cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parasitic-aware design and optimization of a CMOS RF power amplifier

Implementation of fully integrated CMOS RF power amplifiers is a challenge owing to the low breakdown voltage of aggressively scaled CMOS transistors and parasitic effects associated with on-chip passive components. To address this problem, a parasitic-aware design and optimization paradigm and novel power amplifier circuit design techniques are proposed. The parasitic-aware synthesis described herein employs a simulated annealing algorithm that includes an adaptive tunneling mechanism and post-optimization sensitivity analysis (i.e., design centering) with respect to process, voltage, and temperature variations. Several design techniques are introduced including a self-biased power-amplifier configuration and a digitally controlled conduction angle topology. The techniques are validated via the design of a fully differential nonlinear three-stage 900-MHz GSM power amplifier integrated in 2 mm/sup 2/ in 250-nm CMOS that outputs 2 W (1.5 W) with 30% (43%) drain efficiency from a single 3.0-V (2.5-V) power supply.
Factors Related to Farmers' Preferences to Decrease Monk Parakeet Damage to Crops

The monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is among the most important bird pest species causing damage to crops in Argentina and neighboring countries. Traditionally, lethal control has been applied for decreasing monk parakeet damage to crops, but objections are increasing and new methods are required. In this article, we examined farmers' preferences for management of monk parakeet damage to crops in relation to sociopsychological and sociodemographic factors. We conducted 111 personal interviews using face-to-face questionnaires. Farmers preferred reproductive and lethal control for decreasing monk parakeet damage to crops. Attitudes toward monk parakeets were related more strongly to preferences than any other factor considered in this study. Other important sociopsychological factors were perceived efficacy and previous knowledge about management strategies. Perceptions of magnitude of damage had little relation to preferences. Sociodemographic factors, such as age and education, differed in their rela...
Industrially Sponsored Senior Capstone Experience: Program Implementation and Assessment

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) 2000 requires that students participate in a major design experience prior to graduation. A well-planned senior design capstone program will satisfy this criterion while meeting the Criterion 3 (a–k) program outcomes. Seattle University has an industrially sponsored, year-long, senior design program that has been in existence for the past 20 years. In addition to applying the knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to solve a real-life engineering problem, students develop the soft skills such as project management, leadership, team work, written and oral communication, and professional networking which are important for a successful career. This paper describes the program within the Civil and Environmental Engineering department, lists the various tools used to assess the program outcomes, and includes assessment of the program by sponsoring agencies, alumni, and reflection by faculty.
Neutrophil CD40 enhances platelet-mediated inflammation.

Abstract Introduction CD40 is a transmembrane protein expressed on monocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells, and platelets. Platelets are the richest source of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and interact with monocytes and endothelial cells via CD40. While CD40 was recently reported to be present on neutrophils, the detailed mechanism of its interaction with platelets via CD40–CD40L has not been examined. Materials and methods The existence of neutrophil CD40 was verified by real-time PCR and western blot. Platelet sCD40L release was measured by ELISA. Neutrophil superoxide generation was measured by chemiluminescence and confocal microscopy. The neutrophil–platelet conjugates were measured by flow cytometry . Results and conclusion The presence of neutrophils enhances stimulation-induced platelet release of sCD40L. The addition of platelets leads to an enhancement of neutrophil superoxide and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The specificity of the CD40–CD40L pathway in the neutrophil–platelet interaction was confirmed by using recombinant soluble CD40L (rsCD40L) and an anti-CD40L antibody. The involvement of the PI3 kinase/Akt pathway in neutrophil superoxide production was revealed by using LY294002 in isolated neutrophils/platelets experiments, as well as during whole blood aggregation-mediated neutrophil–platelet conjugation. N -acetylcysteine, a scavenger of ROS, eliminates both neutrophil superoxide generation and sCD40L release from activated platelets. These data suggest that activated neutrophils release ROS in a PI3 kinase-dependent manner, contributing to platelet activation and further sCD40L release in a redox-controlled positive feed-back loop. In conclusion, our results define a new pathway by which platelets and neutrophils interact and modulate each other's function, and may be relevant in understanding acute thrombo-inflammatory processes.
Pancreatic Pathology: A Practical Review

Given advances in diagnostic imaging and surgical technique, a variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic pancreatic lesions are increasingly encountered in clinical practice. The distinction of these lesions has significant therapeutic and prognostic implications. Herein, we review the major clinicoepidemiologic and pathologic features of ductal adenocarcinoma, pancreatic cystic neoplasia, pancreatic endocrine tumor, and related lesions. Emphasis is placed on frozen-section diagnosis and differential diagnostic features. Also, potential diagnostic pitfalls are highlighted, such that they may be avoided. After reading this article, readers should be able to discuss ductal adenocarcinoma, in particular histologic features useful in frozen section evaluation and in its distinction from chronic pancreatitis; recognize distinguishing features of neoplastic and non-neoplastic pancreatic cysts, particularly those useful in the separation of the mucin-producing cystic neoplasms; and describe the clinical, histologic, and immunophenotypic features of the cellular epithelioid tumors including pancreatic endocrine tumor, solid pseudopapillary tumor, acinar cell carcinoma, and pancreatoblastoma.
The Pragmatic Liberalism of Public Administration

