cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A GEOGRAPHIC-INFORMATION-SYSTEM APPROACH TO ESTIMATING THE ORIGIN OF MIGRATORY RAPTORS IN NORTH AMERICA USING STABLE HYDROGEN ISOTOPE RATIOS IN FEATHERS

Abstract Analysis of stable hydrogen isotope ratios in feathers (δDf) is a promising method for investigating population connectivity in migratory birds. Stable hydrogen isotope ratios in precipitation (δDp) vary across North America with respect to latitude, elevation, and seasonal air-mass trajectories. A strong relationship between δDf and δDp at locations of feather growth has been documented for several bird species. Some studies have used measurements of δDf to plot the origins of migrants on maps of long-term weighted-average, growing-season North American δDp (hereafter “δDp maps”) using the observed relationship between δDf and δDp from a reference sample of known-origin birds. The accuracy of this method depends on the strength of the δDf and δDp relationship and accuracy of the δDp maps. Recently, a high-resolution (1-km2) model of North American δDp was published (Meehan et al. 2004) that accounts for the effect of elevation on δDp where previous models did not. We compared δDf measurements fr...
Private Law Analogy and Unilateral Denunciation

Although certain misgivings have been expressed relative to the uses of private law analogy as a source of international law,1 there appears to be a substantial agreement that the general principles of law constitute a valid and valuable source of international law.2 The judges and the jurists have not hesitated, when necessary, to cite or consult the rules of private law as a means of determining international legal norms. The Statute of the International Court of Justice stipulates the general principles of law as a legitimate source of international law.3
Climate Change and Arctic Sustainable Development: Scientific, Social, Cultural and Educational Challenges

This book represents a compendium of expert opinions on the future of climate change and development in the Arctic. It was developed in concert with a special meeting hosted by the Principality of ...
Defining ATM-independent Functions of the Mre11 Complex with a Novel Mouse Model

The Mre11 complex (Mre11, Rad50, and Nbs1) occupies a central node of the DNA damage response (DDR) network and is required for ATM activation in response to DNA damage. Hypomorphic alleles of MRE11 and NBS1 confer embryonic lethality in ATM-deficient mice, indicating that the complex exerts ATM-independent functions that are essential when ATM is absent. To delineate those functions, a conditional ATM allele ( ATMflox ) was crossed to hypomorphic NBS1 mutants ( Nbs1ΔB/ΔB mice). Nbs1ΔB/ΔB Atm −/− hematopoietic cells derived by crossing to vavcre were viable in vivo . Nbs1ΔB/ΔB Atm −/− VAV mice exhibited a pronounced defect in double-strand break repair and completely penetrant early onset lymphomagenesis. In addition to repair defects observed, fragile site instability was noted, indicating that the Mre11 complex promotes genome stability upon replication stress in vivo . The data suggest combined influences of the Mre11 complex on DNA repair, as well as the responses to DNA damage and DNA replication stress. Implications: A novel mouse model was developed, by combining a vavcre -inducible ATM knockout mouse with an NBS1 hypomorphic mutation, to analyze ATM-independent functions of the Mre11 complex in vivo . These data show that the DNA repair, rather than DDR signaling functions of the complex, is acutely required in the context of ATM deficiency to suppress genome instability and lymphomagenesis. Mol Cancer Res; 14(2); 185–95. ©2015 AACR .
Mapping QTL for Multiple Traits

Multiple traits are measured virtually in all line crossing experiments of QTL mapping. Yet, almost all data collected for multiple traits are analyzed separately for different traits. Joint analysis formultiple traits will shed new light in QTL mapping by improving the statistical power of QTL detection and increasing the accuracy of QTL localization when different traits segregating in the mapping population are genetically related. Joint analysis for multiple traits is defined as a method that includes all traits simultaneously in a single model, rather than analyzing one trait at a time and reporting the results in a format that appears to be multiple-trait analysis.
Ineffective in Any Form: How Confirmation Bias and Distractions Undermine Improved Home-Loan Disclosures

This article examines three experiments that tracked eye fixations as participants review home-loan disclosure forms. The experiments revealed confirmation biases in which participants read to confirm what they were told (e.g., "Your loan is at 4%") and then failed to look for contradictory evidence such as rate adjustments. Improved forms reduced confirmation biases, but that improvement was undermined when the experimenter engaged participants in distracting conversation. These results demonstrate that improving disclosure forms cannot sufficiently protect consumers. The authors propose a new federal law that would require consumers applying for a home loan to take out a "financial literacy" and if they fail that test that they should be required to receive mortgage counseling at the time that they receive an offered home loan.
Operating and Sensing Mechanism of Electrolyte-Gated Transistors with Floating Gates: Building a Platform for Amplified Biodetection

