cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unexpected consequences: exon skipping caused by CRISPR-generated mutations.

A new study finds that splicing disruption is a frequent consequence of mutations generated by CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology, and alleles designed to be null can express aberrant proteins. This new information allows enhanced quality control procedures to select the best mutant alleles generated by CRISPR/Cas9. Please see related Method article: https://www.doi.org/10.1186/s13059-017-1237-8
Criteria for Kidney Allocation in the United States

Since the first successful kidney transplant from a deceased donor was performed in 1962 the allocation of kidneys has evolved from an unstructured practice to a regulated process with a focus on more equal access to transplantation. This chapter discusses the evolution of kidney allocation and focuses on the most recent changes that became effective in December 2014. Outcomes of the new Kidney Allocation System are being studied to determine if the strategies implemented have created a system that is more efficient and more equitable in the distribution of kidneys.
Modeling Lipoprotein Metabolism Using Labeled Amino Acids and Proteins

Abstract Lipoprotein particles are aggregates of fat and protein whose purpose is to transport fats in the aqueous environment of plasma. Tracer kinetic studies and- the mathematical models developed to interpret the resulting data have provided many insights into the physiology and pathophysiology of lipoprotein metabolism. With the advent of better methodologies to quantitate stable isotopes, there has been a resurgence in metabolic studies. This has resulted in a need to restudy all aspects of tracer methodologies applied to lipoprotein metabolic studies. These will be discussed in the context of designing tracer kinetic metabolic studies with particular focus on (i) using radioactive and stable isotopic tracers, (ii) using endogenous and exogenous labeling techniques, and (iii) selecting modeling methodologies.
Habitat Differences in Morphology and Reproductive Allocation in Guettarda scabra (Rubiaceae)

ABSTRACT To understand reproductive allocation in a common woody plant of Everglades rockland habitats, we compared vegetative and reproductive traits of Guettarda scabra (L.) Vent. (Rubiaceae), in three habitats of Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park, Florida (pineland, hammock, and hammock edge). Plants in the pineland were shorter, with smaller leaves, and allocated more resources to sexual reproduction; plants in the hammock were taller, had larger leaves, and allocated more resources to vegetative growth. Hammock-edge plants were intermediate in height, had leaves intermediate in size, but had more leaves overall than plants in pineland or hammock. Pineland and hammock-edge plants produced many more fruits than hammock plants, with pineland plants having the largest fruit-to-leaf ratio. We interpret these differences as both a response to increased competition for light in the hammock, as well as to effects of fire in the pineland, with this species displaying greatest flowering, fruiting, and r...
Financial Market Reaction to the Fast Food Hamburger Health Scare of 1993

In 1993 a bacteria epidemic killed several children in the Pacific Northwest. The bacteria was a virulent strain of E. coli and was traced to undercooked hamburgers at Jack-in-the-Box restaurants. The outbreak was the largest and most serious for E. coli with a total of 400 confirmed or probable instances. Ultimately the tainted hamburgers forced 125 people to be admitted to a hospital and led to kidney failure in 29 people.
Trends and morbidity for minimally invasive versus open cytoreductive nephrectomy in the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

632Background: Cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) prior to systemic therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is recommended in patients with a surgically resectable primary tumor. Traditionally performed as open surgery, the advent of laparoscopic and robotic surgery provides a minimally invasive alternative to CN with a potential for accelerated recovery and earlier initiation of systemic therapy. We sought to compare the trends and morbidity of laparoscopic, robotic, and open CN for patients with metastatic RCC. Methods: Using the Premier Hospital Database (Premier, Inc., Charlotte, NC), we identified 24,145 patients who underwent elective radical nephrectomy for metastatic RCC in the United States between 2003 and 2015. Comparative analysis between laparoscopic, robotic, and open CN was performed with propensity weighting on rates of 90-day complications, blood transfusion, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, prolonged length of stay (LOS), discharge destination, 90-day readmission, operative tim...
Optimal Highway Infrastructure Maintenance Scheduling Considering Deterministic and Stochastic Aspects of Deterioration

Most of the highway infrastructure elements, such as pavements, bridges, and tunnels deteriorate rapidly. Their upkeep and timely maintenance is critical for driver safety and traffic mobility. Deterioration of highway infrastructure is caused due to routine wear and tear (deterministic), and unanticipated (stochastic) events, such as accidents and adverse weather. The deterministic part is generally modeled using the Markovian assumption which requires inspections to be performed at fixed time intervals. The stochastic aspect of infrastructure deterioration while often encountered in real-world situation, has not been modeled in previous works, primarily due to the computational and modeling complexities. In this paper, we develop formulations and solution algorithms for both deterministic and stochastic aspects of infrastructure deterioration. We discuss the current state of practice adopted for infrastructure maintenance at the City of Baltimore Department of Transportation (BDOT), and examine our approach though an illustrative example for a bridge network example taken from the BDOT.
Supply Chain Models

After you have studied this chapter, you should be able to Know the characteristics of the major types of objectives for strategic models Know the tactical supply chain planning model Know how characteristics and differences between arc-based and path-based supply chain models Know the warehouse location model (WLP), the Geoffrion & Graves (G&G), and the multi-echelon strategic planning models Know the site relative cost factor and how to apply it
Efficacy of granulocyte transfusions in the control of systemic candidiasis in the leukopenic host.