Abstract The intellectual growth and development of the field of public administration can be characterized as an enduring, grand conversation. The discourse among the community of scholars in public administration is an ongoing one, yet the plurality of paradigms and perspectives seems overwhelming at times. We have not gotten it right yet, and if the contestability of the discipline's foundations, prescriptions, truths and realities continues as the central feature of the field's discourse, we never will get it right. This would be a good thing.
Mechanism of non‐spliceosomal mRNA splicing in the unfolded protein response pathway

The unfolded protein response is an intracellular signaling pathway that, in response to accumulation of misfolded proteins in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), upregulates transcription of ER resident chaperones. A key step in this pathway is the non-conventional, regulated splicing of the mRNA encoding the positive transcriptional regulator Hac1p. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the bifunctional transmembrane kinase/endoribonuclease Ire1p cleaves HAC1 mRNA at both splice junctions and tRNA ligase joins the two exons together. We have reconstituted HAC1 mRNA splicing in an efficient in vitro reaction and show that, in many ways, the mechanism of HAC1 mRNA splicing resembles that of pre-tRNA splicing. In particular, Ire1p endonucleolytic cleavage leaves 2', 3'-cyclic phosphates, the excised exons remain associated by base pairing, and exon ligation by tRNA ligase follows the same chemical steps as for pre-tRNA splicing. To date, this mechanism of RNA processing is unprecedented for a messenger RNA. In contrast to the striking similarities to tRNA splicing, the structural features of the splice junctions recognized by Ire1p differ from those recognized by tRNA endonuclease. We show that small stem-loop structures predicted to form at both splice junctions of HAC1 mRNA are required and sufficient for Ire1p cleavage.
The Long-Term Career Outcome Study (LTCOS): what have we learned from 40 years of military medical education and where should we go?

ABSTRACTThe work of the Long-Term Career Outcome Study (LTCOS), F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) has been a multidisciplinary effort spanning more than 5 years. Borrowing from the established program evaluation and quality assurance literature, the LTCOS team has organized its evaluation and research efforts into three phases: before medical school, during medical school, and after medical school. The purpose of this commentary is to summarize the research articles presented in this special issue and to answer two fundamental questions: (1) what has been learned from LTCOS research conducted to date, and (2) where should the LTCOS team take its evaluation and research efforts in the future? Answers to these questions are relevant to USU, and they also can inform other medical education institutions and policy makers. What is more, answers to these questions will help to ensure USU meets its societal obligation to provide the highest quality he...
Facial movement based human user authentication

Face recognition is a form of biometric authentication that has received significant attention during the last decades. Using the human face as a key to security, face recognition technology can be potentially employed in many commercial and law enforcement applications. Despite of the fact that most of the face recognition techniques have greatly developed since the earliest forms, they suffer from spoofing attack which aims at deceiving the sensor by manipulating a face replica. One of the methods to solve this problem is to utilize facial movements. Facial muscle movements represent facial behavior which makes it unrealistic to be replicated and thus more distinctive. The third dimension of facial data – depth – is also utilized to improve recognition performance and to avoid video-based attack. Apart from security concerns, physiologists and psychologists have discovered the imperative role of facial movements during human face perception. Therefore, a “3D dynamic signature” can be added to augment facial recognition for which relying on static features related to shape and color. In this thesis, a user authentication method based on spatiotemporal facial movements is proposed. Facial movements are obtained by making a facial expression in front of a 3D camera and are encoded by a standard system. By discretizing motion classifications into values, the problem of face recognition can be reinterpreted as matching two time sequences – probe and gallery – for each facial movement category obtained during the enrollment phase and the verification phase. Experiments have been conducted to show the possibility of discriminating subjects based on their facial movements.
Quasiparticle renormalization in A B C graphene trilayers

