cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Custom-made Algorithm-Specific Processor for Model Predictive Control

This paper presents an algorithm-specific processor for embedded Model Predictive Control (MPC). After analyzing the computational cost of MPC, via profiling, we observe that the optimizations associated with MPC are dominated by operations on real matrices. To overcome this bottleneck we propose connecting a limited resource host processor with an algorithm-specific matrix processor, whose architecture is described. The matrix processor uses a 16-bit Logarithmic Number System (LNS) arithmetic unit to carry out the required arithmetic operations. The proposed architecture is implemented using a Hardware Description Language (HDL) and subsequently it is synthesized and emulated on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The timing and area cost results are presented and analyzed.
Assessing M-Commerce Opportunities

Abstract Shortly after the advent of digital mobile phone service, a new innovative way of doing business known as mobile commerce (M-commerce) was created. This article helps organizations gain insight as to whether mobile commerce is a business solution worth exploring. It reviews the technology behind M-commerce and the products and services currently available. It also examines the benefits and challenges of M-commerce, as well as the issues to be addressed when considering implementation of M-commerce solutions.
Two Bayesian image restoration algorithms from partially-known blurs

In this paper we examine the restoration problem when the point-spread function (PSF) of the degradation system, is partially known. For this problem the PSF is assumed to be the sum of a known deterministic and an unknown random component. This problem, has been examined before; however, in most previous works the problem of estimating the parameters that define the restoration, filters was not addressed. In this paper two iterative algorithms that simultaneously restore the image and estimate the parameters of the restoration filter are proposed using evidence analysis (EA) within the hierarchical Bayesian framework. Numerical experiments are presented that test and compare the proposed algorithms.
Ruminations on the Study of American Public Bureaucracies

Public bureaucracies warrant the attention of political scientists because bureaucrats help determine the contents and effectiveness of public policies. Although the relationships between them and the other participants in public policy making can theoretically range from bureaucratic dominance, or at least autonomy, to passive bureaucratic subservience, most political scientists tend to treat American bureaucrats as significant but not commanding partners in the interplay of checks and balances in the political process. Understanding their roles in this process, however, is beset by ambiguities about when and to what extent their behavior is controlled or controlling. These uncertainties, plus incessant changes in their roles, may mean that we cannot hope for universal, long-enduring generalizations about their place in the polity. Consequently, to fully understand our political system, we must continuously observe, analyze, and reassess the influence they exert and the influences on them.
Ecdysteroid profiles for hemolymph and testes from larvae, pupae, and pharate adults of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis hubner

Total ecdysteroid levels as well as concentrations of several individual ecdysteroids were determined for hemolymph and testes of fifth instars, pupae, and pharate adults of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner). For total levels, the patterns of fluctuation in hemolymph and testes were similar, but the concentrations in testes were lower than those in hemolymph. In both hemolymph and testes there were two ecdysteroid peaks: the first just prior to the formation of the pharate pupa, the second just prior to the formation of the pharate adult. An examination of ecdysteroid profiles revealed some important differences. Ecdysone was either absent or present at extremely low levels in larval testes, whereas in hemolymph there was a premolt ecdysone peak. In pupal testes, ecdysone was present, but levels of 26-hydroxyecdysone were much lower than those in hemolymph. Thus, in regard to ecdysteroids, testes have the ability to control their own internal milieu.
Determination of the cation site-occupation parameter in a cobalt ferrite from Synchrotron-Radiation diffraction data

Abstract Energy-tuned synchrotron radiation (SR) was used to collect Bragg diffraction intensity data from a single crystal of a cobalt ferrite (nominally CoFe 2 O 4 ). X-Ray energies were chosen just below the Fe and Co K absorption edges where large changes in anomalous dispersion enhance differences in scattering between the two metals. Observations were analyzed by least-squares methods to determine the value of the parameter, X , that describes the distribution of cobalt and iron ions on the octahedral and tetrahedral sites of the cubic spinel structure. Refinements based on over 290 SR data gave X = 0.83 ± 0.01 (83% of the cobalt ions located on octahedral sites); with only 30 specially selected SR data, this value could be fixed at 0.80 ± 0.07. Estimates of dispersion corrections to the X-ray scattering factors for iron near the Fe K edge were obtained through observations of SR diffraction from a magnetite crystal. Results do not differ appreciably from predicted values in the range 6358–7105 eV, through the precision in estimates of the imaginary term is poor at the lower energies.
Managers' Moral Reasoning: Assessing Their Responses to Three Moral Dilemmas

