cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the role of natural selection in the evolution of gene regulation

Surveys of gene expression reveal extensive variability both within and between a wide range of species. Compelling cases have been made for adaptive changes in gene regulation, but the proportion of expression divergence attributable to natural selection remains unclear. Distinguishing adaptive changes driven by positive selection from neutral divergence resulting from mutation and genetic drift is critical for understanding the evolution of gene expression. Here, we review the various methods that have been used to test for signs of selection in genomic expression data. We also discuss properties of regulatory systems relevant to neutral models of gene expression. Despite some potential caveats, published studies provide considerable evidence for adaptive changes in gene expression. Future challenges for studies of regulatory evolution will be to quantify the frequency of adaptive changes, identify the genetic basis of expression divergence and associate changes in gene expression with specific organismal phenotypes.
Distinguishing Data Transience from False Injection in Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks are increasingly being employed for potentially hazardous and critical applications such as monitoring the gas concentration levels in a battle held. In such sensitive applications, it is vital to monitor closely the transient phenomenon and take requisite preventive and corrective actions, if necessary. In such scenarios, due to the presence of adversaries who intend to disrupt the functioning of the system, it becomes imperative to shield our system from false data injection attacks. We propose a novel secure statistical scheme, called SSTF to effectively monitor the transient phenomenon while being immune to false data injection attacks. For achieving our goals, we require the sensors to do a lightweight computation and report a simple statistical digest in addition to the current sensed reading. SSTF is a two-tier system consisting of a statistical inter-sensor testing framework, which is the kernel of our scheme, employed atop an enhanced version of a well-known existing security scheme. We present detailed theoretical analysis and in- depth simulations to show the effectiveness of SSTF.
Occurrence and Prediction of Algal Blooms in Lake Taneycomo

ABSTRACT In summer 1988, Lake Taneycomo, Missouri, developed conspicuous algal blooms as a result of low inflow from an upstream hydropower reservoir and phosphorus loading from a point source. In multiple regression models, variation in total phosphorus concentration and an index of water residence time accounted for 78–85 percent of the variation in transparency, chlorophyll, and volatile suspended solids in surface water. Non-equilibrium conditions in this rapidly flushed lake led to rapid and predictable increases in algal standing crops during lulls in power generation.
Fast dual graph-based hotspot detection

As advanced technologies in wafer manufacturing push patterning processes toward lower-k 1 subwavelength printing, lithography for mass production potentially suffers from decreased patterning fidelity. This results in generation of many hotspots , which are actual device patterns with relatively large CD and image errors with respect to on-wafer targets. Hotspots can be formed under a variety of conditions such as the original design being unfriendly to the RET that is applied, unanticipated pattern combinations in rule-based OPC, or inaccuracies in model-based OPC. When these hotspots fall on locations that are critical to the electrical performance of a device, device performance and parametric yield can be significantly degraded. Previous rule-based hotspot detection methods suffer from long runtimes for complicated patterns. Also, the model generation process that captures process variation within simulation-based approaches brings significant overheads in terms of validation, measurement and parameter calibration. In this paper, we first describe a novel detection algorithm for hotspots induced by lithographic uncertainty. Our goal is to rapidly detect all lithographic hotspots without significant accuracy degradation. In other words, we propose a filtering method: as long as there are no "false negatives", i.e., we successfully have a superset of actual hotspots, then our method can dramatically reduce the layout area for golden hotspot analysis. The first step of our hotspot detection algorithm is to build a layout graph which reflects pattern-related CD variation. Given a layout L , the layout graph G = ( V , E c union E p ) consists of nodes V , corner edges E c and proximity edges E p . A face in the layout graph includes several close features and the edges between them. Edge weight can be calculated from a traditional 2-D model or a lookup table. We then apply a three-level hotspot detection: (1) edge-level detection finds the hotspot caused by two close features or " L -shaped" features; (2) face-level detection finds the pattern-related hotspots which span several close features; and (3) merged-face-level detection finds hotspots with more complex patterns. To find the merged faces which capture the pattern-related hotspots, we propose to convert the layout into a planar graph G . We then construct its dual graph G D and sort the dual nodes according to their weights. We merge the sorted dual nodes (i.e., the faces in G ) that share a given feature, in sequence. We have tested our flow on several industry testcases. The experimental results show that our method is promising: for a 90nm metal layer with 17 hotspots detected by commercial optical rule check (ORC) tools, our method can detect all of them while the overall runtime improvement is more than 287X.
Impact of maternal HIV coinfection on the vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus: a meta-analysis.