We investigate the effect of electron-electron interactions in $ABC$-stacked graphene trilayers. In the gapless regime, we show that the self-energy corrections lead to the renormalization of the dynamical exponent $z=3+{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}/N$, with ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}\ensuremath{\approx}0.52$ and $N$ is the number of fermionic species. Although the quasiparticle residue is suppressed near the neutrality point, the lifetime has a sublinear scaling with the energy and the quasiparticles are well defined even at zero energy. We calculate the renormalization of a variety of physical observables, which can be directly measured in experiments.
Abstract P103: Kidney Function and Sudden Cardiac Death in the Community: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Introduction: Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those requiring dialysis, are at high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, data for the full-spectrum of kidney function and SCD risk in the community are sparse. Furthermore, newly developed equations for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and novel filtration markers might add further insight to the role of kidney function in SCD. Methods: We investigated the associations of baseline eGFRs using either serum creatinine, cystatin C (CysC), or both (eGFRcr, eGFRcr-cys, and eGFRcys), CysC itself, and β 2 -microglobulin (B2M) with SCD through 2001 among 13,070 blacks and whites participants at the second visit (1990-92) of the community-based ARIC Study. Cox regression models were used to quantify the associations of kidney function and different markers of kidney filtration with SCD after the adjustment for potential confounders. The cohort was divided into 5 groups based on clinical CKD Stages as well as quartiles. Results: Over a median of 11 years of follow-up, 205 participants developed SCD (1.4 cases per 1000 person-years). Low eGFR was independently associated with SCD risk: for example, HR for eGFR 30-44 vs ≥90 ml/min/1.73m 2 was 3.97 (95%CI 1.57-10.03) with eGFRcr; HR 6.96 (3.56-13.61) with eGFRcr-cys; and HR 5.47 (2.97-10.09) with eGFRcys. Of note, when eGFRcr and eGFRcys were included together in a single model, the association was only significant for eGFRcys. When we compared all kidney markers based on their quartiles, B2M demonstrated the strongest association with SCD ( Table ). Qualitatively consistent results were observed across clinical and demographic subgroups. Conclusion: Kidney function was independently and robustly associated with SCD in the community, particularly when CysC or B2M were taken into account as filtration markers. These results may suggest the importance of kidney function for SCD risk evaluation and the value of novel filtration markers beyond eGFRcr in association with SCD.
Farmer Participation in the Social Security Program

Optional coverage of self‐employed farmers under the OASDI program may reduce the proportion of farmers reporting taxable self‐employment income from farming in a given year significantly below the proportion who could report. The original intent of the option—to prevent vagaries in income receipts from affecting continuity of OASDI coverage—may be frustrated for some low income farmers who qualify in a given year to report or not to report. The pressure on them to retain their cash income may bias them toward making the decision not to report in a given year on short‐term grounds. Furthermore, some farmers who could or should report their self‐employment income from farming apparently do not because of misunderstanding or lack of understanding of the law or the regulations.
Finite Element-Based Structural Optimization of Large System Models Under Buckling Constraints

Optimization of large structures of multiple components is essential to many industries for minimizing mass, especially the design of aerospace vehicles. Optimizing a single primary load member independently of all other primary structures is an incomplete process, due to the redistribution of internal loads, as the stiffness distribution changes. That is, optimizing a component changes joint loads, which then calls for a new optimization - changing internal loads changes the optimum. This is particularly evident under buckling (stability) constraints. The goal is to develop a finite element-based optimization approach which can be used to optimize each component of a large, primary structure assembly. The optimization objective function will be to minimize mass for the system, and the constraints will be both stress constraints as well as buckling constraints. The research aims to improve both the solution and practical usability of these models. The system of interest is a spacecraft fuselage, of which the member components are panels throughout the structure. We present analyses of several main optimization methods, and define a new algorithm to solve this problem, eigenOpt.
Use of the microdebrider in pediatric endoscopic airway surgery.

Purpose of review Pediatric patients can present with a variety of airway problems that require surgical intervention. A number of modalities are available to the surgeon to address many different types of lesions and deformities. The microdebrider has become an indispensable tool for some surgeons and has supplanted the use of older instruments and techniques. All surgeons participating in the care of pediatric patients should be aware of the potential uses of the microdebrider. Recent findings Microdebriders have been developed over the past decade specifically for use in surgery in the lower airway and also in pediatric patients. These instruments have their roots in older instruments used in orthopedic arthroscopic procedures and endoscopic sinus surgery. A limited number of publications have identified the usefulness of the microdebrider in adult patients to address lesions of the larynx and lower airway. Even fewer articles have been published in the pediatric literature. The microdebrider has been found, in many clinical scenarios, to be a more efficient, less traumatic, and less costly instrument to use than traditional methods. Some older surgical techniques have been enhanced and found to have better outcomes when a microdebrider is used. Summary Microdebriders have been shown to be an important tool in the armamentarium of many surgeons who care for pediatric patients with airway problems. Modifications in existing instruments and developments of new instruments have made it possible to apply this technology to lesions and deformities anywhere from the nasal cavity to the proximal bronchi.
Abstract 4253: In vivo activity of small molecule HIF2α inhibitors