Based on Kolhberg's theory of moral development, an assessment of managers' responses to three moral dilemmas was explored. The findings indicate that managers typically reason at moral reasoning stages 3 or 4, similar to most adults in Western, urban societies or other business managers. However, differences were discovered when the organizational size of the managers' employer and type of moral issue were considered. Managers employed by large to medium-sized organizations tended to reason at lower moral reasoning stages than managers who work in small firms or were self-employed. Moral reasoning exhibited when the dilemmas were placed in a business context was significantly lower than for a dilemma in a non-business context. Implications from these findings are discussed.
Using Experimental Economics to Resolve Accounting Dilemmas

. Experimental economics is an increasingly important tool in accounting research. This paper examines how the accounting experimentalists' expertise in design, institutional knowledge, and theory can be used to enlighten policy debate. Two recent economics-based experiments examining tax policy and audit education are used to highlight these ideas and show where careful attention to theory would shift the direction of research, making it more applicable to contemporary policy issues. Resume. L'economique experimentale est un instrument de plus en plus important en recherche comptable. L'auteure examine comment les aptitudes des experimentateurs comptables en ce qui a trait a la definition des problematiques, leur connaissance des institutions et leur bagage theorique peuvent servir a eclairer le debat politique. Deux experiences recentes qui s'appuient sur l'economique portent sur la politique fiscale et la formation des verificateurs et son employees pour jeter un nouvel eclairage sur ces idees et pour illustrer comment l'interet pour la theorie devrait modifier le cours de la recherche, en la rendant davantage applicable aux problemes politiques contemporains.
Simulating the road forward: the role of computational modelling in realising future opportunities in traffic safety

Current vehicle and restraint designs consider a relatively small percentage of the variation that exists within the population of humans and the distribution of crashes. The breadth of these variations, coupled with the added complexity of ever-changing societal trends, will not permit designs developed using conventional techniques to realise established goals for injury and fatality reduction. Within the realm of passive and integrated safety, widespread implementation of modelling into the design and evaluation process provides the only viable means of achieving significant reductions in injury and fatality. Ultimately, the versatility and efficiency of computational modelling will establish a new paradigm in which injury is described by causal mechanisms including statistical representations of population variations. While this transformational change will be guided and directed by simulation technology, it will require commensurate evolution of techniques within the fields of experimental biomechanics, crash reconstruction and epidemiology.
Evaluation of recently-proposed secondary organic aerosol models for a case study in Mexico City

Abstract. Recent field studies have found large discrepancies in the measured vs. modeled SOA mass loadings in both urban and regional polluted atmospheres. The reasons for these large differences are unclear. Here we revisit a case study of SOA formation in Mexico City described by Volkamer et al. (2006), during a photochemically active period when the impact of regional biomass burning is minor or negligible, and show that the observed increase in OA/ΔCO is consistent with results from several groups during MILAGRO 2006. Then we use the case study to evaluate three new SOA models: 1) the update of aromatic SOA yields from recent chamber experiments (Ng et al., 2007); 2) the formation of SOA from glyoxal (Volkamer et al., 2007a); and 3) the formation of SOA from primary semivolatile and intermediate volatility species (P-S/IVOC) (Robinson et al., 2007). We also evaluate the effect of reduced partitioning of SOA into POA (Song et al., 2007). Traditional SOA precursors (mainly aromatics) by themselves still fail to produce enough SOA to match the observations by a factor of ~7. The new low-NOx aromatic pathways with very high SOA yields make a very small contribution in this high-NOx urban environment as the RO2·+NO reaction dominates the fate of the RO2· radicals. Glyoxal contributes several μg m−3 to SOA formation, with similar timing as the measurements. P-S/IVOC are estimated from equilibrium with emitted POA, and introduce a large amount of gas-phase oxidizable carbon that was not in models before. With the formulation in Robinson et al. (2007) these species have a high SOA yield, and this mechanism can close the gap in SOA mass between measurements and models in our case study. However the volatility of SOA produced in the model is too high and the O/C ratio is somewhat lower than observations. Glyoxal SOA helps to bring the O/C ratio of predicted and observed SOA into better agreement. The sensitivities of the model to some key uncertain parameters are evaluated.
Use of Implanted Radiotransmitters to Estimate Survival of Greater Sage-Grouse Chicks

Abstract Reduced chick survival has been implicated in declines of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations. Because monitoring survival of unmarked sage-grouse chicks is difficult, radiotelemetry may be an effective technique to estimate survival rates, identify causes of mortality, and collect ecological data. Previous studies have used subcutaneous implants to attach radiotransmitters to hatchlings of several species of birds with precocial young. Previous researchers who used subcutaneous implants in free-ranging populations removed chicks from the capture location and implanted transmitters at an alternate site. Because logistics precluded removing newly hatched greater sage-grouse chicks from the field, we evaluated a method for implanting transmitters at capture locations. We captured 288 chicks from 52 broods and monitored 286 radiomarked chicks daily for 28 days following capture during May and June 2001–2002. Two (<1%) chicks died during surgery and we did not radiomark them. ...
Asymmetric Division in Fucoid Zygotes Is Positioned by Telophase Nuclei