An experimental canine model was designed to evaluate the effect of granulocyte transfusions on systemic infection with Candida albicans in the granulocytopenic host. Each of a pair of dogs was rendered granulocytopenic with a single intravenous (i.v.) dose of cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg body weight) and challenged with 10(6) Candida albicans organisms administered i.v. when granulocyte counts were less than or equal to 500/mm3. Granulocytes procured by leukofiltration were infused into six experimental dogs 1, 24, 48, and 72 hr after challenge with Candida. An average of 13 +/- 1.3 X 10(9) granulocytes were administered per infusion, producing an average 1-hr increment of 588 +/- 146 granulocytes/mm3 over the pretransfusion granulocyte count. Experimental and control dogs were killed 96 hr after challenge and organs examined grossly and by quantitative culture techniques to measure the extent of infection. All animals receiving granulocyte transfusions had significantly less tissue infection than nontransfused controls (p less than 0.05). It was concluded that granulocyte transfusions are effective in reducing the severity of infection by Candida albicans during periods of leukopenia.
HIV Clinical Updates: New Single-Tablet Regimens.

Objective: To review the pharmacokinetics, safety, common drug-drug interactions (DDIs), and advantages and disadvantages of new single-tablet regimens (STRs) approved since September 2016 for HIV-...
pH-dependent production of molecular chlorine, bromine, and iodine from frozen saline surfaces

Abstract. The mechanisms of molecular halogen production from frozen saline surfaces remain incompletely understood, limiting our ability to predict atmospheric oxidation and composition in polar regions. In this laboratory study, condensed-phase hydroxyl radicals (OH) were photochemically generated in frozen saltwater solutions that mimicked the ionic composition of ocean water. These hydroxyl radicals were found to oxidize Cl− , Br− , and I− , leading to the release of Cl2 , Br2 , I2 , and IBr. At moderately acidic pH (buffered between 4.5 and 4.8), irradiation of ice containing OH precursors (either of hydrogen peroxide or nitrite ion) produced elevated amounts of I2 . Subsequent addition of O3 produced additional I2 , as well as small amounts of Br2 . At lower pH (1.7–2.2) and in the presence of an OH precursor, rapid dark conversion of I− to I2 occurred from reactions with hydrogen peroxide or nitrite, followed by substantial photochemical production of Br2 upon irradiation. Exposure to O3 under these low pH conditions also increased production of Br2 and I2 ; this likely results from direct O3 reactions with halides, as well as the production of gas-phase HOBr and HOI that subsequently diffuse to frozen solution to react with Br− and I− . Photochemical production of Cl2 was only observed when the irradiated sample was composed of high-purity NaCl and hydrogen peroxide (acting as the OH precursor) at pH = 1.8. Though condensed-phase OH was shown to produce Cl2 in this study, kinetics calculations suggest that heterogeneous recycling chemistry may be equally or more important for Cl2 production in the Arctic atmosphere. The condensed-phase OH-mediated halogen production mechanisms demonstrated here are consistent with those proposed from recent Arctic field observations of molecular halogen production from snowpacks. These reactions, even if slow, may be important for providing seed halogens to the Arctic atmosphere. Our results suggest the observed molecular halogen products are dependent on the relative concentrations of halides at the ice surface, as we only observe what diffuses to the air–surface interface.
THE NEW PEPLUM: ESSAYS ON SWORD AND SANDAL FILMS AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS SINCE THE 1990S Edited by Nicholas Diak. McFarland, 2017. 242 pp. $39.95 paper.

The New Peplum: Essays on Sword and Sandal Films and Television Programs Since the 1990s, edited by Nicholas Diak, turns a scholarly eye toward the titular genre, which has seen a major revitalizat...
In vivo characterization of cervical remodeling throughout gestation using photoacoustic near-infrared spectra (Conference Presentation)