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a central regulator of the cellular response to hypoxia. Hypoxia promotes HIF activity by increasing its stability, transcriptional activity and translation. HIF target genes involved in several cellular processes including proliferation, angiogenesis, metabolism and promotion of the “stem-cell” phenotype. In normoxic conditions, HIF-α is recognized for degradation by the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (VHL). Loss-of-VHL function leads to constitutive expression of HIF regulatory subunits and consequent over-expression of HIF-target genes. We and others have shown that HIF2a is necessary and sufficient for the development of VHL-related renal cell carcinoma. We have developed small molecules that repress HIF-2α translation, in vitro, by enhancing the binding of Iron-Regulatory Protein 1 (IRP1) to the Iron-Responsive Element (IRE) within the 5′-UTR of HIF-2α mRNA (Zimmer M. et al. Molecular Cell 2008;32: 828-848). We showed that these small molecules down-regulate HIF2a expression in vitro, in all renal cell carcinoma cell lines. To validate these small molecules in vivo, we tested their efficacy on wild-type zebrafish embryos. Treatment of 3 days post fertilization zebrafish embryos with 100microM of the hypoxic mimetic DMOG or hypoxia dramatically upregulated the expression of HIF-target genes, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Vegf), erythropoietin (Epo) and prolyl-hydroxylase 3 (Phd3). Pre-treatment of embryos with the small molecule HIF2a inhibitor 76 potently decreased the DMOG-induced upregulation of HIF target genes. The IC50 values of these small molecules were significantly less in vivo than in vitro. We are currently testing the efficacy of HIF2a inhibitors in rescuing the VHL zebrafish phenotype and prolonging survival of VHL mutant zebrafish embryos. In addition, data on the efficacy of these inhibitors on the growth of human renal cell carcinoma cells as tumors in the nude mouse xenograft assay will be presented. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4253. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4253
The effects of anteromedial and dorsomedial thalamic lesions on passive avoidance and activity

Animals were tested for anteromedial and dorsomedial thalamic nucleus lesion effects on three activity tests and on a passive avoidance task. Insignificant effects were obtained on the activity tests and there was no correlation between activity scores and passive avoidance performance. The anteromedial thalamic lesioned group were retarded on passive avoidance performance while surgical controls and the dorsomedial thalamic nucleus lesioned group rapidly learned the avoidance response.
Understanding of the synthesis and structure of Si nanocrystals in an oxide matrix from first principles based atomistic modeling

Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations were performed to examine mechanisms underlying the formation of Si nanoparticles in Si-rich SiO2. We have determined two important features of the embedded Si nanoparticle growth: “coalescence-like” and “pseudo Ostwald ripening”. The former is mainly responsible for fast Si particle growth at the early stage of annealing where the particles are close to each other, while the latter becomes important when the density of particles is low such that they are separated by large distances. The pseudo ripening process takes place several orders of magnitude slower than the “coalescence-like” growth. The predominance of “coalescence-like” behavior in the growth of Si nanoparticles results in a big variation in the particle size in terms of the Si:O ratio. Overall the predicted growth behavior based on our Monte Carlo simulations agrees well with experiments.
Role of platelet-activating factor and eicosanoids during endotoxin-induced lung injury in pigs.

We hypothesized that platelet-activating factor (PAF) and eicosanoids might be important mediators of endotoxin-induced respiratory failure in pigs. Escherichia coli endotoxin (055-B5) was infused intravenously into anesthetized 10- to 14-wk-old pigs at 5 micrograms/kg the 1st h, followed by 2 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 for 3 h in the presence and absence of SRI 63-675, a specific PAF receptor antagonist. During phase I (i.e., 0-2 h), endotoxin caused pulmonary hypertension and hypoxemia, decreased cardiac index, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, and increased plasma concentrations of thromboxane B2 (TxB2), prostaglandin (PG)F2 alpha, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. These phase I effects were attenuated or blocked by SRI 63-675 (10 mg/kg before endotoxin + 3 mg.kg-1.h-1 during endotoxemia). During phase II endotoxemia (i.e., 2-4 h), the PAF receptor antagonist blocked endotoxin-induced pulmonary edema and hypoxemia and increased relative permeability index of the alveolar-capillary membrane. SRI 63-675 also blocked the endotoxin-induced increases in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid concentrations of leukotriene B4 (LTB4). Ex vivo stimulation of whole blood with calcium ionophore caused large increases in plasma concentrations of TxB2 and LTB4. These increases were not significantly modified in blood derived from pigs treated with SRI 63-675, indicating no inhibition of cyclooxygenase or 5-lipoxygenase and suggesting that the in vivo effects were PAF receptor mediated. We conclude that PAF plays an important role in the release of eicosanoids during endotoxemia and in mediating, either directly or indirectly, endotoxin-induced lung injury in anesthetized pigs.
Performance of Protein-Ligand Force Fields for the Flavodoxin-Flavin Mononucleotide System.