The relative contributions of cell polarity and nuclear position in specifying the plane of asymmetric division in fucoid zygotes were investigated. In zygotes developing normally, telophase nuclei were positioned parallel to the polar growth axis, and the division plane bisected both axes. To assess division plane specification, the colinearity of the nuclear and growth axes was uncoupled by treatment with pharmacological agents. Spatial correlations between the growth axis, telophase nuclei, and the division plane were analyzed in the treated zygotes. In all cases, cytokinesis was oriented transverse to the telophase mitotic array and was less well aligned with the growth axis. Telophase nuclei also played a predominant role in positioning the division plane in polyspermic zygotes. Microtubules from the telophase nuclei interdigitated throughout the plane of subsequent cytokinesis, and we speculate that they specify the division plane. Morphological markers of the division plane were not observed before telophase; the earliest division marker detected was a plate of actin that assembled in the zone of microtubule overlap late in telophase. These findings are consistent with division plane specification at cytoplast boundaries.
Oral midodrine treatment accelerates the liberation of intensive care unit patients from intravenous vasopressor infusions

Purpose Persistent low-level hypotension represents a barrier to discharging patients from the intensive care unit (ICU). Midodrine may be an effective adjunct to wean intravenous (IV) vasopressors and permit ICU discharge. We tested the hypothesis that midodrine, given to patients on IV vasopressors who otherwise met ICU discharge criteria, increased the magnitude of change in IV vasopressor rate. Materials and methods This was a prospective, observational study in 20 adult surgical ICU patients who met ICU discharge criteria except for an IV vasopressor requirement. We compared the change in phenylephrine equivalent rates during the day before midodrine to the change in phenylephrine equivalent rates after midodrine initiation and analyzed changes in total body fluid balance, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and white blood cell count during this period. Results Patients received 41.0±33.4 μg/min of phenylephrine equivalents and the change in IV vasopressor rate (slope) decreased significantly from -0.62 μg/min per hour of phenylephrine equivalents before midodrine to -2.20 μg/min per hour following the initiation of midodrine treatment (P=.012). Change in total body fluid balance, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and white blood cell count did not correlate with change in IV vasopressor rate. Conclusion Midodrine treatment was associated with an increase in the magnitude of decline of the IV vasopressor rate. Oral midodrine may facilitate liberation of surgical ICU patients from an IV vasopressor infusion, and this may affect discharge readiness of patients from the ICU.
Reflections acting efficiently on a building

We show how Radon transforms may be used to apply eciently the class sum of reflections in the finite general linear group GLn(Fq) to vectors in permutation modules arising from the action of GLn(Fq) on the building of type An 1(Fq).
A metric for layout-friendly microarchitecture optimization in high-level synthesis

In this work we address the problem of managing interconnect timing in high-level synthesis by generating a layout-friendly microarchitecture. A metric called spreading score is proposed to evaluate the layout-friendliness of microarchitectural netlist structures. For a piece of connected netlist, spreading score measures how far the components can be spread from each other with bounded length for every wire. The intuition is that components in a layout-friendly netlist (e.g., a mesh) can spread over the layout region without introducing long interconnects. We propose a semidefinite programming relaxation to allow efficient estimation of spreading score, and use it in a high-level synthesis tool. On a number of test cases, a normalized spreading score shows a stronger bias in favor of interconnect structures that have better timing after layout, compared to the widely used metric of total multiplexer inputs. We also justify our metric and motivate further study by relating spreading score to other metrics and problems for layout-friendly synthesis.
Intraocular lens exchange surgery in dissatisfied patients with refractive intraocular lenses

Purpose To evaluate surgical outcomes after intraocular lens (IOL) exchange of refractive IOLs in dissatisfied patients. Setting Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA. Methods This retrospective case series comprised dissatisfied patients who sought consultation and subsequently had IOL exchange surgery to remove a refractive IOL. Data collected included preoperative subjective and objective findings, surgical technique, and postoperative course. Results Ten patients (12 eyes) had IOL exchange. All patients had subjective visual symptoms before IOL exchange surgery. Despite this, the preoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/30 or better in all eyes. During IOL exchange surgery, a monofocal IOL was placed in the capsular bag or the ciliary sulcus. Adjunctive anterior vitrectomy was performed as indicated for vitreous prolapse. The median follow-up after IOL exchange surgery was 8.9 months. Eight patients (10 eyes) were satisfied with the results of the IOL exchange surgery, while 2 patients said their initial symptoms persisted after the exchange. The CDVA was 20/25 or better in 9 eyes at 1 month. The CDVA in the remaining 3 eyes improved to 20/25 or better at 3 months (2 patients) or 6 months (1 patient). One patient had a complicated postoperative course that necessitated repeat IOL exchange with scleral fixation due to inadequate capsule support. Another patient had corneal decompensation after the IOL exchange surgery. Conclusion Results show that IOL exchange is a feasible option for dissatisfied patients with persistent visual symptoms after refractive IOL placement.
The Nocebo Phenomenon: Concept, Evidence, and Implications for Public Health