Premature cervical remodeling is an indicator of impending spontaneous preterm birth, however, current clinical measurements of cervical remodeling are mainly obtained by digital examinations, which are subjective and detect only late events, such as cervical effacement and dilation. The incompletely understood mechanisms of cervical remodeling lead to degradation of extracellular matrix proteins and inflammation, and these physiological changes are associated with increased tissue hydration. Near-infrared spectroscopy is routinely used in industrial applications to quantify the water content in various products, because this method does not require sample preparation and is nondestructive. Spectroscopic photoacoustic tomography is an embodiment of near-infrared spectroscopy and has been demonstrated in the quantification of various biochemical constituents. However, the dimensions of those tabletop systems in the previous demonstrations preclude in vivo use in the gastrointestinal tract and urogenital tract. Photoacoustic endoscopy (PAE) incorporates an acoustic detector, optical components, and electronic components in a millimeter-diameter-scale probe to image tissue that is inaccessible by the tabletop systems. Here, we present a near-infrared spectroscopic PAE system. We analyze the measured photoacoustic near-infrared (PANIR) spectra by linear regression. We demonstrate that this method successfully quantifies the water contents of tissue-mimicking phantoms made of gelatin hydrogel. Applying this method to the cervices of pregnant women, we observe their physiological water contents and a progressive increase throughout gestation. The application of this technique in maternal health care may advance our understanding of cervical remodeling and provide a sensitive method for predicting preterm birth.
Battlefield Acupuncture Training in Residency: A Course That Gets to the Point

Objective: Health care providers and patients in the United States have limited experience with acupuncture. A 2007 U.S. Health survey showed that 6.5% of people reported ever using acupuncture and that most them sought relief from pain. Yet, acupuncture was also used as a preventive modality to promote overall health. This study was conducted to determine if a single training session of Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) was effective and how the session influenced residents' opinions on incorporating BFA training into residency programs. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at a single, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency program with 18 PGY2-PGY4 level residents. They were given 3-hour didactic lecture by a certified BFA instructor and then a hands-on demonstration. During the demonstration, each participant verified that he or she knew how to place 5 BFA needles. The participants were also surveyed about incorporating BFA training into residency programs. Results: After the training, 12 of the 18 participants responded to the survey. A majority of those who responded disagreed that their choice for a specific residency program would be affected by whether the program offered BFA certification. More participants than not recommended incorporating BFA into other residency program curricula. Most participants stated that that a one-time didactic and training session was adequate for learning BFA. Conclusions: Resident-physicians training in BFA techniques is effective. Residents had favorable attitudes toward this treatment and a minority intended to use the technique in their practice. BFA training can be incorporated easily in residency curricula.
Cochlear Implant Quality of Life (CIQOL): Development of a Profile Instrument (CIQOL-35 Profile) and a Global Measure (CIQOL-10 Global).

Purpose Valid, reliable, and efficient patient-reported outcome measures are needed to quantify quality of life (QOL) outcomes after cochlear implantation to supplement information obtained from pe...
High-Frequency Resonant Inverter for Power Transfer Between Distributed Modules of a Biomedical Implant

This paper presents a resonant inverter architecture appropriate for wired power transfer between distributed modules of a biomedical implant. The proposed inverter comprises a full-bridge inverter and two T-LCC resonant networks that help generate the required ac output voltage. It is demonstrated that this T-LCC resonant inverter topology can maintain near-constant output voltage across a wide load range without closed-loop control. The proposed inverter can also achieve high efficiency by minimizing circulating currents and maintaining soft-switching across a wide load range. A 130-mW, 1-MHz prototype T-LCC resonant inverter achieves a full-power efficiency of 86% and maintains efficiency above 80% across a two-to-one power range.
Investigation of Current Mirror Based Overcurrent Protection for 1200V 800A High Power SiC MOSFET Modules

With the increasing popularity of SiC MOSFET modules, new challenges on overcurrent protection arise due to higher current density than Si based counterparts and modules’ working in Ohmic region, resulting in faster temperature rise. In this paper, FET current mirror based overcurrent detection is evaluated on 1200V 800A Mitsubishi SiC MOSFET Module, with standard IGBT gate drive IC De-Saturation (DeSat) function. A gate driver board is designed utilizing gate current limiting soft turn-off (STO) to turn off gate during overcurrent. Design is experimentally tested under different turn-off currents and operation temperatures. Performance is evaluated and compared with two-stage shutdown (TSS) protection. Experimental results demonstrate the protection effectiveness of both designs and factors that affect the performance.
When your students are hungry and homeless: the crucial role of faculty

My experience with hunger and homelessness did not feel like homelessness at first. I was not in denial about it, I just didn’t realize it had or needed a label. When my dad died, I didn’t have a p...
Ebstein Anomaly in the Adult Patient

Ebstein anomaly is a congenital malformation involving primarily the tricuspid valve, with failure of delamination from the underlying myocardium and right ventricular myopathy. Echocardiography is diagnostic in most patients and demonstrates apical displacement of the septal leaflet and variable tethering of leaflet tissue to the right ventricular myocardium. Operative intervention is considered for exertional symptoms, progressive right ventricular enlargement, or right ventricular dysfunction. Tricuspid valve cone repair is the preferred surgical approach. Tricuspid valve replacement and bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt also are considered in patients with advanced disease. Pregnancy generally is well tolerated. Patients with Ebstein anomaly require lifelong follow-up.
Combined Transradial and Transfemoral Approach With Ostial Vertebral Balloon Protection for the Treatment of Patients With Subclavian Steal Syndrome