Background Observational studies suggest that maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is associated with increased odds of vertical HCV transmission. We performed a meta-analysis to summarize current evidence. Methods We systematically searched for relevant articles published during the period from January 1992 through July 2006 and independently abstracted articles that met our inclusion criteria. Under a random effects model, we calculated the pooled odds ratio for vertical HCV transmission according to maternal HIV-HCV coinfection status and performed sensitivity analyses. Results Ten articles met our inclusion criteria. Study quality varied widely, and study estimates displayed high statistical heterogeneity. Restriction of the analysis to studies that included >50 HIV-HCV-coinfected women provided our most reliable estimate: maternal HIV-HCV coinfection increases the odds of vertical HCV transmission by approximately 90% (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-2.67), compared with maternal HCV infection alone. When we restricted analyses to HIV-infected mothers with HCV viremia, the odds of vertical HCV transmission were 2.82-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.17-fold to 6.81-fold) greater than the odds for HIV-infected mothers without HCV viremia. Conclusions HIV-HCV-coinfected women have significantly higher odds of transmitting HCV to their infants than do women who are infected with HCV alone.
A self-regulation approach to understanding citizenship behavior in organizations

Researchers have generally taken a between-person, cross-sectional approach to understand why employees engage in organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). However, in light of recent work indicating that motivated behavior in organizations is often better understood using a within-person, longitudinal approach, we conceptualize citizenship performance as a dynamic cycle that varies over time. Specifically, we use self-regulation theory to explain how employees seek to fulfill goals through their OCBs, make plans to achieve those goals, engage in OCBs, and process feedback regarding their citizenship behavior. In doing so, we highlight the role played by chronic and working self-concept orientations. We also explore the way affective states influence self-regulation and citizenship, discuss unconscious or habitual acts of citizenship, and address the ways in which self-regulation and citizenship may vary over time.
Scintillation model for a satellite communication link at large zenith angles

A scintillation model is developed for uplink-downlink optical communication channels applicable in moderate to strong fluctuation conditions that may arise under large zenith angles between transmitter and receiver. The model developed here is an extension of a recently published theory that treats irradiance fluctuations along a horizontal path as a modulation of small-scale scintillation by large-scale scintilla- tion. For a downlink path the scintillation index is modeled like that of an infinite plane wave, and for an uplink path we consider a spherical wave model. In both cases the scintillation index agrees with conventional weak-fluctuation-theory results out to zenith angles of 45 to 60 deg. The covariance function of irradiance fluctuations is also developed under the same conditions as assumed for the scintillation index. On a downlink path under small zenith angles the implied correlation length is propor- tional to the Fresnel-zone scale. For zenith angles exceeding 85 deg, the downlink correlation length varies directly with the spatial coherence ra- dius weighted by a factor that depends on changes in C n the refractive index structural parameter with altitude. © 2000 Society of Photo-Optical Instru- mentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(00)02412-0)
Influence of moisture and wind upon the characteristics of free-burning fires

A study of free-buring fires in mat-type beds of two light forest fuels (needles of ponderosa and western white pine) showed measurable effects of certain environmental conditions on the characteristics of fire. Measurements of these characteristics of nearly 200 fires burned under controlled humidity, air velocity, and fuel moisture, provided data for developing equations that enable prediction of rate of fire spread in individual fuel types when moisture content and air velocity are varied. As fuel moisture content increases, rate of spread decreases linearly with no wind. Increasing wind causes rate of spread to increase exponentially or by a power function. The importance and usefulness of a unit combustion area measurement are demonstrated; such measurements make it possible to characterize all fires by use of unit combustion rate and rate of spread. A general equation that predicts rate of spread in any wood fuel may be developed by incorporating fuel particle size and fuel bed compactness with fuel moisture content and air velocity.
Deciphering the electrogram in ventricular fibrillation to extract physiological information.

d w m e a u T m The term ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a challenging one: defining it and describing it, let alone understanding it, has been a daunting task for physiologists and clinicians. In its most basic conceptualization, VF is purely a pattern in the electrogram, rather than a pathophysiological event. Definitions in nursing, physiology, and medicine textbooks are vague and purely descriptive: “. . .grossly irregular undulations of varying amplitudes, contours, and rates. . . .” Such definitions contain little insight, but have been clinically useful because they are effective in communications and interactions among clinicians, similar to the idea that “you will know it when you see it.” Although most health professionals at all levels would have little problem recognizing VF based on these vague but intuitive definitions, few could actually give a cogent description or meaningful account of the mechanisms of the underlying physiological phenomenon. To health professionals involved in sudden death resuscitation, it is obvious that not all VFs are the same, and that during the course of resuscitation efforts in individual patients, there are changes in the electrocardiographic waveform that roughly correlate with the progress of such efforts. For example, most clinicians would understand terms such as agonal fibrillation when referring to the slow fibrillatory undulations that precede asystole in failing resuscitations, particularly in comparison with the fine fibrillation patterns present at VF initiation. The terms agonal and fine are vague and gross, but effective when used in individual examples (Figure 1). Most readers will agree that VF changes during the example shown, and would correctly identify fine VF as the initial VF, and agonal VF as the final VF. Again, the pervasive paradigm of “you’ll know it when you see it,” effective in communicating but deceptive in understanding. Physiologists have attempted to correlate electrocardiographic patterns in VF with specific activation patterns and thereby mechanisms of VF, but such correlations require
Cholinergic sensitivity predicts severity of mania