The ability to accurately perform molecular dynamics and free energy perturbation calculations for protein–ligand systems is of broad interest to the biophysical and pharmaceutical sciences. In this work, several popular force fields are evaluated for reproducing experimental properties of the flavodoxin/flavin mononucleotide system. Calculated 3J couplings from molecular dynamics simulations probing φ and χ1 dihedral angles are compared to over 1000 experimental measurements. Free energy perturbation calculations were also executed between different protein mutants for comparison with experimental data for relative free energies of binding. Newer versions of popular protein force fields reproduced 3J backbone and side chain couplings with good accuracy, with RMSD values near or below one hertz in most cases. OPLS-AA/M paired with CM5 charges for the ligand performed particularly well, both for the 3J couplings and FEP results, with a mean unsigned error for relative free energies of binding of 0.36 kcal/mol.
Approaches for pattern discovery using sequential data mining

In this chapter we first introduce sequence data. We then discuss different approaches for mining of patterns from sequence data, studied in literature. Apriori based methods and the pattern growth methods are the earliest and the most influential methods for sequential pattern mining. There is also a vertical format based method which works on a dual representation of the sequence database. Work has also been done for mining patterns with constraints, mining closed patterns, mining patterns from multidimensional databases, mining closed repetitive gapped subsequences, and other forms of sequential pattern mining. Some works also focus on mining incremental patterns and mining from stream data. We present at least one method of each of these types and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. We conclude with a summary of the work.
Breast MRI Screening: Benefits and Limitations

Multiple studies have demonstrated screening mammography’s ability to decrease mortality in average risk women. It is also recognized that women at high risk for breast cancer who choose surveillance benefit from additional imaging strategies for cancer detection in addition to mammography alone. Contrast-enhanced breast MRI has become a standard and accepted tool in the screening evaluation of women with a high risk of breast cancer. However, despite recognition of MRI’s ability to detect breast cancer in the screening setting in a high-risk population, there are still questions surrounding the use of breast MRI in the screening environment. This chapter will provide an overview of breast screening MRI indications and current guidelines and will also review the evidence supporting the use of screening breast MRI.
Lifetime of Membrane-Cytoskeleton Bonds is Mediated by RHO-GTPases in a Cancer Cell

Cells especially cancer cells are capable of rapid cytoskeleton remodeling and often membrane reorganization in response to environmental cues. The propensity to remodel is reflected in part by the lifetime τ of the membrane-cytoskeleton bonds at the edges of cells; τ increases as their number density and on-rate increases. We measure τ by monitoring the time-course of the membrane peeling force Fp at the edge of a cancer cell. Experiments are conducted at the near-equilibrium region (cf. irreversible), where an optical tweezers is used to apply a load with a handle which is bound to a slowly moving cell, and the handle displacement is detected at a resolution of 500 μs after averaging.Under constant load, Fp increases monotonically with time; at force fR and time tR this slope abruptly changes indicating membrane-cytoskeleton bond rupture. Repeating for many cells we find fR is not constant but increases with tR. We propose it represents the rupture of a cluster of bonds with larger clusters demonstrating greater rupture forces and lifetimes. This is in agreement with theory that calculates the lifetime of a cluster of bonds between two bodies (J.Chem.Phys.121:8997). Comparing experimental data with this theory, we find that molecular parameters are within expected ranges reported for biomolecular bonds in vitro withevidence that the bonds can re-bind. Cells treated with Rho-GTPase inhibitors possess membrane-cytoskeleton bonds with lower stiffness that show no rebinding on the timescale of the measurements (zero on-rate). This is predictable since active Rho-GTPases form linkages between the membrane and actin-effector proteins of the cytoskeleton. This measurable change in bond properties provides a quantitative method for evaluating the role of Rho-GTPases in dynamic cytoskeleton remodeling. This is relevant as Rho-GTPases are upregulated in many human cancers including the HN-31 cell line used in this study.
Prevalence of Salmonella in Cashews, Hazelnuts, Macadamia Nuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, and Walnuts in the United States.

ABSTRACT Nuts have been identified as a vector for salmonellosis. The objective of this project was to estimate the prevalence and contamination level of Salmonella in raw tree nuts (cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, and walnuts) at retail markets in the United States. A total of 3,656 samples of six types of tree nuts were collected from different types of retail stores and markets nationwide between October 2014 and October 2015. These samples were analyzed using a modified version of the Salmonella culture method from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual. Of the 3,656 samples collected and tested, 32 were culturally confirmed as containing Salmonella. These isolates represented 25 serotypes. Salmonella was not detected in pecans and in-shell hazelnuts. Salmonella prevalence estimates (and 95% confidence intervals) in cashews, shelled hazelnuts, pine nuts, walnuts, and macadamia nuts were 0.55% [0.15, 1.40], 0.35% [0.04, 1.20], 0.48% [0.10, 1.40]...
Dlaczego „teoria inteligentnego projektu” jest bardziej interesująca niż tradycyjny kreacjonizm

Author argues that even though intelligent design theory for the most part repeats common mistakes of long ago discredited traditional creationism, some of its claims can be significant for the advancement of science. He means claims concerning the nature of intelligence and detection of design. In spite of the fact that in his opinion these claims are incorrect, he points out that when scientists will realize why is that, it will help them to recognize the strongly interdisciplinary character of modern science. In consequence, it could bring the solution for one of the most fundamental scientific issues – the origin of information – more quickly.
A DNA-assisted immunoassay for enzyme activity via a DNA-linked, activity-based probe