Background: Patients with an obstructive subclavian artery (SA) may exhibit symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency known as subclavian steal syndrome (SSS). Endovascular treatment with stent assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (SAPTA) demonstrates significantly lower percentage of intraoperative and postoperative complications in comparison with open surgery. There is a 1-5% risk of distal intracranial embolization through the ipsilateral vertebral artery (VA) during SAPTA. Objective: To assess the safety and feasibility of a novel technique for distal embolic protection using balloon catheters during SA revascularization with a dual transfemoral and transradial access. Methods: We describe a case series of patients with SSS who underwent SAPTA due to severe stenosis or occlusion of the SA using a combined anterograde/retrograde approach. Transfemoral access to SA was obtained using large bore guide sheaths. Ipsilateral transradial access was obtained using intermediate bore catheters. A Scepter XC balloon catheter was introduced through the transradial intermediate catheter into the ipsilateral VA at the ostium during SAPTA for distal embolic protection. Results: A total of eight patients with SSS underwent subclavian SAPTA. Four patients had the combined anterograde/retrograde approach. Successful revascularization was achieved in three of them. It was difficult to create a channel in the fourth unsuccessful case due to heavily calcified plaque burden. No peri-operative ischemic events were identified. On follow-up, we demonstrated patency of the stents with resolution of symptoms and without any adverse events. Conclusion: Subclavian stenting using a combined transradial and transfemoral access with compliant balloon catheters at the vertebral ostium for prevention of distal emboli may represent an alternative therapeutic approach for the treatment of SA stenosis and occlusions.
An Incidental Finding of Gastric Mucosa-Associated Lymphoma (MALToma) in a Sleeve Gastrectomy with Literature Review

Mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma can typically be identified as a mass lesion or nodularity endoscopically and macroscopically. We report an incidental finding of a Helicobacter pylori gastric mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in a sleeve gastrectomy specimen with no gross examination findings.
Remote viewing: a brief historical inquiry into theatre and social distance

This article takes up the complicated relationship between audience presence and absence by exploring a series of historical theatre examples alongside contemporary performances. These juxtapositio...
The Emergence of State Securities Laws: Partly Sunny Skies for Investors

Recent judicial and regulatory developments suggest that investors in many states may enjoy greater protection under their applicable state securities and common laws than under the federal securities laws. This Article addresses the Securities and Exchange Commission’s and the states’ policies toward limited offerings in the securities law setting. The Article focuses on the theme that, in certain contexts, the recognition of a federal securities law claim depends on whether a state law remedy would have been available to redress the alleged deceptive misconduct if the affected shareholders had not been lulled into inaction. The last section examines whether investors seeking relief are better protected under federal or state law.
Learning to Combat Noisy Labels via Classification Margins.

A deep neural network trained on noisy labels is known to quickly lose its power to discriminate clean instances from noisy ones. After the early learning phase has ended, the network memorizes the noisy instances, which leads to a significant degradation in its generalization performance. To resolve this issue, we propose MARVEL (MARgins Via Early Learning), a new robust learning method where the memorization of the noisy instances is curbed. We propose a new test statistic that tracks the goodness of "fit" of every instance based on the epoch-history of its classification margins. If its classification margin is small in a sequence of consecutive learning epochs, that instance is declared noisy and the network abandons learning on it. Consequently, the network first flags a possibly noisy instance, and then waits to see if learning on that instance can be improved and if not, the network learns with confidence that this instance can be safely abandoned. We also propose MARVEL+, where arduous instances can be upweighted, enabling the network to focus and improve its learning on them and consequently its generalization. Experimental results on benchmark datasets with synthetic label noise and real-world datasets show that MARVEL outperforms other baselines consistently across different noise levels, with a significantly larger margin under asymmetric noise.
Advanced manufacturing for electrosynthesis of fuels and chemicals from CO2

Advanced manufacturing (AM) represents an appealing approach for creating novel electrochemical systems for chemicals synthesis. In this work, we demonstrate AM for rapid development and testing for improved performance for the carbon dioxide reduction reaction across an evolution of vapor-fed reactor designs. In our final design, we observe activation- and mixed-control regimes for a variety of operating conditions via inlet CO2 flow rate and electrochemical potential. Furthermore, we define a dimensionless number (Da) to identify mass transport regimes by exploring the impact of hypothesized underlying mass transport mechanisms, including consumption of CO2via OH−, increased local temperatures, and partial penetration of electrolyte into gas diffusion layer. The accelerated pace of reactor design and development led to high geometric current densities (500 mA cm−2), heightened selectivity (85.5% FE C2+ products), and increased carbon dioxide conversion (16.6%) and cathodic energy efficiency (49.6% CO2R). Using AM vapor-fed reactors, we attain high ethylene (3.67%) and record ethanol (3.66%) yields compared to the literature. This work underscores the promise of AM for accelerating reactor design, understanding of governing phenomena, and improving the performance of catalytic systems.
David Oliver: When visitors return to the wards.

