cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bivalirudin versus Unfractionated Heparin for Prevention of Hemofilter Occlusion During Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

Study Objective. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin compared with heparin for preventing hemofilter occlusion during continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). Design. Prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Setting. University-affiliated hospital. Patients. Ten critically ill adults (median age 58 yrs, 70% male) with acute renal failure who, without anticoagulation, experienced hemofilter survival time of 24 hours or less during CVVH. Intervention. Patients were randomized to receive bivalirudin 2 mg/hour (five patients) or heparin 400 units/hour (five patients) administered prefilter into the extracorporeal circuit. Measurements and Main Results. Patients had a median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score of 24, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of 11, and reduced antithrombin activity (75.5 units/dl). Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between groups. Study drug was administered in 40 hemofilters (18 from bivalirudin-treated patients, 22 from heparin-treated patients). The primary efficacy outcome was hemofilter survival time, defined as the interval of time between commencement of CVVH with a new extracorporeal circuit (hemofilter) and hemofilter failure. Compared with no anticoagulation, the addition of bivalirudin or heparin significantly improved hemofilter survival time (mean ± SD 10 ± 5 hrs with no anticoagulation vs 22 ± 18 hrs with anticoagulation, p=0.0005). Hemofilter survival time was significantly increased in patients receiving bivalirudin versus those receiving heparin (29.6 ± 20.7 vs 16.5 ± 13.6 hrs, p=0.045). Independent predictors of hemofilter survival were use of bivalirudin therapy and increased antithrombin III activity. No patients randomized to bivalirudin experienced any bleeding or thrombosis events; one patient who received heparin developed alveolar hemorrhage, and one developed a lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. Conclusion. Compared with heparin, bivalirudin was more efficacious in prolonging hemofilter survival time and was well tolerated. Additional studies of bivalirudin for prevention of hemofilter occlusion during continuous renal replacement therapy are warranted.
Appendix B—Geologic work of the Tennessee Valley Authority on Limestone‐Caves

The Division of Geology of the Tennessee Valley Authority is necessarily keenly interested in the question of limestone-caverns in its relation to various engineering projects of the Authority. Caves affect our work in a number of different relations and a very large fraction of our field-work has been involved in one way or another in the question of such caves. We are not as yet prepared to issue a special report on this subject, but such a report will, it is hoped, be possible within the next year or so. At the moment it will perhaps be clearest if the work be briefly described in its relation to particular dams.
Mode of reversible binding of neocarzinostatin chromophore to DNA: base sequence dependency of binding

The reversible binding of neocarzinostatin chromophore to polynucleotides was studied in order to understand the molecular basis of its base sequence-specificity in DNA damage production. Studies of the spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties of chromophore-polynucleotide interactions reveal that the binding of the chromophore to poly(dA-dT) is qualitatively and quantitatively different from that to poly(dG-dC) (and poly(dI-dC]. From these and other experiments using double-stranded mixtures of homopolynucleotides, it is proposed that the observed A T specific intercalation might result from differential recognition of minor variations in the B-DNA type structure by the chromophore.
Wet‐Spun Stimuli‐Responsive Composite Fibers with Tunable Electrical Conductivity

Wet-spun stimuli-responsive composite fi bers made of covalently crosslinked alginate with a high concentration of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are electroconductive and sensitive to humidity, pH, and ionic strength, due to pH-tunable water absorbing properties of the covalently crosslinked alginate. The conductivity depends on the material swelling in humid atmosphere and aqueous solutions: the greater the swelling, the smaller is the electrical conductivity. The covalently crosslinked fi bers reversibly deform during the swelling/shrinking. In the swollen state, the fi bers are less conductive, while they return to the same level of conductivity after shrinking. This unique reversible change of electroconductivity of the SWCNT-alginate fi bers is due to the elastic deformation of the alginate network in the area of electrical contacts between SWCNT bundles arrested in the alginate matrix. Fibers of this kind can be used as a simple, robust, disposable, and biocompatible platform for electrotextiles, biosensors, and fl exible electronics in biomedical and biotechnological applications.
Potato russet scab, its cause and factors affecting its development

Potato russet scab in Minnesota is caused by a species of Streptomyces similar to, but different fromStreptomyces scabies, S. tenuis, andS. marginatus
Spore development in Bacillus subtilis

Abstract Cell—cell and starvation signals are funneled through the phosphorelay to initiate sporulation by activating the transcription regulator SpoOA. Activation of SpoOA leads to synthesis of the transcription factors σF and σE. Substantial advances have been made in our understanding of the signal circuitry of the phosphorelay and of the cell-type-specific activation of the σ factors.
The relative order of prepositional phrases in English: Going beyond Manner–Place–Time