Here, we describe an immunoassay approach for the detection of enzyme activity by quantitative PCR (qPCR) or parallel DNA sequencing which relies on activity-based probes linked to barcoding DNAs. We demonstrate this technique in the detection of serine hydrolase activities using a fluorophosphonate-oligonucleotide conjugate.
Out of Time, Out of Place: Primitivism and African Art

This article debates the proposition that artistic production mirrors humanity’s maturation from primitive superstition to scientific rationality. This effort sits at the intersection of demography, political economy and aesthetics. According to traditional demographic theory, primitive peoples are caught in a poverty trap of high birth rates, a condition inimical to industrialization, well-planned urbanization, universal education, women’s emancipation and cultural production. The analysis focuses on three dynamics: the demographic effects of mass migration on creativity: the trajectories of declining populations and their places in cultural hierarchies; and slavery and colonialism’s reduction to penury of skilled artists in pre-industrial societies. The method interrogates self-reinforcing trends of the canons of demography, political economy and aesthetics and the resulting concurrence on the path of progress, which assumes that art is a reflection of liberal historical advancement. The overarching argument of the article is that by setting the criteria and suppressing alternative accounts of the history of African art, these canons narrow and misrepresent our global cultural legacy. Background: sub-Saharan African art is classified as “primitive” according to the canons of art history, demography and political economy. This label is problematic because it conveys faulty demographic assumptions about sub-Saharan Africa and reflects the ways in which theories of human progress reinforce analyses underlying the designation of primitive. The proposition advanced is that these canons narrow, suppress alternative accounts of the history of African art, and misrepresent our global cultural legacy.
TOPK phosphorylation of histone H2AX prevents arsenite-induced apoptosis in RPMI7951 melanoma cells

2707 A novel mitogen activated protein kinase kinase- (MAPKK)-like protein kinase, T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK), is expressed in a wide range of cancer cells. However, the functional details of this kinase are still unknown. We used LC/MS/MS analysis to show that TOPK can bind with histone H2AX. Phosphorylation of histone H2AX is often associated with the response to DNA damage and DNA repair is known to proceed less efficiently in the absence of histone H2AX. Arsenic is a well-documented carcinogen that also appears to be a valuable therapeutic tool in cancer treatment. Several reports have demonstrated that arsenic can induce DNA damage. Low to moderate concentrations of arsenic, which have little or no effect on normal melanocytes, may induce apoptosis of human melanomas. Here, we provided evidence that TOPK binds with and phosphorylates histone H2AX in vitro. TOPK is expressed in RPMI7951 human melanoma cells and arsenite (As3+) induced phosphorylation of TOPK (Thr9) and H2AX (Ser139) in a dose- and time-dependent manner in these cells. An immunofluorescence experiment showed that after treatment with As3+, phosphorylated TOPK co-localized with phosphorylated histone H2AX in the nucleus of RPMI7951 cells. Further, TOPK siRNA cells exhibited a decreased phosphorylation of histone H2AX with As3+ treatment. These data suggested that TOPK can phosphorylate histone H2AX in RPMI7951 cells after treatment with As3+. In addition, apoptosis was decreased in H2AX-deficient cells and increased in TOPK siRNA cells with As3+ treatment. Our results showed that TOPK binds with histone H2AX and inhibits As3+-induced apoptosis through its phosphorylation of histone H2AX. We analyzed As3+-induced apoptosis in 4 melanoma cell lines, which express different levels of TOPK and showed that cell lines expressing high levels of TOPK are more resistant to As3+-induced apoptosis. Therefore, inhibition of TOPK activity may be helpful in the treatment of melanoma with As3+.
Successful Futures? New Economy Business Logics, Child Rights, and Welsh Educational Reform.

The well-documented global economic disinvestment in schooling necessitates critical examination of policy discourses that influence educational systems and student learning. Situated within the cr...
Shape-aware spatio-temporal descriptors for interaction classification

Many real-world tasks for autonomous agents benefit from understanding dynamic inter-object interactions. Detecting, analyzing and differentiating between the various ways that an object can be interacted with provides implicit information about its function. This can help train autonomous agents to handle objects and understand unknown scenes. We describe a general mathematical framework to analyze and classify interactions, defined as dynamic motions performed by an active object onto a passive one. We factorize interactions via motion features computed in the spatio-temporal domain, and encoded into a global, object-centric signature. Equipped with a similarity measure to compare such signatures, we showcase classification of interactions with a single object. We also propose a novel acquisition setup combining RGBD sensing with a virtual reality (VR) display, to capture interactions with purely virtual objects.
Plant Endocytosis Requires the ER Membrane-Anchored Proteins VAP27-1 and VAP27-3