During the peaks of the covid-19 pandemic serious restrictions were imposed on ward visits from patients’ carers, family, and friends, for infection control purposes. Limited exceptions were made for seriously ill or dying, deteriorating patients. But far fewer beds are now designated for covid patients, and wards specified as “red” or “hot” areas have reverted to accommodating patients without the virus. Soon, ward visiting rules around the country will relax. But a year without ward visitors has given me pause to reflect on how different things were for staff, patients, and their families. I now wonder whether we should return to completely unrestricted visiting—so common before the pandemic, championed by advocacy groups such as John’s Campaign,1 and enthusiastically endorsed by me and other clinicians. One of the biggest stressors for staff on covid wards was the number of upsetting phone calls they had to make to patients’ relatives, who had not been able to come …
Patriarchy, Religion, and Society

Societies across the globe have long-established binary gender identities based on biological sex, assigning gender roles based on external sexual attributes. These gender identities correspond to religious, moral, and political norms in these societies, which usually establish preferential leadership roles to biological males. Such roles are then limited to men that exhibit strong masculine traits and characteristics, principle among them the fathering of children and successfully raising them within and according to the norms of the society. The result is a generalized “rule of fathers” wherein religious, moral, and political power is exercised exclusively by those men to whom the attributes of successful fatherhood are attributed or assumed. Despite the predominance of this practice, patriarchy has not been without contestation by rival forms of leadership emanating from different qualifications (for example in matriarchy), from women who demonstrate the requisite masculine traits and strive for power on those bases, or from biological men who are not fathers or do not exhibit the typical traits of paternal leadership. The historical ways in which religious, moral, and political values have thus influenced the predominance of patriarchy and its several challenges illuminate and inform a consideration of the continuing power of, and the ongoing legacy of, patriarchy in the contemporary world.
Pre-Hospital Antiplatelet Medication Use on COVID-19 Disease Severity

Abstract Objective To evaluate the association between pre-hospitalization antiplatelet medication use and COVID-19 disease severity. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Inpatient units at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Patients Adults age ≥18 admitted between March 1, 2020 and April 9, 2020 with confirmed COVID-19 infection with at least 28 days follow-up. Measurements We captured baseline demographic, pre-hospitalization antiplatelet medication use, and clinical encounter data for all patients who met inclusion criteria. The primary endpoint was peak score on a 6-point modified ordinal scale (MOS), which is based on World Health Organization blueprint R&S groups, used to grade severity of illness through clinical outcomes of interest. Scores indicate the following: 1 – COVID-19 infection not requiring hospitalization, 2 – requiring hospitalization but not supplemental oxygen, 3 – hospitalization requiring supplemental oxygen, 4 – hospitalization requiring high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), 5 – hospitalization requiring intubation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), 6 – death. Multivariable adjusted partial proportional odds model (PPOM) was performed to examine the association between pre-hospitalization antiplatelet medication use and likelihood of each MOS score. Main Results Of 762 people admitted with COVID-19, 239 (31.4%) used antiplatelet medications pre-hospitalization while 523 (68.6%) did not. Antiplatelet users were older and had more co-morbidities at baseline. Before adjusting for covariates, patients who used antiplatelet medications pre-hospitalization were more likely than non-users to have peak MOS score 6 (death, OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.21–2.52), peak MOS score ≥5 (intubation/ECMO or death, OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.00–1.98) and peak MOS score ≥4 (HFNC, NIPPV, intubation/ECMO or death, OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.01–1.94). On multivariable adjusted PPOM analysis controlling for 13 covariates, there were no longer any significant differences in peak MOS scores between users and non-users. Conclusions After adjusting for covariates, pre-hospital antiplatelet use was not associated with COVID-19 severity in hospitalized patients.
Nonlocal Timoshenko modeling effectiveness for carbon nanotube-based mass sensors

Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been considered for a wide range of nanotechnology applications due to their unique mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. One of the most notable nanotechnology applications is the frequency shift-based carbon nanotube mass sensor, which has motivated the development of reliable reduced-order models. As such, this research effort focuses on a carbon nanotube-based mass sensor that utilizes Timoshenko beam theory to extend the usability of these models to short and stout structures. Additionally, Eringen's nonlocal elasticity is considered to account for certain nanoscale phenomena. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time a CNT-based mass sensor modeled with the nonlocal Timoshenko beam theory with a complex-shaped deposited particle has been studied. Considering Timoshenko beam theory and Eringen's nonlocal theory, the Hamilton's principle is utilized to derive the governing equations of motion, boundary conditions, and continuity conditions accounting for a single deposited nanoparticle . Then, it is shown that the obtained frequency shift of the sensor is dependent on the rotary inertia , shear effects, nonlocal parameter, and particle mass, geometry, and location. The variation of each of these parameters leads to a holistic characterization of the proposed system. The discrepancies and limits of applicability between Timoshenko and Euler-Bernoulli models are deeply explored and discussed, particularly for short and stout structures. It is shown that the Euler-Bernoulli model leads to an overprediction of the frequency shifts compared to Timoshenko beam theory, especially for higher modes. The nonlocal Timoshenko-based model is valuable because short and stout structures were found to be preferred for mass sensing applications, since they lead to a higher sensitivity. Other researchers can utilize these findings for the design, modeling, and analysis of nanoscale sensors and resonators.
Inhibition of multiple MKK signaling pathway suppressed renal cell carcinoma growth and angiogenesis in vivo