The nocebo hypothesis proposes that expectations of sickness and the affective states associated with such expectations cause sickness in the expectant. The nocebo phenomenon is a little-recognized facet of culture that may be responsible for a substantial variety of pathology throughout the world. However, the extent of the phenomenon is not yet known, and evidence is piecemeal and ambiguous. This paper reviews the concept of nocebo and its association with the placebo phenomenon, gives examples of evidence for the nocebo phenomenon, and suggests public health implications.
Family-centred approaches to the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV

Background: Prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programmes have traditionally been narrow in scope, targeting biomedical interventions during the perinatal period, rather than considering HIV as a family disease. This limited focus restricts programmes' eff ectiveness, and the opportunity to broaden prevention measures has largely been overlooked. Although prevention of vertical transmission is crucial, consideration of the family environment can enhance PMTCT. Family-centred approaches to HIV prevention and care present an important direction for preventing paediatric infections while improving overall family health. This paper reviews available literature on PMTCT programmatic models that have taken a broader or family-centred approach. We describe fiand barriers to the delivery of family-centred PMTCT and identify a number of promising new directions that may achieve more holistic services for children and families. Methods: Literature on the eff ectiveness of family-centred PMTCT interventions available via PubMed, EMBASE and PsycINFO were searched from 1990 to the present. Four hundred and three abstracts were generated. These were narrowed to those describing or evaluating PMTCT models that target broader aspects of the family system before, during and/or after delivery of an infant at risk of acquiring HIV infection (N=14). Results: The most common aspects of family-centred care incorporated by PMTCT studies and programme models included counselling, testing, and provision of antiretroviral treatment for infected pregnant women and their partners. Antiretroviral therapy was also commonly extended to other infected family members. Eff orts to involve fathers in family-based PMTCT counselling, infant feeding counselling, and general decision making were less common, though promising. Also promising, but rare, were PMTCT programmes that use interventions to enrich family capacity and functioning; these include risk assessments for intimate partner violence, attention to mental health issues, and the integration of early childhood development services. Conclusions: Despite barriers, numerous opportunities exist to expand PMTCT services to address the health needs of the entire family. Our review of models utilizing these approaches indicates that family-centred prevention measures can be eff ectively integrated within programmes. However, additional research is needed in order to more thoroughly evaluate their impact on PMTCT, as well as on broader family health outcomes.
Performance Analysis of Multipath Data Transmission in Multihop Ad Hoc Networks

Data transmission in ad hoc networks involves interactions between MAC-layer protocol and data forwarding along network-layer paths. These interactions have been shown to have significant effect on system throughput and source queue characteristics. In this paper, multipath data transmission is studied and analyzed based on the DCF in IEEE 802.11 MAC protocols. Analytical models are developed to demonstrate the frame service time and the queue characteristics in the source station under unsaturated conditions for two frame arrival processes (Poisson and deterministic) and two packet generation processes (round robin and batch). The throughput in the multipath multihop system is also investigated and a bound of it is derived. These models are all validated by means of simulation under various scenarios
Linear-time verification of firewalls

A firewall is a filter placed at the entrance of a private network. Its function is to examine each packet that is incoming into the private network and decide, based on the specified rules of the firewall, whether to accept the packet and allow it to proceed, or to discard the packet. A property of a firewall is a specified set of packets that is supposed to be accepted or discarded by the firewall. In this paper, we present the first linear time algorithm to verify whether a given firewall satisfies a given property. The time complexity of our algorithm is O(nd), where n is the number of rules in the given firewall and d is the number of fields that are checked by the firewall. Our verification algorithm consists of two passes: a deterministic pass followed by a probabilistic pass. In most cases, the algorithm correctly determines whether the given firewall satisfies the given property. But in some rare cases, the algorithm may erroneously determine that the firewall satisfies the property. Using a combination of analysis and extensive simulation, we show that the probability of an error by the algorithm is of the order of 6 × 10−5.
HIV-related lung disorders

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically altered the spectrum of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected patients. This has been attributed to improvements in the lung microenvironment leading to enhanced pulmonary immunity, either by preventing the progressive loss of immune function or by actually promoting immune restoration. However, these changes have been accompanied by the recognition of new pulmonary complications in HIV-infected subjects, especially those associated with immune reconstitution. In this review, we will describe how HIV infection alters the normal pulmonary environment, highlight the effect of HAART on these perturbations and discuss potential complications of HAART in the lung, focusing on the pulmonary immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).
Low-power repeater insertion with both delay and slew rate constraints