Summary Through yet-undefined mechanisms, the plant endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has a critical role in endocytosis. The plant ER establishes a close association with endosomes and contacts the plasma membrane (PM) at ER-PM contact sites (EPCSs) demarcated by the ER membrane-associated VAMP-associated-proteins (VAP). Here, we investigated two plant VAPs, VAP27-1 and VAP27-3, and found an interaction with clathrin and a requirement for the homeostasis of clathrin dynamics at endocytic membranes and endocytosis. We also demonstrated direct interaction of VAP27-proteins with phosphatidylinositol-phosphate lipids (PIPs) that populate endocytic membranes. These results support that, through interaction with PIPs, VAP27-proteins bridge the ER with endocytic membranes and maintain endocytic traffic, likely through their interaction with clathrin.
Memories of the Events That Led to the Discovery of the ν μ

This chapter looks back at some of the most memorable achievements in high-energy physics during the 50 years spanning CERN's PS and LHC.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease and Its Complications

The medical management of the patient with advanced HIV disease continues to be a challenging area for clinicians. Unfortunately, many primary care providers are still reluctant to assume the care of HIV-infected patients. Some physicians feel overwhelmed by the multitude of infections which may occur and the perceived complexity of their treatment. Others are frustrated by the labor-intensity of caring for AIDS patients and the poor long-term prognosis. Some practitioners are uncomfortable providing care for homosexuals or injecting drug users, while others are fearful of contracting HIV through occupational exposure to patient blood and body fluids.
Limitations to Time Resolution of X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

X-ray absorption spectroscopy is essentially a slow technique, particularly when compared with “rapid” methods such as optical and Raman spectroscopy. Thus, it is not a preferred method for following the time course of intermediate compounds in a chemical reaction sequence. The key information that X-ray absorption spectroscopy adds to the kinetic picture is the structure of intermediate compounds. The concentration can be appropriately maximized by studies usually employing optical methods, and in fact, monitoring of the maximization of concentrations of intermediate compounds during the X-ray absorption spectroscopic study may be essential. The EXAFS methods described below are not appropriate to follow the time course of a chemical change (for which they are extremely inefficient) but to determine the structure of the labile intermediates of which the kinetic studies have afforded a maximum of concentration of a single species. Higher accuracies than those required here are needed if multiple species are simultaneously present in the reaction system.
Infective endocarditis in the intravenous drug user.

Feeling understandable frustration with noncompliant or struggling patients is one thing; allowing it to influence resource allocation is another. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Regulation of microtubule plus end dynamics by septin 9

Septins are GTP-binding proteins that associate with the microtubule (MT) and actin cytoskeleton. Septins affect MT organization and posttranslational modifications, but their role in MT dynamics is less understood. Here, we reconstituted MT dynamics in the presence of the MT-binding septin (SEPT9) using an in vitro cell-free assay, which images the polymerization of tubulin from guanosine-5'-[(α,β)-methyleno]triphosphate (GMPCPP)-stabilized MT seeds. We found that submicromolar concentrations of SEPT9 suppress MT catastrophe and enhance the growth of MT plus ends to great lengths, while low micromolar concentrations of SEPT9 stabilize MTs by inhibiting dynamic instability. We show that SEPT9 associates preferentially with the lattice of GMPCPP-stabilized MT seeds and surprisingly recruits soluble tubulin to the MT lattice. Notably, the effects of SEPT9 on MT dynamics are dependent on its G-G dimerization interface, which is formed by the pockets of the GTP-binding domains. A mutation (H530D) that disrupts G-G dimerization abrogates the effects of SEPT9 on MT dynamics and diminishes its ability to recruit tubulin to the MT lattice. Taken together, these results suggest that SEPT9 promotes the formation and maintenance of long stable MTs through a mechanism that may involve recruitment of unpolymerized tubulin to the MT lattice.
MicroRNA-122 Mimic Improves Stroke Outcomes and Indirectly Inhibits NOS2 After Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats

Aim: Our previous study demonstrated miR-122 mimic decreased NOS2 expression in blood leucocytes and improved stroke outcomes when given immediately after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Since NOS2 is associated with neuro-inflammation in stroke and decreasing NOS2 expression alone in leucocytes is insufficient to improve stroke outcomes, we hypothesized that miR-122 mimic may also decrease NOS2 expression in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs) even at extended time windows. Methods: We administered PEG-liposome wrapped miR-122 mimic (2.4 mg/kg, i.v.) 0 or 6 h after MCAO, and assessed stroke volume and NOS2 expression in BMVECs 24 h following MCAO in rats. Luciferase reporter assays were used to determine if miR-122 binds to 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR) of NOS2. Results: The data showed that miR-122 mimic decreased infarct volumes and decreased MCAO-induced NOS2 over-expression in BMVECs. However, miR-122 did not bind to 3'UTR of NOS2 in the luciferase assays. Conclusion: The data show the 6-h period of therapeutic efficacy of miR-122 mimic which could relate to indirect knockdown of NOS2 in both BMVECs and leucocytes.
Concussion Biomarkers Assessed in Collegiate Student-Athletes (BASICS) I: Normative study

