vehicle or the ACEi enalapril (20 mg/kg) and this was continued for 3 months. C57BL6J (+/+) mice were used as controls. LV ejection fraction (LVEF), shortening fraction (SF), LV mass (LVm) and diastolic dimension (LVDd) were evaluated by echocardiography before and after MI. We found that LVEF (figure) and SF were decreased, and LVDd and LVm increased significantly after MI and slowly progressed with time. No difference was detected between the two strains. ACEi improved LVEF in +/+, but not in -/-; and they also decreased LVm and LVDd, and these effects were diminished in -/- mice. Our data suggest that eNOS may not play an important role in the development of HF; however, it does participate in the cardioprotective effects of ACEi.
Utilizing Material Requirements Planning and Distribution Requirements Planning for Materials/Logistics Management

Material requirements planning (MRP) and distribution requirements planning (DRP) have been two of the most significant developments in materials/logistics management control during the past several decades. Other scheduling and control concepts and methods now being developed are based on these systems.
Preparing Psychology Majors to Enter the Workforce: Then, Now, With Whom, and How

Undergraduate psychology programs have not always provided the same level of support for their job-seeking students than they have for those preparing to become psychologists. This is a particularl...
A Single Institutional Experience With the Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology: Correlation of Cytology and Histology in 194 Cases.

Objectives The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS) is designed to standardize the criteria and terminology used in urinary tract cytology reporting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of implementing TPS and to analyze the correlation with follow-up biopsies in order to assess its reproducibility. Methods Urinary tract cytology specimens with follow-up biopsies over a 2-year period were reviewed and reclassified according to TPS criteria. Surgical follow-up diagnoses were correlated with the initial cytology diagnoses and TPS interpretations, and the results were compared. Results Applying TPS in comparison to our previous reporting system resulted in fewer cases in the atypia category (11.8% vs 24.2%) and higher specificity, accuracy, and predictive value. We observed acceptable interobserver agreement in diagnostic categories of this reporting system. Conclusions TPS improves the overall performance of urinary tract cytology by standardizing the criteria and terminology.
Use of FK506 and Its Analogs in Studying Progesterone Signaling

Acting through their receptors, steroids play important roles in the regulation of growth, differentiation, reproduction, and metabolism. In the absence of hormone, receptors are complexed with several nonsteroid binding proteins. Included among these are hsp90, p59, and hsp70 (Sanchez et al, 1985; Tai et al, 1986; Kost et al, 1989). Following steroid binding, the receptors are found dissociated from the heteromeric complexes and phosphorylated, a step referred to as transformation (for a review, see Pratt, 1987). Subsequently, they bind specific DNA segments, to regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level. Much recent work on steroid receptors has focused on receptor-DNA interaction, a late step in the steroid signal transduction pathways. On the other hand, mechanisms that regulate the early events, such as phosphorylation and dissociation, remain obscure (Orti et al, 1992).
A Frugal Auction Technique for Data Replication in Large Distributed Computing Systems.

Fine-grained data replication over the Internet allows duplication of frequently accessed data objects, as opposed to entire sites, to certain locations so as to improve the performance of large-scale content distribution systems. In a distributed system, agents representing their sites try to maximize their own benefit since they are driven by different goals such as to minimize their communication costs, latency, etc. In this paper, we will use game theoretical techniques and in particular auctions to identify a bidding mechanism that encapsulates the selfishness of the agents, while having a controlling hand over them. In essence, the proposed game theory based mechanism is the study of what happens when independent agents act selfishly and how to control them to maximize the overall performance. A bidding mechanism asks how one can design systems so that agents’ selfish behavior results in the desired systemwide goals. Experimental results reveal that this mechanism provides excellent solution quality, while maintaining fast execution time. The comparisons are recorded against some well known techniques such as greedy, branch and bound, game theoretical auctions and
Toxicological Studies in Insects

The body surface of insects consists of a hard skin known as the cuticle. At first glance it appears that this barrier should be very effective against the entry of insecticides, but there are two main reasons why it is not: (1) the insect exposes a far greater surface area relative to its volume than the mammal, and (2) the insect cuticle is hydrophobic (i.e., lipophilic) so that it can resist desiccation and drowning. Most modern insecticides are apolar and therefore easily penetrate the insect cuticle. Mammalian skin, by contrast, is relatively resistant to the entry of insecticides. As a result, it is common that the acute oral toxicity of an insecticide is much higher in mammals than the contact toxicity, where as the contact and oral toxicities are almost equal in insects. Though in insects cuticular penetration is usually the major pathway, in some instances insecticides do enter by way of the mouth, respiratory system, and other vulnerable places such as the antennae, eyes, and tarsi.
Clinical Applications of Recombinant Human BMPs: Early Experience and Future Development