Our laboratory and others have reported that pupillary constrictions following application of the cholinergic agonist pilocarpine are increased in depressed patients. Moreover, mood improvements in manic patients, given lithium or Depakote, are also correlated with increases in pupil sensitivity. The present report describes the relationship between symptom severity and cholinergic sensitivity in a larger group (N=20) of manic patients (bipolar I; 296.4x). Pupil responses to pilocarpine eye drops (0-2%) were recorded using infrared pupillometry. The results were compared with pupil sizes measured under conditions of cholinergic blockade (0.5% tropicamide). Pupil responses were computed as percentages of the maximal range of areas measured under saturating agonist and antagonist conditions. Dose response curves were subjected to a log-logit transformation and ED(50) values were determined by weighted least squares regression. Bech-Rafaelsen mania ratings were found to be linearly related to ED(50) values (r=0.48). Patients with more severe mania required higher concentrations of pilocarpine in order to elicit a 50% reduction in pupil size. The present findings support a putative cholinergic role in the regulation of mood state. Moreover, the results suggest that pupillary responses may provide a simple and non-invasive means to evaluate cholinergic sensitivity in patients with affective disorders.
A particle filtering algorithm for parameter estimation in real-time biosensor arrays

Biosensor arrays (e.g., DNA microarrays, protein arrays) detect the presence and quantify the amounts of various biomolecules, including nucleic acids, antibodies, and cell receptors. They rely on chemical attraction between the biomolecules of interest (targets) and their molecular complements which serve as biological sensing elements (probes). The attraction between biomolecules leads to binding, in which probes capture target analytes. Recently developed real-time affinity-based biosensors are capable of acquiring the kinetics of the binding process. Molecular binding is a random process which, in this paper, is modeled by a stochastic differential equation observed at discrete points in time, where the observations are corrupted by an additive noise. The target analyte quantification is posed as a parameter estimation problem, and solved using numerical techniques - Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method and Particle Filtering (PF). Simulation studies show that these methods complement each other to provide accurate quantification of the targets over a wide range of measurement noise powers.
Behavior of Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Neonate Larvae on Surfaces Treated with Microencapsulated Pear Ester

ABSTRACT Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), larvae cause severe internal feeding damage to apples, pears, and walnuts worldwide. Research has demonstrated that codling moth neonate first instar larvae are attracted to a pear-derived kairomone, ethyl (2E,4Z) -2,4-decadienoate, the pear ester (PE). Reported here are the behavioral activities of neonate codling moth larvae to microencapsulated pear ester (MEC-PE) applied in aqueous solutions to both filter paper and apple leaf surfaces that were evaluated over a period of up to 20 d of aging. In dual-choice tests the MEC-PE treatment elicited attraction to and longer time spent on treated zones of filter papers relative to water-treated control zones for up to 14 d of aging. A higher concentration of MEC-PE caused no preferential response to the treated zone for the first 5 d of aging followed by significant responses through day 20 of aging, suggesting sensory adaptation as an initial concentration factor. Estimated emission levels of PE from treated filte...
Challenges to Recruitment of Urban African American Patients with Cancer Pain

There are many assumptions about recruitment of African Americans to cancer studies. The population is often characterized as older, low income, with limited education, scarce resources, and distrust of the health care system. Support systems for African Americans are reported to be centered on family and church communities. Observations made during recruitment and enrollments for a longitudinal intervention study with urban African Americans with cancer pain are presented. Majority of the subjects being recruited in this study are well educated, knowledgeable about research and very open to healthcare providers and researchers. Our population is younger than anticipated and struggling with an absence of family, faith, or community supports. They are more connected in terms of phone ownership, but often difficult to contact due to interruptions in phone service, housing insecurity and time demands related to medical care for their cancer. We conclude that familiarity with cultural patterns of a population of interest is necessary, but local and individual assessment is critical to successful recruitment to research.
Is the stroke belt worn from childhood?: current knowledge and future directions