Objective To describe variability in concussion biomarker concentrations collected from serum in a sample of healthy collegiate athletes, as well as report reliability metrics in a subsample of female athletes. Methods In this observational cohort study, β-amyloid peptide 42 (Aβ42), total tau, S100 calcium binding protein B (S100B), ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolyzing enzyme L1 (UCH-L1), glial fibrillary acidic protein, microtubule associated protein 2, and 2′,3′-cyclic-nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) serum concentrations were measured in 415 (61% male, 40% white, aged 19.0 ± 1.2 years) nonconcussed collegiate athletes without recent exposure to head impacts. Standardized normative distributions are reported for each biomarker. We evaluated main effects (analyses of variance) of sex and race, reporting demographic-specific normative metrics when appropriate. In a subset of 31 female participants, test-retest reliability (Pearson r) and reliable change indices (80%, 90%, and 95% confidence intervals) across a 6- to 12-month interval are reported for Aβ42, total tau, S100B, and UCH-L1. Results Males exhibited higher UCH-L1 (p Conclusion Healthy collegiate athletes express concussion-related serum biomarkers in variable concentrations. Accounting for demographic factors such as sex and race is essential. Evidence suggested poor reliability for serum biomarkers; however, understanding how other factors influence biomarker expression, as well as knowledge of reliable change metrics, may improve clinical interpretation and future study designs.
Arizona Coach May Have Recourse for ESPN Recruiting Report

In March of 2018, University of Arizona head coach Sean Miller held a news conference where he adamantly denied an ESPN report that he discussed a $100,000 payment to land Deandre Ayton, a highly sought-after recruit in 2016. Miller denied violating NCAA rules during his tenure with Arizona, stating he has “never paid a recruit or prospect or their family or representative to come to Arizona” and that he “never arranged or directed payment or any improper benefits to any recruit or prospect or their family or representative.” If Miller’s assertions that he did not violate NCAA rules are true, he and Ayton may pursue a legal claim of defamation against the media outlets for their damaged reputations and any financial consequences.
A Noncanonical Role for Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type 1 in Obesity-Induced Diabetes.

Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes because of chronic hepatic inflammation and resultant insulin resistance. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is responsible for resetting hepatic homeostasis after injury following activation by urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA; encoded by the PLAU gene). Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1; encoded by the SERPINE1 gene), a u-PA inhibitor and antifibrinolytic agent, is often elevated in obesity and is linked to cardiovascular events. We hypothesized that, in addition to its role in preventing fibrinolysis, elevated PAI-1 inhibits HGF's activation by u-PA and the resultant anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties. Wild-type and PAI-1 knockout (KO) mice on a high-fat diet both became significantly heavier than lean controls; however, the obese KO mice demonstrated improved glucose metabolism compared with wild-type mice. Obese KO mice also exhibited an increase in conversion of latent single-chain HGF to active two-chain HGF, coinciding with an increase in the phosphorylation of the HGF receptor (HGFR or MET, encoded by the MET gene), as well as dampened inflammation. These results strongly suggest that, in addition to its other functions, PAI-mediated inhibition of HGF activation prohibits the resolution of inflammation in the context of obesity-induced type 2 diabetes.
Degradation of fracture porosity in sandstone by carbonate cement, Piceance Basin, Colorado, USA

Cretaceous Mesaverde Group sandstones contain opening-mode fractures lined or filled by quartz and, locally, calcite cement. Fracture occlusion by quartz is controlled primarily by fracture size, age and thermal history. Fracture occlusion by calcite is highly heterogeneous, with open and calcite-sealed fractures found at adjacent depths. In the Piceance and in other basins, processes that control the distribution of these calcite cements have been uncertain. Using pore and fracture cement petrography, fluid inclusions, and isotopic and elemental analysis, we show that host-rock calcite distribution and remobilization govern porosity degradation and occlusion of fractures >1 mm wide by calcite. Fluid-inclusion analyses indicate calcite cement precipitation at 135–165°C. 87Sr/86Sr ratios of calcite and the presence of porous albite suggest that detrital feldspar albitization released Ca2+, driving carbonate cement precipitation. In host rock, both albite and calcite content decreases with depth along with greater fracture porosity preservation. Although the cement sequence Fe-dolomite → ankerite → calcite is widespread, Fe-dolomite and ankerite occur as host-rock cements only, with detrital dolomite as preferred precipitation substrate. We find that the rock-mass calcite cement content correlates with fracture degradation and occlusion, and can be used to accurately predict where wide fractures are sealed or open. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Naturally Fractured Reservoirs collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/naturally-fractured-reservoirs
The modern country house as a Jewish form: a proposition

Although the vast majority of modern country houses built or refurbished in the long nineteenth century were owned by non-Jews, Jews owned some of the most magnificent. Thus, these dwellings pose t...