Electrolyte-gated transistors (EGTs) with floating gates (FGs) are an emerging platform for label-free electronic biodetection. Advantages of floating gate EGTs (FG-EGTs) include signal amplification and inherent sensitivity to small voltages, on the order of 10 mV, associated with chemical binding events on the floating gate electrode surface. Here we examine how the performance of these devices depends on their architecture, specifically the relative sizes (areas) of the control gate, the floating gate, and the source–semiconductor–drain channel. The results allow optimization of the geometry for future biodetection studies. Further, using self-assembled monolayer (SAM) chemistry, we also examine the effect of chemisorption on the floating gate on the current voltage (I–V) characteristics. We find the FG-EGTs respond to both interfacial dipoles and capacitance changes and that the I–V behavior can be reasonably predicted with a lumped capacitor model. Overall, this work provides the most detailed pictur...
Dimensions of Job Quality, Mechanisms, and Subjective Well‐Being in the United States

How does job quality predict subjective well-being in the United States? Prior research suggests that various job quality dimensions such as job security and individual task discretion affect subjective well-being, but the theoretical mechanisms are implied rather than tested and aspects of job quality are rarely tested together. I use structural equation modeling and General Social Survey data to assess the impact of five job quality dimensions—individual task discretion, monetary compensation, job security, low work intensity, and safe work conditions—on subjective well-being. Then, I show that job quality influences subjective well-being by improving social life, altering class identification, affecting physical health, and increasing amounts of leisure time. Finally, while I find that job quality dimensions do have statistically significant effects on subjective well-being, the way in which job quality affects subjective well-being differs by job dimension. In other words, job quality has a statistically significant impact on subjective well-being, but different job quality domains are connected to subjective well-being in different ways.
A Coupled Electromechanical Peridynamics Framework for Modeling Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Polymer Composites

Peridynamics, a non local continuum theory, has been extended in this work for modeling electromechanical problems. A coupled electromechanical framework is developed so that this may be used to investigate carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposite materials. Governing peridynamic equations for electrical conduction are derived, and a specific application to piezoresistive response of carbon nanotube composites at the bundle scale and nanocomposite bonded explosive materials at the microscale is discussed. At the bundle scale, the effect of volume fraction, electron hopping and deformation is investigated. In particular, it is shown that the horizon distance can be calibrated using relevant physics of the length scale. At the microscale, the material is considered to be inherently piezoresistive, arising from the nanoscale phenomena of electron hopping. The piezoresistive properties of the material is investigated in response to applied strain and resulting damage in the microstructure.
“A Trust That Cannot Be Delegated”: The Invention of Ratification Referenda

A ratification referendum is a procedure in which framers submit a constitution to the people for binding approval before implementation. It is widespread, recommended, and affects the contents and reception of constitutions, yet remains unstudied. Moreover, the reasons or justification for using the procedure remain unexplored. This is troubling because ratification referenda are optional, and thus should only be implemented for good reasons that, today, are no longer given. This article begins correcting this oversight by identifying those that brought about the first ratification referendum and explaining why they did so. I demonstrate that the Berkshire Constitutionalists called for the procedure during the events leading up to the creation of the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution, and that they justified their actions by asserting that the people have an unalienable right to ratify their constitution through a referendum, for this provided needed protection against potentially corrupt elites. This argument remains the most fully developed justification for the procedure to date. My analysis not only reveals ratification referenda to be another product of early American political thought, but also points the way forward for future evaluation of the procedure, and forces reflection upon the importance of having solid grounds for the choices involved in structuring a constitution-making process.
Blackboard platform-based network collaborative learning teaching in medical information retrieval course

A Blackboard platform-based network collaborative learning teaching model was designed and established in light of the curriculum reform demand and the features of Blackboard network platform and applied in teaching of medical information retrieval course,which showed that network collaborative learning teaching in combination with traditional classroom teaching could arouse the enthusiasm of students in their study and improve the teaching efficiency and level,thus contributing to reaching the aim of information literacy education.
Rejuvenation Techniques for Landscape Bamboo Forest

years experiment was carried out on rejuvenation techniques such as reclamation, fertilization, thinning, etc. for landscape bamboo forest at Baoshi Hill in Hangzhou city. The result showed a rational density and larger D.B.H. bamboo forest, especially that in Huyangweiba plot, the mean D.B.H increased from 2.88cm to 5.78cm.
Reading words and other people: A comparison of exception word, familiar face and affect processing in the left and right temporal variants of primary progressive aphasia.

Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) typically presents with left-hemisphere predominant rostral temporal lobe (rTL) atrophy and the most significant complaints within the language domain. Less frequently, patients present with right-hemisphere predominant temporal atrophy coupled with marked impairments in processing of famous faces and emotions. Few studies have objectively compared these patient groups in both domains and therefore it is unclear to what extent the syndromes overlap. Clinically diagnosed svPPA patients were characterized as left- (n = 21) or right-predominant (n = 12) using imaging and compared along with 14 healthy controls. Regarding language, our primary focus was upon two hallmark features of svPPA; confrontation naming and surface dyslexia. Both groups exhibited naming deficits and surface dyslexia although the impairments were more severe in the left-predominant group. Familiarity judgments on famous faces and affect processing were more profoundly impaired in the right-predominant group. Our findings suggest that the two syndromes overlap significantly but that early cases at the tail ends of the continuum constitute a challenge for current clinical criteria. Correlational neuroimaging analyses implicated a mid portion of the left lateral temporal lobe in exception word reading impairments in line with proposals that this region is an interface between phonology and semantic knowledge.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced luteinizing hormone release in heifers: effect of nutrition during gestation.

The effects of nutrition during the last two trimesters of gestation on GnRH-induced LH release were assessed in crossbred heifers. Heifers (n = 58) were allotted at 90 d gestation to one of three levels of an experimental diet fed at 1, 1.5 or 2% of BW to attain maternal BW loss, BW maintenance or BW gain, respectively, at parturition. Twenty-two heifers were injected (i.m.) once with 100 micrograms GnRH between d 14 and 1 before parturition, and 32 heifers were injected (i.m.) once with 100 micrograms GnRH between d 8 and 21 after parturition. Jugular blood samples were collected before and at 30-min intervals after GnRH for 4 h. Least squares means for BW change differed (P less than .01) among BW loss (-17.6%), BW maintenance (-6.0%) and BW gain (7.0%) heifers. Basal plasma LH concentration was not influenced by nutritional treatment and was similar before and after parturition for all groups. However, in response to GnRH, peak plasma LH concentration was greater (P less than .10) for prepartum than for postpartum heifers. Mean LH peak amplitude in prepartum heifers was approximately twofold greater (P less than .10) in the BW loss and maintenance groups compared with the BW gain group. Prepartum LH release was related inversely (r = -.64) to change in heifer BW and increased (P less than .01) as BW loss increased during gestation. After parturition, mean LH peak amplitude and area under the response curve averaged 50% less (P less than .10) in the BW loss and maintenance groups than in the BW gain group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Paralimbal Compression Suture for Molteno Implants

When a Molteno implant is being inserted, the silicone tube occasionally can be misdirected anteriorly, bringing the end of the tube dangerously close to the corneal endothelium. A paralimbal compression suture of 8-0 nylon may redirect the tube more posteriorly, preventing such contact.
Prop-2-yn-1-yl 2-Bromo-2-methylpropanoate: Identification and Suppression of Side Reactions of a Commonly Used Terminal Alkyne-Functional ATRP Initiator

The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene was investigated using the popular alkyne-functional initiator prop-2-yn-1-yl 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoate (PBiB). The polymerization kinetics and evolution of molecular weight as a function of monomer conversion were systematically studied with PBiB and similar initiators with protecting groups at the reactive propargylic and terminal acetylenic sites. These studies were compared to control studies using the nonfunctional initiator ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate. As confirmed by NMR analysis of a model reaction, the terminal alkynes undergo oxidative alkyne–alkyne coupling under ATRP conditions, resulting in polymers with bimodal molecular weight distributions. This side reaction is significant because it diminishes the orthogonality of ATRP/copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition procedures as well as the control of ATRP.
Nitric oxide, the new architect of epigenetic landscapes

Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenously produced signaling molecule with multiple regulatory functions in physiology and disease. The most studied molecular mechanisms underlying the biological functions of NO include its reaction with heme proteins and regulation of protein activity via modification of thiol residues. A significant number of transcriptional responses and phenotypes observed in NO microenvironments, however, still lack mechanistic understanding. Recent studies shed new light on NO signaling by revealing its influence on epigenetic changes within the cell. Epigenetic alterations are important determinants of transcriptional responses and cell phenotypes, which can relay heritable information during cell division. As transcription across the genome is highly sensitive to these upstream epigenetic changes, this mode of NO signaling provides an alternate explanation for NO-mediated gene expression changes and phenotypes. This review will provide an overview of the interplay between NO and epigenetics as well as emphasize the unprecedented importance of these pathways to explain phenotypic effects associated with biological NO synthesis.
Team IHMC's Lessons Learned from the DARPA Robotics Challenge: Finding Data in the Rubble