In 1965, Marshall R. Urist made the seminal discovery that the extracellular matrix of bone contains a substance that has the capacity to induce new bone formation when implanted into extraskeletal sites in a host 1. This substance, later named bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), has become the subject of extensive research aimed at developing therapeutic strategies for the restoration and treatment of skeletal conditions resulting from trauma, degenerative disease, or ablative surgery. By 1998, a team of investigators at Genetics Institute (now Wyeth Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts) characterized the molecular clones and activities associated with this protein and derived the amino acid sequence from a highly purified preparation obtained from bovine bone 2. This led to the isolation and expression of human complementary DNAs (cDNAs), recognized as members of the transforming growth factor-β supergene family. Over the course of the next fifteen years, investigators elucidated the molecular genetics of BMP biology, leading to the identification of fifteen individual human BMPs possessing varying degrees of cartilage and/or bone inductive activities and to the development of three therapeutic preparations, each for a specific clinical application. This article reviews the evidence upon which presently available therapeutic preparations of BMPs are based and suggests future applications likely to evolve from current investigations. It is currently estimated that approximately 1.5 million bone-grafting operations are performed annually in the United States 3. These procedures are done to enhance the healing of spinal fusions, internal fixation of fractures, and treatment of bone defects, and they are used in the treatment and reconstruction of maxillofacial conditions resulting from trauma or congenital anomalies. In most instances, autologous bone graft is the preferred material in these procedures because of its known osteogenic properties and complement of live cells. However, autologous bone graft is also known to possess two …
Sp1 and Huntington’s Disease

Sp1, a triple C2H2 zinc finger protein, has been studied for more than two decades and biochemical features of the protein have been well documented. However, its biological roles in humans are still ambiguous. Recent studies on Huntington’s disease have shown that the mutant huntingtin proteins with expanded polyglutamine tracts interact with transcription factors, such as TFIID and Sp1, and have provided new insights into mechanisms of gene transcription as well as Huntington’s disease. Here, I describe aspects of Sp1 function in the context of Huntington’s disease research.
Seasonal Timing of Consumption of Calcium-rich Caliche in the Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) in Central Arizona

Abstract Mohave Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) actively consume calcium-rich soil, bones, and stones, but this “mining” behavior is not well described for Sonoran Desert Tortoises (Gopherus ...
Tuning Algorithms and Generators for Efficient Edge Inference.

A surge in artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies have increased the demand toward enhanced edge-processing capabilities. Computational complexity and size of state-of-the-art Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) are rising exponentially with diverse network models and larger datasets. This growth limits the performance scaling and energy-efficiency of both distributed and embedded inference platforms. Embedded designs at the edge are constrained by energy and speed limitations of available processor substrates and processor to memory communication required to fetch the model coefficients. While many hardware accelerator and network deployment frameworks have been in development, a framework is needed to allow the variety of existing architectures, and those in development, to be expressed in critical parts of the flow that perform various optimization steps. Moreover, premature architecture-blind network selection and optimization diminish the effectiveness of schedule optimizations and hardware-specific mappings. In this paper, we address these issues by creating a cross-layer software-hardware design framework that encompasses network training and model compression that is aware of and tuned to the underlying hardware architecture. This approach leverages the available degrees of DNN structure and sparsity to create a converged network that can be partitioned and efficiently scheduled on the target hardware platform, minimizing data movement, and improving the overall throughput and energy. To further streamline the design, we leverage the high-level, flexible SoC generator platform based on RISC-V ROCC framework. This integration allows seamless extensions of the RISC-V instruction set and Chisel-based rapid generator design. Utilizing this approach, we implemented a silicon prototype in a 16 nm TSMC process node achieving record processing efficiency of up to 18 TOPS/W.
Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness

Abstract Emotional awareness is the conscious ability to sense, perceive, identify, label with words, and make sense of one's range of emotional states and experiences both alone and with others. Primary or basic emotions include happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, contempt, disgust, and anticipation/hope. With maturity, emotional awareness becomes emotional literacy, refined emotional awareness, and cognitive proficiency. Empathy and wide-ranging perspective-taking principally characterize this assimilation with a flexible range of emotions maintaining stability and resilience daily and when challenged. Emotional processing is a series of steps beginning with a trigger of arousal and ending with a mental and behavioral (i.e., biomental) response transpiring in four cascading stages: (1) emotion sensation, (2) emotion perception, (3) emotion comprehension, and (4) emotion performance utilization. Emotional processing comprises the activities and interrelated tasks needed to change information each time the process occurs, thus improving a more resilient end product. Learned Mindfulness is an innovative construct pivoting on this emotional intelligence model.