5413 Advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is refractory to current therapies. The MKKK/MKK/MAPK signaling pathway plays an essential role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Recent studies also show activation of MAPK signaling pathway in the tumorigenesis, metastasis and angiogenesis of multiple human malignancies including renal cell carcinoma. We evaluated whether targeting this pathway could be of therapeutic value against human renal cell carcinoma. The activation of MAPK signaling pathway and its role in renal cell carcinoma was accessed in vitro in two RCC cell lines by western blot, cell proliferation assay, cell counting, soft agar assay, and TUNEL staining, using anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx) which cleaves and inactivates multiple MKKs, as well as a specific MKK1/2 inhibitor, U0126, to block MKK signaling. In vivo xenograft studies were carried by intravenous or intraperitoneal injection of LeTx into nude mice bearing RCC tumors. Tumor growth was measured and tumors were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis. Western blot showed phosphorylation levels of ERK, JNK and p38 decreased after LeTx treatment. Exposure to LeTx or U0126 for 72h reduced cell growth by up to 40% without induction of apoptosis. Anchorage-independent growth of RCC cells was totally inhibited by LeTx. Importantly, in vivo tumor growth of RCC xenografts could be totally suppressed by LeTx, as well as tumor neovascularization was inhibited by LeTx. Because of the existence of autocrine and paracrine growth factors in tumors, we also tested the effect of LeTx on VEGF release using ELISA method. LeTx could reduce the serum level of mouse VEGF, but had no effect on human VEGF release by RCC cells. Our results suggest that multiple MKK signaling inhibitors may be a potentially useful treatment for patients with renal cell carcinoma.
Ultraviolet Difference Spectra in Human Hemoglobin: I. DIFFERENCE SPECTRA IN HEMOGLOBIN A AND THEIR RELATION TO THE FUNCTION OF HEMOGLOBIN

Human hemoglobin A exhibits pH-dependent and deoxygenation-dependent ultraviolet difference spectra which can be ascribed to perturbations of aromatic chromophores in the protein. The spectra support the presence of changes in protein structure with ligand binding. The pH-dependent spectra of carbon monoxide hemoglobin with peaks at 288.5 mµ and representing titrations with pK' = 7.36 at 3° and 7.03 at 23° (ΔH' = 6 kcal per mole) probably are due to perturbation of a tyrosyl by a histidyl residue. Oxyhemoglobin, ferrihemoglobin, and ferrihemoglobin cyanide show very similar spectra, but for deoxyhemoglobin the spectrum is only one-fourth as large and pK' increases by about 0.7 pH unit. Among carbon monoxide hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, ferrihemoglobin, and ferrihemoglobin cyanide, form-dependent spectra show only broad bands attributable to the heme groups, but when compared to deoxyhemoglobin narrow banded difference spectra with peaks near 291 mµ appear and are probably due to tryptophanyl perturbation. The difference spectra persist in the presence of deaggregation induced by KCl. This, with the absence (or diminution) of the spectra in isolated subunits of hemoglobin, as shown in the following paper, and the known structure of hemoglobin can be used to make tentative identification of the interchain region (the α1β2 contact) and the specific residues involved in the perturbations (tyrosine C7α(42) perturbed by histidine FG4β(97) for pH-dependent and tryptophan C3(β(37) for form-dependent spectra). The deoxygenation-dependent change in pK' reflects a portion of the Bohr effect. The deoxygenation-dependent change in magnitude of the pH-dependent spectra and the existence of the form-dependent spectra probably reflect the known conformational isomerization with deoxygenation. Tryptophan C3β(37) may be critical for interchain interactions and thus for production of functional properties through interaction with α and β chain vinyl groups in the α1β2 contact.
Cloud Computing Fundamentals

In the introductory chapter we define the concept of cloud computing and cloud services, and we introduce layers and types of cloud computing. We discuss the differences between cloud computing and cloud services. New technologies that enabled cloud computing are presented next. We also discuss cloud computing features, standards, and security issues. We introduce the key cloud computing platforms, their vendors, and their offerings. We discuss cloud computing challenges and the future of cloud computing.
Lexical cohesion, discourse segmentation and document summarization