In this paper, a novel repeater insertion algorithm is presented to minimize the power dissipation of interconnect trees under given timing budgets and slew rate constraints. In contrast to traditional bottom-up dynamic programming approaches, the proposed algorithm combines a Lagrangian relaxation framework and a graph-based search method to derive possible solutions in a top-down fashion. As a result, it is capable of analyzing repeater slew rates efficiently. In addition, our scheme incorporates accurate circuit models and is therefore able to capture the precise delay and slew rate information, leading to high-quality interconnect designs. We have applied our scheme to interconnects of different topologies and various timing and slew rate constraints. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in comparison with previous low-power repeater insertion schemes. Under tight timing constraints, our scheme can always derive repeater insertion solutions that meet both delay and slew rate requirements, whereas other schemes often fail. Under loose timing constraints, our algorithm achieves up to a 23% average power dissipation reduction for different interconnects specifications with shorter runtimes.
Sensitivity of compaction-induced multicomponent seismic time shifts to variations in reservoir properties

ABSTRACTPore-pressure variations inside producing reservoirs result in excess stress and strain that influence the arrival times of reflected waves. Inversion of seismic data for pressure changes requires better understanding of the dependence of compaction-induced time shifts on reservoir pressure reduction. Using geomechanical and full-waveform seismic modeling, we investigate pressure-dependent behavior of P-, S-, and PS-wave time shifts from reflectors located above and below a rectangular reservoir embedded in a homogeneous half-space. Our geomechanical modeling algorithm generates the excess stress/strain field and the stress-induced stiffness tensor as linear functions of reservoir pressure. Analysis of time shifts obtained from full-waveform synthetic data shows that they vary almost linearly with pressure for reflectors above the reservoir, but become nonlinear for reflections from the reservoir or deeper interfaces. Time-shift misfit curves computed with respect to noise-contaminated data from a...
Independent index extension after extensor indicis proprius transfer

The extensor indicis proprius was used to restore mobility to a variety of hand movements in 27 patients. Retained independent index finger extension was obtained in a majority of patients postoperatively. Potential postoperative complications of index extension lag and deviation may be avoided if the extensor indicis proprius is sectioned immediately proximal to the dorsal hood. A corresponding laboratory study was undertaken to better define the anatomic constraints limiting independent finger extension. Distinct differences between juncturae tendinum and extensor compartment musculature help explain why the index finger may function as a relatively independent unit.
Recent Advances in Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Biological and Gas Sensors

There has been significant recent interest in the use of surface-functionalized thin film and nanowire wide bandgap semiconductors, principally GaN, InN, ZnO and SiC, for sensing of gases, heavy metals, UV photons and biological molecules. For the detection of gases such as hydrogen, the semiconductors are typically coated with a catalyst metal such as Pd or Pt to increase the detection sensitivity at room temperature. Functionalizing the surface with oxides, polymers and nitrides is also useful in enhancing the detection sensitivity for gases and ionic solutions. The wide energy bandgap of these materials make them ideal for solar-blind UV detection, which can be of use for detecting fluorescence from biotoxins. The use of enzymes or adsorbed antibody layers on the semiconductor surface leads to highly specific detection of a broad range of antigens of interest in the medical and homeland security fields. We give examples of recent work showing sensitive detection of glucose, lactic acid, prostate cancer and breast cancer markers and the integration of the sensors with wireless data transmission systems to achieve robust, portable sensors.
Self-reported morningness-eveningness related to positive affect-change associated with a single session of hatha yoga.

OBJECTIVES To examine positive affect (PA) responses to a single hatha yoga session compared to a lecture control class and to investigate a potential association between selfreported morningness-eveningness and yoga - related PA change. METHOD Participants (Mean age = 28.50 years) in the yoga group (n = 45) and control group (n = 25) completed the revised Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) before yoga and lecture (pre) and the Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS) as a measure of PA before and after yoga and lecture (post). RESULTS Pre-to-post PA change was greater in the yoga group compared to the control (p < 0.001). Analysis of the yoga group VAMS scores revealed a significant rMEQ type (morning, neither, evening) by time (pre to post) interaction (p = 0.03), with greater PA change in evening types compared to morning types (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The results show that a single hatha yoga session improves self-reported PA more than a lecture control and suggest a relationship between self-reported morningness-eveningness and PA responses to hatha yoga. The findings may help yoga practitioners, instructors, and researchers better understand the psychological benefits of yoga. Researchers should consider conducting long-term studies on the association between self-reported morningness- eveningness and affective responses to yoga practice.
The Rise and Fall of DADT: Evolution of Government Policy toward Homosexuality in the U.S. Military (Introduction)