This article presents a retrospective analysis of Team IHMC's experience throughout the DARPA Robotics Challenge DRC, where we took first or second place overall in each of the three phases. As an extremely demanding challenge typical of DARPA, the DRC required rapid research and development to push the boundaries of robotics and set a new benchmark for complex robotic behavior. We present how we addressed each of the eight tasks of the DRC and review our performance in the Finals. While the ambitious competition schedule limited extensive experimentation, we will review the data we collected during the approximately three years of our participation. We discuss some of the significant lessons learned that contributed to our success in the DRC. These include hardware lessons, software lessons, and human-robot integration lessons. We describe refinements to the coactive design methodology that helped our designers connect human-machine interaction theory to both implementation and empirical data. This approach helped our team focus our limited resources on the issues most critical to success. In addition to helping readers understand our experiences in developing on a Boston Dynamics Atlas robot for the DRC, we hope this article will provide insights that apply more widely to robotics development and design of human-machine systems.
Brain responses to biological motion predict treatment outcome in young children with autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are common yet complex neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by social, communication and behavioral deficits. Behavioral interventions have shown favorable results—however, the promise of precision medicine in ASD is hampered by a lack of sensitive, objective neurobiological markers (neurobiomarkers) to identify subgroups of young children likely to respond to specific treatments. Such neurobiomarkers are essential because early childhood provides a sensitive window of opportunity for intervention, while unsuccessful intervention is costly to children, families and society. In young children with ASD, we show that functional magnetic resonance imaging-based stratification neurobiomarkers accurately predict responses to an evidence-based behavioral treatment—pivotal response treatment. Neural predictors were identified in the pretreatment levels of activity in response to biological vs scrambled motion in the neural circuits that support social information processing (superior temporal sulcus, fusiform gyrus, amygdala, inferior parietal cortex and superior parietal lobule) and social motivation/reward (orbitofrontal cortex, insula, putamen, pallidum and ventral striatum). The predictive value of our findings for individual children with ASD was supported by a multivariate pattern analysis with cross validation. Predicting who will respond to a particular treatment for ASD, we believe the current findings mark the very first evidence of prediction/stratification biomarkers in young children with ASD. The implications of the findings are far reaching and should greatly accelerate progress toward more precise and effective treatments for core deficits in ASD.
Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators increase sensitivity to cisplatin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive and often fatal disease. Cisplatin is the most common chemotherapeutic drug in the treatment of HNSCC, but intrinsic and acquired resistance are frequent, and severe side effects occur at high doses. The second messenger cyclic GMP (cGMP) is produced by soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). We previously reported that activation of the cGMP signaling cascade caused apoptosis in HNSCC cells, while others found that this pathway enhances cisplatin efficacy in some cell types. Here we found that sGC stimulators reduced HNSCC cell viability synergistically with cisplatin, and enhanced apoptosis by cisplatin. Moreover, the sGC stimulators effectively reduced viability in cells with acquired cisplatin resistance, and were synergistic with cisplatin. The sGC stimulator BAY 41-2272 reduced expression of the survival proteins EGFR and β-catenin, and increased pro-apoptotic Bax, suggesting a potential mechanism for the anti-tumorigenic effects of these drugs. The sGC stimulator Riociguat is FDA-approved to treat pulmonary hypertension, and others are being studied for therapeutic use in several diseases. These drugs could provide valuable addition or alternative to cisplatin in the treatment of HNSCC.
From water to organics in membrane separations

Membrane materials provide economical means to achieve various separation processes — and their capabilities for processing organic fluids look set to expand significantly.
A comparison between swallowing sounds and vibrations in patients with dysphagia

Cervical auscultation refers to sounds or vibrations captured during swallowing.Microphones and accelerometers are common sensors used for cervical auscultation.Open questions exist about information provided by the two sensors about the swallowing function.We investigated these questions in the current manuscript.Details provided by microphones and accelerometers about the swallowing function are unique and these two transducers are not interchangeable.The selection of transducer would be a vital step in future studies. The cervical auscultation refers to the observation and analysis of sounds or vibrations captured during swallowing using either a stethoscope or acoustic/vibratory detectors. Microphones and accelerometers have recently become two common sensors used in modern cervical auscultation methods. There are open questions about whether swallowing signals recorded by these two sensors provide unique or complementary information about swallowing function; or whether they present interchangeable information. This study aims to compare of swallowing signals recorded by a microphone and a tri-axial accelerometer from 72 patients (mean age 63.94 12.58 years, 42 male, 30 female), who had videofluoroscopic examination. The participants swallowed one or more boluses of thickened liquids of different consistencies, including thin liquids, nectar-thick liquids, and pudding. A comfortable self-selected volume from a cup or a controlled volume by the examiner from a 5ml spoon was given to the participants. A broad feature set was extracted in time, information-theoretic, and frequency domains from each of 881 swallows presented in this study. The swallowing sounds exhibited significantly higher frequency content and kurtosis values than the swallowing vibrations. In addition, the LempelZiv complexity was lower for swallowing sounds than those for swallowing vibrations. To conclude, information provided by microphones and accelerometers about swallowing function are unique and these two transducers are not interchangeable. Consequently, the selection of transducer would be a vital step in future studies.
New Euler-Type Progressive Collapse Curves for Steel Moment-Resisting Frames: Analytical Method