This article argues against Manner–Place–Time and other proposed grammatical principles of ordering for prepositional phrases (PPs) in postverbal position in English. Instead, greater empirical adequacy can be achieved by a theory of processing efficiency that defines a preference for minimal domains in the recognition of syntactic phrase structure and in the processing of lexical–semantic dependencies between verbs and prepositions. Some new entailment tests are proposed on the basis of which these dependencies can be defined. The data come from 500 pages of written English. For 300 pages, an additional analysis is given in terms of structural ambiguity avoidance and pragmatic information status. Syntactic complexity is the biggest single predictor of PP sequences, whereas lexical–semantic factors predominate when syntactic preferences are weak. Manner–Place–Time is not the correct semantic generalization, however. Ambiguity avoidance had no clear impact on these orderings. Pragmatic effects were not visible when syntactic weight made no predictions and were correlated with weight when it did but were less strongly supported.
Joint liability among bank borrowers

A common feature of financial intermediaries is that the welfare of one borrower is adversely affected by the poor performance of other borrowers. That is, there exists a degree of joint liability among the borrowers of a financial intermediary. This paper provides an explanation for this observation. It demonstrates that in Krasa and Villamil's [14] formalization of a financial intermediary as a delegated monitor, intermediation with joint liability between borrowers Pareto dominates intermediation without joint liability.
Dong‐Kook‐Yu‐Ji‐Do: A recently discovered manuscript of a map of Korea

(1967). Dong‐Kook‐Yu‐Ji‐Do: A recently discovered manuscript of a map of Korea. Imago Mundi: Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 31-51.
The evolution of the American economy : growth, welfare, and decision making

Introduction: The Study of Economic Growth, Welfare, and Decision Making. I. FROM COLONIALISM TO NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE (1492-1790). 1. American and the Developing World Economy. 2. Regional Patterns of Colonial Development. 3. Growth and Welfare in the Colonies. 4. Foundations of Economic Independence. II. THE AGRICULTURAL ERA AND EMERGING INDUSTRIALISM (1790-1860). 5. Revolutions in Transportation and Communications. 6. Land Policy, Agricultural Expansion, and the Political Economy of Slavery. 7. Critical Changes in the Financial System. 8. Beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in America. 9. Growth and Change in Domestic and Foreign Markets. 10. Economic Growth and Social Welfare. III. THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY (1860-1914). 11. Continental Expansion, Agricultural Modernization, and Southern Backwardness. 12. Mass Production and the Advent of Big Business. 13. Labor in the Industrializing Society. 14. Building Nationwide Railroad and Communication Networks. 15. The Financial System Under Stress. 16. National and World Markets for Mass Production. IV. PROSPERITY, DEPRESSION AND WORLD WARS (1914-1945). 17. Economic Impact of World War I. 18. The 1920s: A Taste of Abundance. 19. The Great Depression of the 1930s. 20. The Planned Economy of World War II. V. THE POSTINDUSTRIAL ECONOMY AND THE NEW WORLD ORDER (1945-1990S). 21. The Good Years (1945-1965). 22. The Great Inflation (1965-1982). 23. Deficits, Debts, and Defaults (1980-1992). Index.
A single in vitro point mutation in the first non-translated exon silences transcription of the human apolipoprotein B gene in HepG2 cells.

Hepatic cell-specific expression of the human apolipoprotein B (apoB) gene is controlled by at least four cis-acting elements located within the -128 to +122 promoter region (S.S. Chuang, H.K. Das, Identification of trans-acting factors that interact with cis-acting elements present in the first non-translated exon of the human apolipoprotein B gene, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 220 (1996) 553-562). Two cis-acting positive elements (-104 to -85; -84 to -60) are located upstream from the start of transcription. A negative element (+20 to +40) and a strong positive element (+43 to +53) are located in the first non-translated exon of the human apolipoprotein B gene. Trans-acting factors BRF-2, BRF-1, BRF-3, and BRF-4 interact with the above four cis-acting elements respectively. In this study, we examine the roles of the upstream positive elements -104 to -85 and -84 to -60 in modulating transcriptional regulation of the apoB gene by downstream elements +20 to +40 and +43 to +53. Using in vitro mutagenesis and transient transfection experiments in HepG2 cells, the cis-acting element -84 to -60 has been found to be absolutely necessary for the function of the upstream element -104 to -85 and downstream elements +20 to +40 and +43 to +53. In vitro mutagenesis of the downstream positive element +43 to +53 and transfection of the mutant promoter constructs in HepG2 cells reveal that nucleotide G at position +51 is essential for the strong positive activity of the element +43 to +53. A single substitution point mutation of nucleotide G to either A or T at position +51 reduces apolipoprotein B gene transcription substantially in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that a single substitution mutation in vivo, of nucleotide G to either A or T at position +51 in the downstream positive promoter element +43 to +53 may potentially cause hypobetalipoproteinemia, a heterozygous from of an autosomal-dominant disorder.
Spontaneous mutation frequency and molecular mechanisms of Shigella flexneri fluoroquinolone resistance under antibiotic selective stress