Editorial introduction to the special issue on the "Evolution of Government Policy Toward Homosexuality in the US Military" for the Journal of Homosexuality. This is a definitive collection of leading thought and research on early post-repeal of the US government's gay-ban known as "don't ask, don't tell." The full volume can be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2013.744663.
Antioxidants Abrogate Alpha-Tocopherylquinone-Mediated Down-Regulation of the Androgen Receptor in Androgen-Responsive Prostate Cancer Cells

Tocopherylquinone (TQ), the oxidation product of alpha-tocopherol (AT), is a bioactive molecule with distinct properties from AT. In this study, AT and TQ are investigated for their comparative effects on growth and androgenic activity in prostate cancer cells. TQ potently inhibited the growth of androgen-responsive prostate cancer cell lines (e.g., LAPC4 and LNCaP cells), whereas the growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells (e.g., DU145 cells) was not affected by TQ. Due to the growth inhibitory effects induced by TQ on androgen-responsive cells, the anti-androgenic properties of TQ were examined. TQ inhibited the androgen-induced activation of an androgen-responsive reporter and inhibited the release of prostate specific antigen from LNCaP cells. TQ pretreatment was also found to inhibit AR activation as measured using the Multifunctional Androgen Receptor Screening assay. Furthermore, TQ decreased androgen-responsive gene expression, including TM4SF1, KLK2, and PSA over 5-fold, whereas AT did not affect the expression of androgen-responsive genes. Of importance, the antiandrogenic effects of TQ on prostate cancer cells were found to result from androgen receptor protein down-regulation produced by TQ that was not observed with AT treatment. Moreover, none of the androgenic endpoints assessed were affected by AT. The down-regulation of androgen receptor protein by TQ was abrogated by co-treatment with antioxidants. Overall, the biological actions of TQ were found to be distinct from AT, where TQ was found to be a potent inhibitor of cell growth and androgenic activity in androgen-responsive prostate cancer cells.
Efficacy of rintatolimod in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME)

Chronic fatigue syndrome/ Myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a poorly understood seriously debilitating disorder in which disabling fatigue is an universal symptom in combination with a variety of variable symptoms. The only drug in advanced clinical development is rintatolimod, a mismatched double stranded polymer of RNA (dsRNA). Rintatolimod is a restricted Toll-Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist lacking activation of other primary cellular inducers of innate immunity (e.g.- cytosolic helicases). Rintatolimod also activates interferon induced proteins that require dsRNA for activity (e.g.- 2'-5' adenylate synthetase, protein kinase R). Rintatolimod has achieved statistically significant improvements in primary endpoints in Phase II and Phase III double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials with a generally well tolerated safety profile and supported by open-label trials in the United States and Europe. The chemistry, mechanism of action, clinical trial data, and current regulatory status of rintatolimod for CFS/ME including current evidence for etiology of the syndrome are reviewed.
Candidate quality and US Senate elections

ABSTRACTWe find that candidate quality is a key determinant of US Senate election outcomes. We model the results for the last 10 US Senate election cycles, from 2012 back to 1994, for a total of 345 election contests. For the contests where an incumbent seeks re-election, a quality challenger can significantly diminish the advantage that usually attaches to incumbency. For the open-seat contests, which tend to be more competitive, candidate quality can swing a close election. Governors who seek election to the US Senate receive the largest boost, as indicated by our candidate-quality variables vector. Wave effects and presidential coattail effects are also shown to be contributing factors in certain cases.
Minimizing statistical and systematic bias in transverse momentum correlations for relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Two-particle correlation measurements and analysis are an important component of the relativistic heavy-ion physics program. In particular, particle pair-number correlations on two-dimensional transverse momentum (${p}_{t}$) allow unique access to soft, semihard, and hard scattering processes in these collisions. Precise measurements of this type of correlation are essential for understanding the dynamics in heavy-ion collisions. However, transverse momentum correlation measurements are especially vulnerable to statistical and systematic biases. In this paper the origins of these large bias effects are explained and mathematical correlation forms are derived from mean-${p}_{t}$ fluctuation quantities in the literature. Monte Carlo simulations are then used to determine the conditions, e.g., multiplicity and collision centrality bin widths, where each correlation form is minimally biased. The ranges of applicability for each correlation quantity are compared. Several are found to reproduce the assumed input correlations with reasonable fidelity over a wide range of conditions encountered in practical analysis of data.
Sacred Figures in Navajo Blankets: A Re-Evaluation of Timeframe and Its Implications for Cultural Change