AbstractIn order to assess the robustness of a building structure to progressive collapse, the removal of a structural key component is utilized. For a steel moment-resisting frame under a column-r...
Blending distributed photovoltaic and demand load forecasts

Abstract Utilities consider having accurate electric load forecasts to be critical to their day-to-day operations. But the growing penetration of distributed photovoltaic (DPV) solar power production “behind the meter” makes it more difficult to predict load because it is hard to distinguish between increased solar power generation and decreased power consumption at a site with installed DPV. This paper describes the development of a “top down” solar power forecasting system and how it can be integrated with a load forecasting system that incorporates weather information. Both systems depend on accurate weather forecasts, information regarding the utility variables, and daily and seasonal factors. The load forecasting system provides day-ahead forecasts having roughly 2% error, on average, and the solar power forecast is within 5% error. In general, we find that if the load forecasting system incorporates the same weather and solar predictors as the solar power forecasting system, it implicitly accounts for DPV generation during periods of stationary solar power deployment, and a separate DPV forecast may not be necessary. However, for higher penetrations of solar power during times of rapid deployment of additional solar capacity, it may become important to explicitly incorporate the solar power forecasts to avoid degradation of the load forecasts. This approach could allow utilities and independent system operators to better deal with rapidly increasing penetration of DPV generation.
Laser-induced ultracold Rb(5S1/2)+Rb(5P1/2) collisions.

Measurements of collisional loss of optically trapped Rb atoms are presented for excitation of the colliding atoms by light tuned near the 5[ital S][sub 1/2][r arrow]5[ital P][sub 1/2] transitions of [sup 85]Rb and [sup 87]Rb. Using the [ital P][sub 1/2] state allows the effects of spontaneous emission on excited-state collisions to be studied with minimal complications arising from hyperfine structure. The shapes of the collision spectra are nearly identical for the two isotopes and are consistent with a simple model for the role of spontaneous emission during the collision.
FATHERS’ IMPORTANCE IN ADOLESCENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Many studies have investigated mothers’ impact on students’ achievement, yet little is known about how various father types impact students’ school performance. This study examines 6 mutually exclusive categories of father type: resident biological fathers, resident stepfathers, resident adoptive fathers, non­resident biological fathers, unknown biological fathers, and deceased fathers. Adolescents’ school performance from seventh through twelfth grade is examined using data from 3 waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a nationally representative United States secondary data source. Findings indicate different types of fathers have distinct and independent positive associations with adolescents’ school achievement, after controlling for mother involvement. Adolescents with resident biological fathers had higher school performance than adolescents with nonresident fathers. Adolescents with stepfathers had higher rates of school failure than their peers living with their biological parents. The lowest achievement and the highest risk of school failure and course failure were experienced by those adolescents who did not have a resident father figure and didn’t know the identity of their fathers. Implications include the need to model for the unique influence of father involvement and father type on academic achievement, and the inclusion of unique family contexts in efforts to increase adolescents’ school involvement and integration.
Consumer-Grade Fabrication and Its Potential to Revolutionize Accessibility

With the increasing power and flexibility of technologies available to consumers, we are seeing a revolution in how assistive technology (AT) is being created and by whom. This talk will highlight the potential of these technologies for people with disabilities, as well as the challenges that end users face in leveraging them effectively to address AT issues.
Embodiment in [Critical] Auto|biography Studies

Escribo con la tinta de mi sangre.1—Gloria Anzaldua, Borderlands/La Frontera: The New MestizaEmbodiment is central to all auto|biography. All auto|biographical subjects necessarily have bodies that...
Recording of Motor Unit Potentials and Spontaneous Activity

The electrical activity of muscle cell membrance depolarization can be recorded with extracellular needle electrodes. The diagnosis of diseases of the nerve, muscle, and neuromuscular junction can be made or verified by this method (electromyography). Nerve injuries usually can be localized. Medical and technical knowledge must be used together to perform an adequate study. The skill of the electrodiagnostic medical consultant in both practice and interpretation minimizes the discomfort and maximizes the knowledge gleaned.
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry of Nanoscale Materials for Semiconductor Device Applications

Several years ago, the semiconductor industry began to refer to integrated circuits as nanoelectronic devices [1]. Now, most realize that nanoelectronics is the most prevalent nanotechnology. The continued decrease in device feature size has challenged spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) with nano-films, nanowires, and nano-dots. There are many examples of the measurement of thin dielectric films [2, 3], and now there are examples of crystalline semiconductor nanowires in the form of the Fin in the transistor known as a Fin-FET [4]. The semiconductor industry is also working on materials for “beyond CMOS” devices.
What's Fair?: OERs, Copyright, and Fair Use