See related article, pages 2415–2421. More than 4 decades ago, Borhani1 reported excess stroke mortality risk in the southeastern states of the US, the “Stoke Belt”. Since then, none of the many reasons proposed adequately explained the phonomenon.2 Many studies have failed to adequately explain geographic differences in stroke risk using traditional stroke risk factors measured later in life.3–6 There are 3 possible reasons why the traditional stroke risk factors failed to account for the higher stroke risk in the Stroke Belt states. First, the measurement of the risk factors may be inadequate. For example, higher blood pressure level, the most important single determinant of stroke risk, was measured in previous studies at only 1 or even several points in time, usually in middle aged or older adults. The integrated level of blood pressure from childhood or young adulthood to older ages and their adverse effects on vascular disease may be a more important determinant. Second, previous studies typically did not take into account the differential effects of treatment of the risk factors, not only including the likelihood that individuals are placed on various therapies to lower blood pressure or other risk factors but also, most important, adherence to such therapies and reduction of these risk factors. Third, there may be other still unidentified risk factors more prevalent in …
Learning the Learning Cycle: The Differential Effect on Elementary Preservice Teachers

This study examined the difficulties and factors that led to understanding the learning cycle teaching strategy. Participants included 83 preservice elementary teachers (PTs) enrolled in multiple sections of a science methods course taught by the same professor, one of the authors of this study. Analysis revealed that there were four categories of PTs, ranging from Enthusiastic to Fearful students, distinguished by their science content background and attitudes to science. High achieving students, successful in science courses, felt confused by the learning cycle that was so different from their previous science learning experiences and formed mindsets against learning it. Average students who expressed disinterest or even fear of science embraced it as their first successful science learning experience. Multiple exposures to the learning cycle were necessary to overcome these mindsets. Most PTs in all categories increased in their understanding of the learning cycle and perceived it as an effective method for allowing students to construct their understanding of science.
Edge separability-based circuit clustering with application to multilevel circuit partitioning

In this paper, we propose a new efficient O(nlogn) connectivity-based bottom-up clustering algorithm called edge separability-based clustering (ESC). Unlike existing bottom-up algorithms that are based on local connectivity information of the netlist, ESC exploits more global connectivity information using edge separability to guide the clustering process, while carefully monitoring cluster area balance. Exact computation of the edge separability /spl lambda/(e) for a given edge e=(x,y) in an edge-weighted undirected graph G is equivalent to finding the maximum flow between x and y. Since the currently best known time bounds for solving the maximum flow problem is O(mnlog(n/sup 2//m)), due to Goldberg and Tarjan (Goldberg and Tarjan, 1988), the computation of /spl lambda/(e) for all edges in G requires O(m/sup 2/nlog(n/sup 2//m)) time. However, we show that a simple and efficient algorithm CAPFOREST (Nagamochi and Ibaraki, 1992) can be used to provide a good approximation of edge separability (within 9.1% empirical error bound) for all edges in G without using any network flow computation in O(nlogn) time. Our experimental results based on large-scale benchmark circuits demonstrate the effectiveness of using edge separability in the context of multilevel partitioning framework for cutsize minimization. We observe that exploiting edge separability yields better quality partitioning solution compared to existing clustering algorithms (Sun and Sechen, 1993), (Cong and Smith, 1993), (Huang and Kahng, 1995), (Ng et al., 1987), (Wei and Cheng, 1991), (Shin and Kim, 1993), (Schuler and Ulrich, 1972), (Karypis et al., 1997), that rely on local connectivity information. In addition, our ESC-based iterative improvement based multilevel partitioning algorithm LR/ESC-PM provides comparable results to state-of-the-art hMetis package (Karypis et al., 1997), (Karypis and Kumar, 1999).
Running the Numbers on Lotteries and the Poor: An Empirical Analysis of Transfer Payment Distribution and Subsequent Lottery Sales

State lottery revenues are shown to increase during the week transfer payments are distributed. The timing of the increase in lottery purchases suggests a portion of the transfer payments is used to purchase lottery tickets. In addition to providing information on the timing of lottery purchases, this study finds sales of Pick 3 and Pick 4 tickets increase during the period, while sales of Pick 5 and Pick 6 games do not, suggesting a general preference for the relatively higher probability, smaller jackpot games for the group.
Trocar in conventional laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery as a major cause of iatrogenic trauma to the patient

All laparoscopic procedures, laparoscopic or robotic-assisted, start with a trocar entry. Unfortunately unknown to most, this is an extremely important part of the surgery, as 80% of major vascular injuries and 50% of intestinal injuries occur during this procedure. Laparoscopic first entry is often delegated to trainees with little experience, wrongly assuming that laparoscopic entry is similar to incisional entry at laparotomy. This may result in patient death (mortality of major vascular injuries is 11% and unrecognized intestinal injuries is 5%) or significant temporary or permanent morbidity.
At Will Eployment

Encyclopedia article on the history, development, and policy behind the At-Will rule of employment duration and discharge.
Cryptic sex? Estimates of genome exchange in unisexual mole salamanders (Ambystoma sp.)