ABSTRACTRecent research has uncovered a Navajo poncho bearing the image of a Navajo Holy Person figure. Dating to the 1860s, it predates all previously known examples by two decades. This discovery refines the dating sequence of Navajo textile history, provides direct evidence of cultural change, and suggests broader cultural interaction in the Southwest in the mid-nineteenth century.
Mini-intronic plasmid vaccination elicits tolerant LAG3+ CD8+ T cells and inferior antitumor responses

Increasing transgene expression has been a major focus of attempts to improve DNA vaccine-induced immunity in both preclinical studies and clinical trials. Novel mini-intronic plasmids (MIPs) have been shown to cause elevated and sustained transgene expression in vivo. We sought to test the antitumor activity of a MIP, compared to standard DNA plasmid immunization, using the tumor-specific antigen SSX2 in an HLA-A2-restricted tumor model. We found that MIP vaccination elicited a greater frequency of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells when compared to conventional plasmid, and protected animals from subsequent tumor challenge. However, therapeutic vaccination with the MIP resulted in an inferior antitumor effect, and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from these mice expressed higher levels of surface LAG3. Antitumor efficacy of MIP vaccination could be recovered upon antibody blockade of LAG3. In non-tumor bearing mice, MIP immunization led to a loss of epitope dominance, attenuated CD8+ cytokine responses to the dominant p103 epitope, and increased LAG3 expression on p103-specific CD8+ T cells. Further, LAG3 expression on CD8+ T cells was associated with antigen dose and persistence in spite of DNA-induced innate immunity. These data suggest that for antitumor immunization, approaches leading to increased antigen expression following vaccination might optimally be combined with LAG3 inhibition in human trials. On the other hand, mini-intronic vector approaches may be a superior means to elicit LAG3-dependent tolerance in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Development of a prototype thermal management solution for 3-D stacked chip electronics by interleaved solid spreaders and synthetic jets

A design for cooling 3D stacked chip electronics is proposed using solid heat spreaders of high thermal conductivity interleaved between the chip layers. The spreaders conduct heat to the base of an advanced synthetic jet cooled heat sink. A prior computational study showed that for moderate power dissipations, 5 W in each 27times38 mm layer, a 250 mum thick copper heat spreader would conduct heat adequately. However, the mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion between copper and silicon required large holes through the copper layer for electrical vias. The current study investigates the design of a thermal prototype for experimental testing. Each active layer will incorporate a thermal test die to simulate an FPGA and a smaller one to simulate a DRAM. The spreader layer will be silicon with no via holes. The heat sink will contact only three of the stack sides to allow wirebond connections on the fourth side. The effect of the power dissipated and the heat transfer coefficient applied to the peripheral surface are studied. In order to remove the heat from the edges of a multi-layer stack and transfer it to the ambient air, a novel active heat sink design has been implemented using a matrix of integrated synthetic jets. In previous synthetic jet heat sink designs, cooling air is entrained upstream of the heat sink and is driven along the length of the fins. In the new design, synthetic jets emanate from the base of the fins so that the induced jets and entrained (cooling) ambient air flow along the fin height. The velocity field of the active heat sink is mapped using particle image velocimetry (PIV). Thermal performance is characterized using a surrogate heater and embedded thermocouple sensors. The thermal performance of identical heat sinks cooled by the two synthetic jet approaches is compared. An improved third heat sink solution is introduced and compared to previous results
Multilayer, colloidal nanoparticle based devices for biological and nuclear radiation detection

Multiple layers of colloidal nanoparticles were used to make large area, visible blind and wavelength selective, ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors [1]. Polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) coated ZnO nanoparticles were created by a top-down wet-chemical means and deposited on quartz, glass, or GaN-based substrates [1–3]. The advantages of high sensitivity, low power consumption, and the ability of to filter out ambient light, are the result of layered nano-materials on substrates [4]. In separate experiments, these detectors were tested for both bio-fluorescence and alpha particle scintillator detection as a proof-of-concept.
Micro- and Macro-analytic Potential of Agricultural Information Systems

WHILE there is little formal theory on the economics of information, "recognition of the importance of information to agriculture is clearly evident in the numerous institutions, public and private, which have as one objective the development (i.e., the whole process of research, preparation and compilation of findings) or dissemination of information bearing on problems encountered by farmers. One of the best examples of such public institutions is the land grant college" [13, p. 2]. While much experience is available with respect to development and dissemination of information, there is nevertheless a need for enlargement in this area. The developments of the last few years in areas of data collection, data storage, data retrieval, data communication, and decision techniques are calling attention to the unsolved problem of utilizing the mass of various data which might be accumulated. The danger of amassing mountains of useless data does indeed loom large. Even at present one can occasionally observe an enthusiastic attitude which appears to indicate the belief that we have at our avail all the data that we need-if we
Adverse Events in Sickle Cell Patients with Nocturnal Hypoxia.