Copyright protection is important for the promotion of new knowledge, but the U.S. Copyright Code also recognizes the value and importance of protecting significant leeway for educational uses without permission-seeking or licensing. The doctrine of fair use affords the law flexibility in limiting copyright monopoly when doing so benefits purposes of criticism, research, teaching, and scholarship. This presentation provides information about the responsible application of fair use doctrine to the creation of Open Educational Resources. We will discuss best practices for different kinds of citation and use of third-party works common to OERs, including information about when and how to seek permission.
The Role of IGSF3 in Cell Adhesion, Proliferation, and Cell Migration

Rationale: Tetraspanins are cell membrane–spanning proteins that transduce extracellular signals and control cell adhesion via interactions with multiple molecules, including the protein immunoglob...
Functional Obfuscation of Hardware Accelerators through Selective Partial Design Extraction onto an Embedded FPGA

The protection of Intellectual Property (IP) has emerged as one of the most serious areas of concern in the semiconductor industry. To address this issue, we present a method and architecture to map selective portions of a design, given as a behavioral description for High-Level Synthesis (HLS) to a high-security embedded Field-Programmable Gate Array (eFPGA). In this manner, only the end-user has access to the full functionality of the chip. Using six benchmark circuits, we show that our approach is effective. In all cases, the Time-To-Break (TTB) is so long (at least 8 million hours) that for all practical purposes the designs are secure while incurring area overheads of around 5%. Further, latencies were only slightly increased, while the computation times are under one minute.
Interconnects Electrical Parametric Variability Control for Automotive Manufacturing

The control of interconnects resistance, intra- and inter-capacitance (RC) variations in order to meet the stringent automotive sigma requirements is an extremely challenging task in the advanced semiconductor manufacturing due to many process variables to control in the dual damascene integration scheme. We demonstrate that the key interconnects parametric are able to meet Cp/Cpk >1.67 with a combination of real-time in-line automatic process control (APC) of trench critical dimension (CD), trench depth, and copper Chemical Mechanical Polish (CMP) that are well correlated to the parametric performance. We explain how the APC is modeled using feed-forward and feed-backward data to obtain optimum processing conditions for automotive manufacturing by using stochastic in-line data for analysis and control of subsequent upstream and downstream process. Employing variance component analysis, we show that the RC’s overall sigma can be improved. Further, the bivariate analysis is shown for parametric output to check on centering to ensure the technology response of interconnect model is maintained as designed.
A Structural Biologist’s View of Precision and Accuracy of Structural Models of Proteins Based on NMR Data

Advances in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) since its first observation 50 years ago have been staggering and have revolutionized many areas of physics, chemistry and biology. As the technology as a whole has developed there has been an explosion in the number of applications of NMR spectroscopy to studies of proteins and other biopolymers. The dramatic increase in the power, flexibility and efficiency of modern multidimensional and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy now provide the structural biologist with a previously unavailable avenue to high resolution structural information in solution (Clore and Gronenborn, 1991b; Bax and Grzesiek, 1993; Leopold et al., 1994). At the center of the studies of the structure and dynamics of proteins by NMR is the solution of the general problem of assigning individual resonances to specific nuclei within the macromolecule. Recent developments of conceptually new experimental frameworks coupled with technical advancements have had a swift and profound effect on the solution of the resonance assignment problem. The issue of resolving and mapping individual resonances of a protein to specific atomic sites within the molecule has now largely been solved for proteins ranging up to 25 kDa in size. Parallel to these recent advances in resonance assignment methodologies has been an ever increasing level of sophistication in the marshaling of NMR-based structural parameters for the determination of the solution structures of proteins.
Dissociable neural substrates of opioid and cocaine use identified via connectome-based modelling.