Cryptic sex has been argued to explain the exceptional longevity of certain parthenogenetic vertebrate lineages, yet direct measurements of genetic exchange between sexual and apparently parthenogenetic forms are rare. Female unisexual mole salamanders (Ambystoma sp.) are the oldest known unisexual vertebrate lineage (~5 million years), and one hypothesis for their persistence is that allopolyploid female unisexuals periodically exchange haploid genomes 'genome exchange' during gynogenetic reproduction with males from sympatric sexual species. We test this hypothesis by using genome-specific microsatellite DNA markers to estimate the rates of genome exchange between sexual males and unisexual females in two ponds in NE Ohio. We also test the prediction that levels of gene flow should be higher for 'sympatric' (sexual males present) genomes in unisexuals compared to 'allopatric' (sexual males absent) unisexual genomes. We used a model testing framework in the coalescent-based program MIGRATE-N to compare models where unidirectional gene flow is present and absent between sexual species and unisexuals. As predicted, our results show higher levels of gene flow between sexuals and sympatric unisexual genomes compared to lower (likely artefactual) levels of gene flow between sexuals and allopatric unisexual genomes. Our results provide direct evidence that genome exchange between sexual and unisexual Ambystoma occurs and demonstrate that the magnitude depends on which sexual species are present. The relatively high levels of gene flow suggest that unisexuals must be at a selective advantage over sexual forms so as to avoid extinction due to genetic swamping through genome exchange.
Illness Narratives of African Americans Living With Coronary Heart Disease A Critical Interactionist Analysis

How African American men and women respond to and manage living with coronary heart disease (CHD) is not well understood despite the well-documented disproportionate burden of CHD and its complications among African Americans in the United States. Through a critical interactionist perspective, we explore illness experiences of African Americans living with CHD and describe a broad range of micro-, meso-, and macro-contextual factors that influence their illness experiences. For participants in this study, CHD has become a "Black disease" wherein certain bodies have become historically and racially marked; a conceptualization maintained and passed on by African Americans themselves. Such findings highlight that CHD is more than a "lifestyle disease" where high-risk behaviors and lack of healthy choices are ultimate culprits. Rather, CHD is perceived by African Americans who have it as yet another product of ongoing racial and socio-structural dynamics through which their health burdens are created, sustained, and reproduced.
Discussion on Compatibility Mechanism and Cultivation Countermeasure of High Quality and High yield of Super Hybrid Rice II.The Cultivation Countermeasure of High Quality and High Yield of Super Hybrid Rice

This paper analysed common rules of influence of natural environment factors and cultivation conditions on rice yield and quality,then put forward compatible management principle and cultivation technique package which ensure high quality and high yield of super hybrid rice come true
399 COMPARISON OF RACIAL/ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL RATES AMONG VA AND NON-VA HYPERTENSIVE MEN

Differential access to health care may contribute to lower blood pressure (BP) control rates to
Review: hospital-at-home care does not increase mortality or readmission rates in acute exacerbations of COPD.

Source Citation Ram FS, Wedzicha JA, Wright J, Greenstone M. Hospital at home for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(4):CD003573.
Discovering Computers 2016: Tools, Apps, Devices, and the Impact of Technology, by Misty E. Vermaat, Susan L. Sebok, Steven M. Freund, Jennifer T. Campbell, and Mark Frydenburg

Discovering Computers 2016 is the 18th edition of an evolving textbook, which has been used widely in the introductory computer education. This textbook is geared towards introducing the students t...
Heterotopic Intracranial Skin Presenting as Chronic Draining Sinus After Remote Craniotomy

Background Craniotomies for trauma are associated with a significant risk of wound complications. We report a case in which a chronic nonhealing draining sinus was caused by an ectopic epidermal lining deep to the craniotomy bone flap, adherent to the underlying dura. Case Description A 61-year-old man was examined for a 3-year-old, nonhealing scalp wound resulting after a traumatic brain injury. His initial surgery consisted of an intracranial hematoma evacuation through a temporoparietal craniotomy; this was complicated by wound dehiscence and a chronic sinus draining clear fluid that did not resolve with antimicrobial therapy. Intraoperatively, a layer of hair-bearing skin adherent to the dura was found deep to the entirety of the previous bone flap. There was no dura tear or overt cerebrospinal fluid leak. This necessitated removal of the skin over the dura as well as the overlying bone flap. The resultant defect was reconstructed with a titanium mesh and hydroxyapatite cranioplasty, with a scalp rotation flap for coverage of the cutaneous defect. Pathology confirmed skin with intact adnexal structures. Conclusion This case demonstrates that it is possible for hair-bearing skin to grow directly on dura, deep to an intact craniotomy bone flap. With a chronic draining sinus in the absence of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings, this should be part of the differential diagnosis.
Lung disease severity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is more strongly associated with impedance measures of bolus reflux than pH parameters of acid reflux alone