The relationship between hemoglobin dexoygenation and sickling is well known. However, the relationship between hypoxia and severity of disease in sickle cell patients has not been well established. Recently, nocturnal hypoxemia has been associated with higher incidence of CNS events including strokes, and elevated TCDs. We present our case series on 13 patients(12 SS, 1 SC) with sickle cell disease (SCD) who have nocturnal hypoxia. Approximately 75 patients were screened at the University of Michigan Sickle Cell clinic for nocturnal hypoxia either by symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea or by longitudinal baseline clinic 02 saturations (02 Sat 2.5, n=9, median 2.74/mean 2.74,) frequent pain episodes(>3visits to ER or hospitalizations/year, n=7, with 5 pts >5/year ), recurrent acute chest syndrome( ≥ 3 episodes, n= 10), CNS events (n=3 silent infarcts, vascular stenosis), priapism( (n=4, among 6 males ). Also reported were possible causes of the underlying hypoxia including obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)(n=7 of 11 pts), asthma(n= 10 of 13 pts), and chronic lung disease( n=8). In conclusion, the persistence of nocturnal hypoxia in pediatric sickle cell disease could possibly contribute to the development of severe complications of sickle cell disease. Treatment of underlying hypoxia (ie nighttime oxygen, maximize asthma treatment, T&A for OSA)may help prevent complications and lead to the improvement clinical symptoms. Further, chronic nocturnal hypoxia may complicate pulmonary disease and accelerated the development of PHTN. More studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of hypoxia in SCD.
The Innovation Engine: A Framework for Overcoming Cultural and Organizational Impediments to Innovation at Scale

Large, established organizations fear disruption from large technology companies and startups alike. In trying to thwart this, they have explored several innovation approaches such as labs, acquisitions, and spinouts. Most have not succeeded often due to the impediments that traditional twentieth century corporate culture and organizational design bring. The Innovation Engine is a framework developed to overcome organizational impediments to innovation at scale. The framework has been derived from taking organizational design and processes from successful technology growth and mature companies and the learnings from their application in more traditional companies outside the technology industry.
MYRFs on the Move to Rewire Circuits.

Synaptic plasticity occurs in response to intrinsic and extrinsic cues and is a key step in the formation of mature neuronal circuits. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Meng et al. (2017) find that two conserved Myrf transcription factors coexist in the same complex to promote developmental circuit remodeling.
The impact of the accuracy of indicator diagrams on the heat release characteristics calculation, used in the diagnosis of marine diesel engine

The paper analyzes the possibility to use the electronic type indicators in the diagnosis of marine engines. It has been shown that in-depth analysis of indicator diagrams would be useful – calculation of heat release characteristics. To make this possible, measuring indicated systems should meet a number of important requirements in or-der to ensure that they can be used for the diagnostic purposes. These includes: high precision sensors for the measurement of cylinder pressure, high speed and accuracy of measuring and recording of measured values. These also includes reliable determination of the top dead center piston (TDC). In order to demonstrate the impact of positional error TDC, simulation study was conducted in which indicated diagrams were used, obtained on a medium-speed four-stroke marine diesel engine type A25/30 and the low-speed two-stroke marine diesel engine type RTA76, Sulzer company.
Developing a detector model for the experiment for x-ray characterization and timing (EXACT) CubeSat

The Experiment for X-ray Characterization and Timing (EXACT) mission will be a CubeSat based, hard X-ray spectrometer for measuring high-energy emission from solar flares with high time precision. Solar flares and the related coronal mass ejections affect space weather and the near-Earth environment through emission of solar energetic particles. Hard X-rays (HXRs) are emitted from flare-accelerated electrons, which are energized at or near the time of energy release, and therefore serve to probe the timing of energy release and particle acceleration. EXACT will study the hard X-rays generated by the Sun in the declining phase of Solar Cycle 24 in order to probe electron acceleration in flares and solar eruptive events while also serving as a precursor to future hard X-ray spectrometers that could monitor the Sun continuously. EXACT’s secondary mission is to demonstrate a spacecraft ranging technique based on timing of astrophysical X-ray and gamma ray bursts. EXACT will be a 3U (10x10x30 cm 3 ) CubeSat. This paper will discuss the scintillator detector under development for the mission, including the modeling of the detector response function, as well as expected observations of solar flares by EXACT.
Interleaver design for deep neural networks

We propose a class of interleavers for a novel deep neural network (DNN) architecture that uses algorithmically predetermined, structured sparsity to significantly lower memory and computational requirements, and speed up training. The interleavers guarantee clash-free memory accesses to eliminate idle operational cycles, optimize spread and dispersion to improve network performance, and are designed to ease the complexity of memory address computations in hardware. We present a design algorithm with mathematical proofs for these properties. We also explore interleaver variations and analyze the behavior of neural networks as a function of interleaver metrics.