Summaries automatically derived by sentence extraction are known to exhibit some coherence degradation, readability deterioration, and topical under-representation. We propose a strategy for improving upon these problems, aiming to generate more cohesive summaries by analyzing the lexical cohesion factors in the source document texts. As an initial experiment, we have looked at one particular factor, lexical repetition, which is instrumental to the topical make-up of a text. We have developed a framework for integrating a lexical repetition-based model of discourse segmentation capable of detecting shifts in topic, with a linguistically-aware summarizer which utilizes notions of salience and dynamically-adjustable size of the resulting summaries. We show that even by utilizing lexical repetition alone, summaries are of comparable, and under certain conditions better, quality than those delivered by a state-of-the-art sentence-based summarizer. This is encouraging for a broad platform of research which seeks to position a framework for the recognition and use of a number of cohesive devices in text as instrumental in the development of a wide range of content characterisation and document management tasks.
Murder-suicide: bridging the gap between mass murder, amok, and suicide

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on mass murder and amok, and the relationship of these phenomena to murder-suicide as well as to determine future research directions. Design/methodology/approach – Research literature on mass murder, amok, and murder-suicide was reviewed in the context of recent developments in the understanding of suicide, aggressive behavior, and psychiatric diagnostics. Findings – Amok, typically viewed as a culture-bound disorder, occurs throughout the world and is best characterized as mass murder, similar to school shootings. Additionally, the phenomenon of mass murder may be best understood as a form of murder-suicide, related to the phenomenon of suicide-by-cop. Originality/value – This paper provides a review of the literature on murder-suicide, mass murder, and amok spanning over 110 years in the context of modern psychological research, new insights into the possible motivations of those who “run amok” and commit mass murder and provides future research directions for this important phenomenon.
RACIAL SOVEREIGNTY AND ‘SHOOTER’ VIOLENCE

The massacre at Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Gurdwara requires us to examine how and why so many white men are allowed to amass weapons that enable them to kill groups of people in incidents that are euphemistically called ‘mass shootings’. Neither ‘hate crime’ statutes nor surveillance over neo-Nazis can address why such violence is allowed to continue. This paper argues that ‘racial sovereignty’ is given to white, Christian males as the state disperses sovereignty on to the ‘private’ spheres of white men and corporate power. Such dispersal means that ‘ordinary’ white men are allowed to be perpetrators of violence while the state focuses its attention on surveillance and incarceration of non-whites and those who ‘look Muslim’.
Silicon Mach-Zehnder Interferometer modulator with PAM-4 data modulation at 64 Gb/s

This paper outlines the co-design and simulation of the photonics and electronics circuits for an optical modulator implementing a 4-level phase amplitude modulation scheme at 64 Gb/s. The photonics circuit is designed for an SOI process with a 300 nm top Si layer and is based on a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer architecture modulator using carrier depletion. The CMOS driver circuit employs two on-chip PRBS sources and tunable delay pre-driver segments. This driver is flip-chip bonded to the photonics die to complete the packaging. Details of the model are outlined below and a simulated optical eye diagram is presented.
Peer Network Counseling with Urban Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Moderate Substance Users

Close peer networks can affect adolescents' health behaviors by altering their social environments, and thus their risk for and protection against substance use involvement. We tested a 20 minute intervention named Peer Network Counseling that integrates motivational interviewing and peer network strategies with 119 urban adolescents who reported occasional or problem substance use. Adolescents presenting at primary care clinic were randomized to intervention or control conditions and followed for 6 months. Mixed-effect latent growth models were used to evaluate intervention effects on trajectories of alcohol and marijuana use, offers to use substances, and moderation models to test for interactions between intervention condition and peer network characteristics. A significant intervention effect was found for boys for offers to use alcohol from friends (p<.05), along with a trend significant effect for alcohol use (p<.08). Intervention was more effective in reducing marijuana use, vs. control, for participants with more peer social support (p<.001) and with more peer encouragement for prosocial behavior (school, clubs, sports, religious activities); however, intervention did not affect these network characteristics. Results provide support to continue this line of research to test brief interventions that activate protective peer network characteristics among at-risk adolescents, while also raising some interesting gender-based intervention questions for future research.
Sub-Frame Time Resolution in Fluorescence Imaging Reveals Delay Between SNAP25 Conformational change and Secretory Events in Chromaffin Cells