Background Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Pathogenesis may be related to chronic micro-aspiration. We aimed to assess objective measures of GER on multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH study (MII-pH) and their relationship with pulmonary function testing (PFT) results, and to compare the performance of pH/acid reflux parameters vs corresponding MII/bolus parameters in predicting pulmonary dysfunction in IPF. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of IPF patients undergoing prelung transplant evaluation with MII-pH off acid suppression, and having received PFT within 3 months. Patients with prior fundoplication were excluded. Severe pulmonary dysfunction was defined using diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) ≤40%. Six pH/acid reflux parameters with corresponding MII/bolus reflux measures were specified a priori. Multivariate analyses were applied using forward stepwise logistic regression. Predictive value of each parameter for severe pulmonary dysfunction was calculated by area-under-the-receiver-operating-characteristic-curve or c-statistic. Key Results Forty-five subjects (67% M, age 59, 15 mild-moderate vs 30 severe) met criteria for inclusion. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were similar between pulmonary dysfunction groups. Abnormal total reflux episodes and prolonged bolus clearance time were significantly associated with pulmonary dysfunction severity on univariate and multivariate analyses. No pH parameters were significant. The c-statistic of each pH parameter was lower than its MII counterpart in predicting pulmonary dysfunction. Conclusions & Inferences MII/bolus reflux, but not pH/acid reflux, was associated with pulmonary dysfunction in prelung transplant patients with IPF. MII-pH may be more valuable than pH testing alone in characterizing GER in IPF.
Non-invasive assessment of muscle injury in healthy and dystrophic animals with electrical impedance myography.

Introduction Dystrophic muscle is particularly susceptible to eccentric contraction–induced injury. We tested the hypothesis that electrical impedance myography (EIM) can detect injury induced by maximal-force lengthening contractions. Methods We induced injury in the quadriceps of wild-type (WT) and dystrophic (mdx) mice with eccentric contractions using an established model. Results mdx quadriceps had significantly greater losses in peak twitch and tetany compared with losses in WT quadriceps. Injured muscle showed a significant increase in EIM characteristic frequency in both WT (177 ± 7.7%) and mdx (167 ± 7.8%) quadriceps. EIM also revealed decreased extracellular resistance for both WT and mdx quadriceps after injury. Conclusions Our results show overall agreement between muscle function and EIM measurements of injured muscle, indicating that EIM is a viable tool to assess injury in dystrophic muscle. Muscle Nerve, 2017
Bayesian Posterior Odds Ratios: Statistical Tools for Collaborative Evaluations

To begin statistical analysis, Bayesians quantify their confidence in modeling hypotheses with priors. A prior describes the probability of a certain modeling hypothesis apart from the data. Bayesi...
Relationship Between T-Cell Responses to CMV, Markers of Inflammation, and Frailty in HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected Men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

Background Both aging and treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected populations exhibit low-level chronic immune activation of unknown etiology, which correlates with morbidity and mortality. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common in both populations, but its relation to immune activation is unknown. Methods T cells from men who have sex with men (22 virologically suppressed HIV+, 20 HIV-) were stimulated with peptides spanning 19 CMV open reading frames, and intracellular cytokine responses were assessed. Soluble and cellular inflammatory markers were assessed by multiplex electrochemiluminescence and flow cytometry, respectively. Frailty was assessed by the Fried criteria. Results All men had responses to CMV. Proportions of CMV-responsive T cells correlated strongly (r ≥ 0.6 or ≤ -0.6; P < .05) with immunologic markers, depending on donor HIV and frailty status. Markers significantly correlated in some groups after adjustment for multiple comparisons included interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and several chemokines in serum, and the proportion of activated T cells. The magnitude of the CD4 IL-2 response significantly predicted onset of frailty in HIV- nonfrail men, but not in HIV+ nonfrail men. Conclusions T-cell responses to CMV may strongly influence chronic immune activation in HIV-uninfected and virologically suppressed HIV-infected men, and may predict frailty in HIV-uninfected men.
Enhanced In Vivo Bone and Blood Vessel Formation by Iron Oxide and Silica Doped 3D Printed Tricalcium Phosphate Scaffolds.

Calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics show significant promise towards bone graft applications because of the compositional similarity to inorganic materials of bone. With 3D printing, it is possible to create ceramic implants that closely mimic the geometry of human bone and can be custom-designed for unusual injuries or anatomical sites. The objective of the study was to optimize the 3D-printing parameters for the fabrication of scaffolds, with complex geometry, made from synthesized tricalcium phosphate (TCP) powder. This study was also intended to elucidate the mechanical and biological effects of the addition of Fe+3 and Si+4 in TCP implants in a rat distal femur model for 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Doped with Fe+3 and Si+4 TCP scaffolds with 3D interconnected channels were fabricated to provide channels for micronutrients delivery and improved cell-material interactions through bioactive fixation. Addition of Fe+3 into TCP enhanced early-stage new bone formation by increasing type I collagen production. Neovascularization was observed in the Si+4 doped samples after 12 weeks. These findings emphasize that the additive manufacturing of scaffolds with complex geometry from synthesized ceramic powder with modified chemistry is feasible and may serve as a potential candidate to introduce angiogenic and osteogenic properties to CaPs, leading to accelerated bone defect healing.
The genus Scelotes Fitzinger (Reptilia: Scincidae) in Mozambique, Swaziland and Natal, South Africa

The species of Scelotes in Mozambique, Swaziland and Natal (South Africa) are reviewed, based on the examination of 655 specimens from this region and the adjacent eastern Transvaal. Five species-Â­groups are recognised. The monotypic S. mirus group has four pentadactyle limbs and is restricted to montane grassland. The didactyle S. bidigittatus group is represented by S. duttoni on the Bazaruto Archipelago (which retains a minute forelimb bud) and the lowveld species S. bidigittatus. The widespread species S. mossambicus (= S. brevipes auct.), with a well-developed hindlimb bud, has a derived form S. fitzsimonsi sp. n., which lacks a hindlimb bud and is restricted to a narrow coastal strip. The S. inornatus group consists of three large species with restricted ranges, S. guentheri and S. bourquilli sp. n. with small hindlimb buds from Durban and the Natal Midlands respectively, and the limbless S. inornatus from the Durban area. The three species of the S. arenicola group have only three supraoculars and are restricted to coastal alluvium. S. vestigifer sp. n. retains vestigial hindlimb buds and has a relict distribution on the southern margin of the range of S. arenicola. S. insularis inhabits the Bazaruto Archipelago.
Optomotor steering and flight control requires a specific sub-section of the compound eye in the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta

ABSTRACT While tracking odor plumes, male hawkmoths use optic flow cues to stabilize their flight movements with respect to their environment. We studied the responses of freely flying moths tracking odor plumes in a laboratory wind tunnel and tethered moths in an optomotor flight simulator to determine the locations on the compound eye on which critical optic flow cues are detected. In these behavioral experiments, we occluded specific regions of the compound eye and systematically examined the moths9 behavior for specific deficits in optic flow processing. Freely flying moths with the dorsal half of the compound eye painted were unable to maintain stable flight and track the wind-borne odor plume. However, the plume tracking performance of moths with the ventral half of their compound eyes painted was the same as unpainted controls. In a matched set of experiments, we presented tethered moths with moving vertically oriented sinusoidal gratings and found that individuals with their eyes unpainted, ventrally painted and medially painted all responded by attempting optomotor-driven turns in the same proportion. In contrast, individuals with their compound eyes dorsally painted, laterally painted and completely painted showed no optomotor turning response. We decreased the contrast of the visual stimulus and found that this relationship was consistent down to a contrast level of 2.5%. We conclude that visual input from the dorso-lateral region of the moth9s visual world is critical for successful maintenance of flight stability and that this species9 visual environment must meet or exceed a contrast ratio of 2.5% to support visual flight control.
Gov 2.0 and Beyond: Using Social Media for Transparency, Participation and Collaboration

A recent paradigm shift has broadly impacted the evolution of electronic government: Gov 2.0. This shift represents a massive change from a static web presence for the delivery of information and services to using collaborative web technologies to engage citizens, foster co-production, and encourage transparency in government. Social media are creating new pathways between citizens and government to access information and services. The author argues that by applying Diffusion of Innovation, Social Influence, and Collective Intelligence theories, one can better understand how Gov 2.0 technologies and applications are adopted and may enable transformative changes in the delivery of online government information and services. U.S. federal government initiatives adopting social media are examined. These observations demonstrate how interactions between citizens and government are changing and creating entirely new online communities that defy traditional communication reach and organizational boundaries. Challenges and barriers to achieving open government initiatives are presented. Recommendations are offered.
Unit selection and emotional speech.