Opioid use disorder is a major public health crisis. While effective treatments are available, outcomes vary widely across individuals and relapse rates remain high. Understanding neural mechanisms of treatment response may facilitate the development of personalized and/or novel treatment approaches. Methadone-maintained, polysubstance-using individuals (n = 53) participated in fMRI scanning before and after substance-use treatment. Connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM)—a recently developed, whole-brain approach—was used to identify pretreatment connections associated with abstinence during the 3-month treatment. Follow-up analyses were conducted to determine the specificity of the identified opioid abstinence network across different brain states (cognitive vs. reward task vs. resting-state) and different substance use outcomes (opioid vs. cocaine abstinence). Posttreatment fMRI data were used to assess network changes over time and within-subject replication. To determine further clinical relevance, opioid abstinence network strength was compared with healthy subjects (n = 38). CPM identified an opioid abstinence network (p = 0.018), characterized by stronger within-network motor/sensory connectivity, and reduced connectivity between the motor/sensory network and medial frontal, default mode, and frontoparietal networks. This opioid abstinence network was anatomically distinct from a previously identified cocaine abstinence network. Relationships between abstinence and opioid and cocaine abstinence networks replicated across multiple brain states but did not generalize across substances. Network connectivity measured at posttreatment related to abstinence at 6-month follow-up (p < 0.009). Healthy comparison subjects displayed intermediate network strengths relative to treatment responders and nonresponders. These data indicate dissociable anatomical substrates of opioid vs. cocaine abstinence. Results may inform the development of novel opioid-specific treatment approaches to combat the opioid epidemic.
Novel risk genes and mechanisms implicated by exome sequencing of 2572 individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease with high mortality despite recent therapeutic advances. Pathogenic remodeling of pulmonary arterioles leads to increased pulmonary pressures, right ventricular hypertrophy, and heart failure. Mutations in bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 and other risk genes predispose to disease, but the vast majority of non-familial cases remain genetically undefined. To identify new risk genes, we performed exome sequencing in a large cohort from the National Biological Sample and Data Repository for PAH (PAH Biobank, n = 2572). We then carried out rare deleterious variant identification followed by case-control gene-based association analyses. To control for population structure, only unrelated European cases (n = 1832) and controls (n = 12,771) were used in association tests. Empirical p values were determined by permutation analyses, and the threshold for significance defined by Bonferroni’s correction for multiple testing. Tissue kallikrein 1 (KLK1) and gamma glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) were identified as new candidate risk genes for idiopathic PAH (IPAH) with genome-wide significance. We note that variant carriers had later mean age of onset and relatively moderate disease phenotypes compared to bone morphogenetic receptor type 2 variant carriers. We also confirmed the genome-wide association of recently reported growth differentiation factor (GDF2) with IPAH and further implicate T-box 4 (TBX4) with child-onset PAH. We report robust association of novel genes KLK1 and GGCX with IPAH, accounting for ~ 0.4% and 0.9% of PAH Biobank cases, respectively. Both genes play important roles in vascular hemodynamics and inflammation but have not been implicated in PAH previously. These data suggest new genes, pathogenic mechanisms, and therapeutic targets for this lethal vasculopathy.
Electron microscopic and enzyme histochemical studies of the cerebellum in spongy degeneration (van Bogaert and Bertrans type).

Electron microscopic and enzyme histochemical studies were performed on the cerebellum from a 9 month old Jewish boy with spongy degeneration. Histologically, the main pathological changes were noted in the Purkinje cell layer, the deeper areas of the granular cell layers and the subcortical white matter. Ultrastructurally, multiple vacuoles were present within the swollen cytoplasm and processes of protoplasmic astrocytes in the cortex, while in the subcortical white matter vacuoles were observed within splitting myelin lamellae as well as within astrocytes. There were also abnormal mitochondria within swollen protoplasmic astrocytic cytoplasm and processes which in ATPase preparations showed little or no reaction product. However, the fibrillary astrocytes were not swollen and contained intact mitochondria which showed normal reaction product in ATPase preparations. Since the myelin changes are known to be nonspecific and secondary to abnormal fluid accumulation, the characteristic distribution of the multiple vacuoles in the central nervous system in this disorder seems primarily to be related to swelling of the protoplasmic astrocytes.
Cost-effectiveness evaluation of the PROPPR trial transfusion protocols.

Background There have been no prior investigations of the cost effectiveness of transfusion strategies for trauma resuscitation. The Pragmatic, Randomized, Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios (PROPPR) study was a Phase III multisite, randomized trial in 680 subjects comparing the efficacy of 1:1:1 transfusion ratios of plasma and platelets to red blood cells with the 1:1:2 ratio. We hypothesized that 1:1:1 transfusion results in an acceptable incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, when estimated using patients' age-specific life expectancy and cost of care during the 30-day PROPPR trial period. Study design and methods International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes were prospectively collected, and subjects were matched 1:2 to subjects in the Healthcare Utilization Program State Inpatient Data to estimate cost weights. We used a decision tree analysis, combined with standard costs and estimated years of expected survival to determine the cost effectiveness of the two treatments. Results The 1:1:1 group had higher overall costs for the blood products but were more likely to achieve hemostasis and decreased hemorrhagic death by 24 hours (p = 0.006). For every 100 patients treated in the 1:1:1 group, eight more achieved hemostasis than in the 1:1:2 group. At 30 days, the total hospital cost per 100 patients was $5.6 million in the 1:1:1 group compared with $5.0 million in the 1:1:2 group. For each 100 patients, the 1:1:1 group had 218.5 more years of life expectancy. This was at a cost of $2994 per year gained. Conclusion The 1:1:1 transfusion ratio in severely injured hemorrhaging trauma patients is a very cost-effective strategy for increasing hemostasis and decreasing trauma deaths.
Zinc homeostasis plays an important role in the prevention of obesity-induced cardiac inflammation, remodeling and dysfunction