The SNARE-complex is thought to mediate opening of the exocytotic fusion-pore. To determine if a direct relation exists between a conformational-change in the SNARE-complex and the fusion-event, we combine Total-Internal-Reflection-(TIR)-Fluorescence-Resonce-Energy-Transfer-(FRET) imaging with rapid spatially resolved electrochemical detection of fusion-events using ElectroChemical-Detector (ECD) arrays (Hafez-et-al-PNAS-2005-102:13879). The SNARE-Complex-Reporter (SCORE) was used, which is based on the SNARE-protein SNAP25 with FRET-donor CFP and acceptor Venus inserted at the N-termini of its SNARE-motifs SN1&SN2, respectively (An-and-Almers-2004-Science-306:1042). The ECD-array consists of four-platinum-electrode patterned on a glass-coverslip with a space of ∼5μm between them where a bovine-chromaffin-cell expressing SCORE was placed such that the FRET changes of SCORE could be imaged by TIR-FRET microscopy, while the ECD-array simultaneously records the exocytotic events as amperometric-spikes. Based on the oxidation currents recorded by the four electrodes, the locations of the exocytotic-events were determined. Averaging the FRET changes at the locations of individual fusion events revealed a transient-change of FRET by ∼6% associated with the amperometric spike. Imaging was performed with much lower-time-resolution (∼200ms/frame) than the amperometric detection (1ms/point). The fluorescence is thus averaged over each frame, which is equivalent to a 200ms boxcar low-pass-filter, which converts a step change to a linear increase over 200ms reaching 50% of its amplitude at the time of the step. The 50% time point could be determined from the averaged data with a precision <30ms and indicated that the FRET change precedes the upstroke of amperometric spikes on average by ∼100ms. These results indicate that the SNAP25 conformational change is associated with fusion pore formation and is not a result of fusion pore expansion. The method is applicable to obtain sub-frame time resolution in imaging if performed simultaneously with high-time-resolution electrochemical or electrophysiological recordings.
Aspectual Categories in Navajo

Aspect is the semantic domain of temporal point of view in language. The linguistic expressions that a speaker chooses present situations in a particular temporal light. For example, in talking about a bird flying, I may say in English The bird flew The bird was flying, The bird was in flight. The first two sentences present a dynamic event from different viewpoints; the third presents a static situation. These are aspectual distinctions. The domain of aspect includes such categories as perfective and imperfective viewpoint, and situation types such as event and state.
Frequency spectra of DNA sequences: application to a human bladder cancer gene

Abstract Two useful ways of describing base content and periodicity for nucleic acid sequences are the spectrogram and 3D power spectrum, representations similar to those frequently used in the field of digital signal processing. A description of a vector graphics facility for coordinated computation and display of such functions is presented. The interactive nature of its user interface and the variety of input parameters available to the user greatly facilitate the characterization of a particular nucleic acid sequence. In this paper, calculations are performed for a human bladder oncogene.
Patterning of Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembled Multiple Types of Nanoparticle Thin Films by Lithographic Technique

A lithographic approach to generate clean patterns of multiple types of nanoparticles on one 4-inch silicon wafer is demonstrated in this paper. Each type of nanoparticle is precisely directed to the desired location. The process is mainly based on conventional microelectronic techniques with extremely high reproducibility. This enables the possibility of industrial applications to fabricate devices made of nanocrystals. A thin film of polystyrene spheres, 150 nm in diameter, was first coated on the silicon wafer with layer-by-layer self-assembly, followed by a layer of aluminum deposited on the thin film. A layer of positive photoresist was spun on the surface of aluminum and then patterned by lithographic technique. The unprotected aluminum was removed by wet etching until the polystyrene thin film underneath was exposed to the air. Oxygen plasma was employed to etch the polystyrene thin film all the way to the silicon surface. Subsequently, a thin film of another type of nanoparticle, silica particle 7...
A study of the reactions of graphite with carbon dioxide with reference to gas-cooled nuclear reactors†‡

The reaction of graphite and carbon dioxide is discussed in relation to the performance and safety of gas-cooled graphite-moderated nuclear reactors. Reaction is promoted by reactor radiation but this radiation-induced process is unlikely to be temperature dependent. The limiting temperature for operating the system graphite-carbon dioxide is, therefore, probably set by the thermal reaction. A wide variety of experimental means has been used to examine the thermal reaction and it is concluded that gasification of carbon by carbon dioxide is unlikely below temperatures of 600°. This conclusion appears valid even if applied to graphite which has undergone heavy neutron damage. Accelerated life tests covering several thousand hours have been used to confirm these observations. These same tests show that gasification of graphite occurs at temperatures above 600° but is strongly inhibited by the presence of carbon monoxide. This provides an additional factor of safety from the reactor point of view. The most pessimistic estimate for the rate of gasification of graphite in carbon dioxide by purely thermal means at 500° is calculated to be 0.1% (by weight) in 20 years. The carbon monoxide observed after exposing graphite to carbon dioxide at temperatures below 600° arises from the formation of a stable oxide on the carbon surface. Carbon monoxide can reduce this surface oxide at 500° and the clean surface produced will adsorb carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide in contact with ungraphitised carbon may decompose and deposit carbon. This deposition reaction is not self-propagating and leads to an inert carbon surface.
Efficient dispersion of coated silver nanoparticles in the polymer matrix

Abstract Silver–polymer composite material containing highly dispersed silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of 20–100 nm diameter can be obtained from bare nanosilver. The synthesis consists of three steps. The first step is modification of AgNPs by 2-aminoethanethiol. Second, polyacrylic acid is bonded to the silver 2-aminoethanethiolate by the carbodiimide method. Then esterification of the remaining carboxyl groups of the product by methanol results in formation of a stable colloidal dispersion of AgNPs in the polymer matrix. The method allows obtaining of nanocomposites with silver contents up to 1.4 wt%.