Unit Selection Synthesis, where appropriate units are selected from large databases of natural speech, has greatly improved the quality of speech synthesis. But the quality improvement has come at a cost. The quality of the synthesis relies on the fact that little or no signal processing is done on the selected units, thus the style of the recording is maintained in the quality of the synthesis. The synthesis style is implicitly the style of the database. If we want more general flexibility we have to record more data of the desired style. Which means that our already large unit databases must be made even larger. This paper gives examples of how to produce varied style and emotion using existing unit selection synthesis techniques and also highlights the limitations of generating truly flexible synthetic voices.
Social Organization and Population Control in the Pine Vole, Microtus Pinetorum

Pine voles, Microtus pinetorum, reared in large enclosures in the laboratory exhibited social constraints that controlled population density. In a 14-year study of 23 parental groups, populations were self limiting at a mean of 16 animals per population. Birth of litters was limited largely to the single founding female. Reproduction ceased in 15 groups when populations grew and litter survival dropped to zero, and in the remaining groups when the founding mother (six groups) or father (two groups) died. Stimulation of estrus in nonreproducing females by exogenous injection of sex hormones did not result in production of litters. Mature, parous females suppressed reproduction in young females. In the parental groups, nonreproductive females did not breed with introduced strange males in the presence of mature females. In a separate experiment weanling females housed in small groups with mature parous females showed suppressed reproduction when, at chronological maturity, they were introduced to strange males. In 75% of these groups only the mature female gave birth and in an additional 19% the mature female and one young gave birth. Nonreproductive animals in parental groups and in small groups were capable of breeding when paired with strange animals of the opposite sex.
Energy Production: A Global Perspective

Abstract Canada has the world's third largest oil reserves, with 97% of these (170 Bb, billion barrels) in the oil sands. Of these, 20% are recoverable with mining, while most (80%) are recoverable only by drilling (in situ). Production from the oil sands has been rapidly increasing (millions of barrels of oil per day): 0.1 (1980), 1.5 (2010), and 3.5 (2030) expected. In 2010, there were 91 active oil sand projects, and of these, four were mining with the remainder using various in situ recovery methods. It is in this context that future world demand for energy resources will be analyzed. In the next two decades, as the world appetite for energy continues to increase, the oil sands will produce one-eighth of the total increase in global oil-based liquids. The major presence of oil sand production in the world's energy markets will mean that many of the same constraints that face major producers elsewhere will be felt in Alberta. This includes CO2 production associated with global climate change. Current methods for CO2 capture and storage are not cost-effective, and have been slow (if not absent) to introduce at scale. This chapter describes research into some potentially economically feasible approaches: cost-effective capture and storage of CO2 through energy production from methane-saturated saline aquifers, fuels from sunlight without CO2 production, and large-scale electrical energy storage for intermittent (and even constant) electricity generating sources.
Lightweight verification of a multi-task threaded server: a case study with the plural tool

In this case study, we used the Plural tool to verify the design of a commercial multi-task threaded application (MTTS) implemented by Novabase, which has been used for massively parallelising computational tasks. The effort undertaken in this case study has revealed several issues related with the design of the MTTS, with programming practices used in its implementation, and with domain specific properties of the MTTS. This case study has also provided insight on how the analysis done by the Plural tool can be improved. The Plural tool performs lightweight verification of Java programs. Plural specification language combines typestates and access permissions, backed by Linear Logic. The Plural specifications we wrote for the MTTS are based on its code, its informal documentation, sometimes embedded in the code, and our discussions with Novabase's engineers, who validated our understanding of the MTTS application.
Implication of environmental estrogens on breast cancer treatment and progression

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed malignancy among women in the United States. Approximately 70% of breast tumors express estrogen receptor alpha and are deemed ER-positive. ER-positive breast tumors depend upon endogenous estrogens to promote ER-mediated cellular proliferation. Decades of research have led to a fundamental understanding of the role ER signaling in this disease and this knowledge has led to significant advancements in the clinical use of antiestrogens for breast cancer treatment. However, adjuvant breast cancer recurrence and metastatic disease progression due to endocrine therapy resistance are prominent and unresolved issues. The established role that estrogens play in breast cancer pathogenesis explains why some patients initially respond to endocrine therapy but also why a significant number of patients become refractory to antiestrogen treatment. It is been hypothesized that exposure to environmental steroid hormone mimics and/or acquired mechanisms of resistance may explain why endocrine therapy fails in a subset of breast cancer patients. This review will highlight: 1) the relationship between ER signaling and breast cancer pathogenesis, 2) the implication of environmental exposures on steroid hormone regulated processes including breast cancer, and 3) the unresolved issue of endocrine therapy resistance.
Functional Differential Equations

Equations determining a functional and involving variational derivatives are called functional differential equations (abbreviated by fde, list in Chap. 1). Definitions and elementary properties of such equations are discussed to prepare the subsequent development on fdes. Two types of such equations are considered: elliptic and parabolic fdes.