Obesity often leads to cardiovascular diseases, such as obesity-related cardiac hypertrophy (ORCH), due to chronic cardiac inflammation. Zinc is structurally and functionally essential for many transcription factors, therefore it not only has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress functions, but also has insulin-like function, however, its role in the development of obesity-associated cardiac pathogenesis and the potentially underlying mechanism(s) remains unclear. This review aims to summarize the available evidence on the role of zinc homeostasis in the prevention of ORCH. It was recently reported that when four-week old mice were fed either high fat diet (HFD) or normal diet containing deficient, adequate or supplemented zinc, HFD induced obesity and ORCH along with increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and increased expression of B-cell lymphoma/ leukemia 10 (BCL10) and caspase recruitment domain family member 9 (CARD9). These effects were further aggravated by zinc deficiency and significantly alleviated by zinc supplementation. Mechanistically administration of a p38 MAPK specific inhibitor in HFD-fed mice for 3 months did not affect HFD-induced obesity and increased expression of BCL10 and CARD9, but completely abolished HFD/obesity-induced cardiac hypertrophy and inflammation. In cultured cardiomyocytes, inhibition of BCL10 expression by siRNA prevented palmitate-induced increased p38 MAPK activation and atrial natriuretic peptide expression. Deletion of metallothionein abolished the protective effect of zinc on palmitate-induced up-regulation of BCL10 and phospho-p38 MAPK. Taken together with other recent studies, we concluded that HFD and zinc deficiency synergistically induce ORCH by increasing oxidative stress-mediated activation of BCL10/CARD9/p38 MAPK signaling. Zinc supplementation ameliorates ORCH through activation of metallothionein to repress oxidative stress-activated BCL10 expression and p38 MAPK activation.
Host-Induced Plant Volatiles Mediate Ability of the Parasitoid Microplitis croceipes to Discriminate Between Unparasitized and Parasitized Heliothis virescens Larvae and Avoid Superparasitism

In solitary endoparasitoids, oviposition in a host previously parasitized by a conspecific (superparasitism) leads to intraspecific competition, resulting in the elimination of all but one parasitoid offspring. Therefore, avoidance of parasitized hosts presents a strong selective advantage for such parasitoid species. Parasitoids use herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) to find their hosts. In this study, we evaluated the ability of Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to discriminate between unparasitized and parasitized Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae using cotton plant odors as cues. A combination of behavioral and analytical techniques were used to test two hypotheses: (i) parasitoids will show preference for plant odors induced by unparasitized hosts over odors induced by parasitized hosts, and (ii) the parasitism status of herbivores affects HIPV emission in plants. Heliothis virescens larvae were parasitized for varying durations (0, 2 and 6-days after parasitism (DAP)). In four-choice olfactometer bioassays, female M. croceipes showed greater attraction to plant odors induced by unparasitized hosts compared to plant odors induced by parasitized hosts (2 and 6-DAP). Comparative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of cotton volatiles indicated reduced emission of 10 out of 21 identified compounds from plants infested by parasitized hosts compared with plants infested by unparasitized hosts. The results suggest that changes in plant volatile emission due to the parasitism status of infesting herbivores affect recruitment of parasitoids. Avoidance of superparasitism using plant odors optimizes host foraging in M. croceipes, and this strategy may be widespread in solitary parasitoid species.
Simultaneous smoothing and detection of topological units of genome organization from sparse chromatin contact count matrices with matrix factorization

Abstract The three-dimensional (3D) organization of the genome plays a critical role in gene regulation for diverse normal and disease processes. High-throughput chromosome conformation capture (3C) assays, such as Hi-C, SPRITE, GAM, and HiChIP, have revealed higher-order organizational units such as topologically associating domains (TADs), which can shape the regulatory landscape governing downstream phenotypes. Analysis of high-throughput 3C data depends on the sequencing depth, which directly affects the resolution and the sparsity of the generated 3D contact count map. Identification of TADs remains a significant challenge due to the sensitivity of existing methods to resolution and sparsity. Here we present GRiNCH, a novel matrix-factorization-based approach for simultaneous TAD discovery and smoothing of contact count matrices from high-throughput 3C data. GRiNCH TADs are enriched in known architectural proteins and chromatin modification signals and are stable to the resolution, and sparsity of the input data. GRiNCH smoothing improves the recovery of structure and significant interactions from low-depth datasets. Furthermore, enrichment analysis of 746 transcription factor motifs in GRiNCH TADs from developmental time-course and cell-line Hi-C datasets predicted transcription factors with potentially novel genome organization roles. GRiNCH is a broadly applicable tool for the analysis of high throughput 3C datasets from a variety of platforms including SPRITE and HiChIP to understand 3D genome organization in diverse biological contexts.