The incidence of fluoroquinolone-resistant Shigella strains has risen rapidly, presumably in response to ciprofloxacin antibiotic stress. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying this resistance phenotype is critical to developing novel and effective therapeutic strategies. In this study, the frequency of ciprofloxacin-induced mutation was measured in antibiotic resistance genes (gyrA, gyrB, parC, parE, marOR, and marA) of Shigella flexneri. The S. flexneri 2a strain 301 was cultured on Luria–Bertani agar plates containing one of seven different ciprofloxacin concentrations (range: 0.03125–2 μg mL−1). Resistant colonies were selected for gene-targeted sequencing analysis; the identified point mutations were subsequently confirmed by insertion into antibiotic cassette plasmids and growth under ciprofloxacin stress. The results demonstrated that the seven different ciprofloxacin concentrations produced dose-dependent frequencies of spontaneous mutations: 10−8 (0.03125 and 0.0625 μg mL−1), 10−9 (0.125 μg mL−1), and <10−9 (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 μg mL−1). PCR sequencing of the ten randomly selected resistant colonies (minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.125 μg mL−1, n = 5 and 0.25 μg mL−1, n = 5) revealed that all colonies had mutations in the gyrA gene at either codon 83 (Ser83 → Leu) or 87 (Asp87 → Tyr or → Gly), both of which were confirmed at MIC of 0.125 μg mL−1. None of the spontaneous mutation colonies exhibited gyrB, parC, parE, marOR, or marA mutations. In conclusion, S. flexneri is normomutable under ciprofloxacin antibiotic stress and fluoroquinolone resistance by spontaneous mutation occurs at a low rate. Codon mutations gyrA 83 and/or gyrA 87 cause a 4-fold increase in the ciprofloxacin MIC, and may represent the natural mechanism of fluoroquinolone resistance.
A Postage Stamp History of Chemistry

An earlier historical article in Applied Spectroscopy used postage stamps to provide colorful illustrations for a short history of spectroscopy. Since the Editor has kindly suggested another historical article, and since nearly all the readers of the journal are involved with chemistry to at least some degree, it seemed that an article on the history of chemistry might be of interest. It too will be illustrated with stamps. It will also be a postage-stamp-size history, for in the space of only a few pages much must be omitted. Although many of the significant individuals and events in chemistry have been pictured on stamps, there are some notable exceptions. Great Britain and the United States in particular have been remiss in honoring their scientists this way. There are no stamps for Joseph Black, Cavendish, Dalton, Davy, Faraday, J. W. Gibbs, Joule, Kelvin, G. N. Lewis, Moseley, William Perkin, or Count Rumford. Nevertheless there are approximately one thousand stamps on chemically related subjects, so the article can be illustrated reasonably well by this means.
Honey bee orientation behaviour and the influence of flower distribution on foraging movements

. 1 Directional movement by foraging honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) was studied on several flower arrays. The most frequent move among equidistant flower stalks was straight ahead from stalk to stalk with frequencies decreasing for increasing turn angles. Turns to the left were about equal in frequency to turns to the right. 2 Bees maintained directionality when moving from flower stalks that had been rotated 90° counterclockwise while the bee was on the stalk (no difference between moves from rotated stalks and unrotated controls). Thus, directionality is maintained by the bee and is not an artefact of flower distribution. 3 Bees also maintained directionality when the entire array was rotated around the flower stalk the bee was on. Thus, bees use an external cue to orientate in a given direction rather than fixing on an inflorescence within the flower array. 4 Bees foraging on very different flower arrays differed in patterns of directionality and in distances flown between flower stalks. Therefore, even though bees maintain directionality using external cues, flower distribution can nevertheless influence flight patterns.
Agent models II: Bay of Biscay: extensions into modern military issues

Multi-agent simulations are finding application in an increasing number of areas over a wide spectrum of disciplines. In recent years, the application of multi-agent systems to problems in the military has received a proportional amount of interest. However, the military analysis community is in its infancy with respect to multi-agent simulations, and the efforts thus far have involved relatively simple scenarios. As a result, these efforts have not been able to bring multi-agent simulations into the mainstream of the analysis community. In this paper a mission-level agent-based simulation of the U-Boat war in the Bay of Biscay between German U-Boats and Allied aircraft is presented. The results from two 6-month intervals of the operations are presented and compared to historical outcomes. The scenario is subsequently generalized to provide a basis for extension into modern military situations of significant interest. Additionally, several relevant examples are presented.
Rapid and Efficient Prediction of Optical Extinction Coefficients for Gold Nanospheres and Gold Nanorods

Optical determination of the exact concentration of any given colloidal suspension of nanoparticles (NP) is complicated by the relative scarcity of NP-specific extinction coefficients and the rigor and expense of determining these constants experimentally. The discrete dipole approximation (DDA) theoretical technique allows for facile determination of NP energetic properties, therefore relating the extinction intensity provided by DDA to the extinction coefficient needed to determine the concentration of NP solutions would be extremely beneficial. We experimentally determine the extinction coefficients for a range of gold nanosphere and gold nanorod sizes, supplement these values with available literature values, and then use the Discrete Dipole Approximation theoretical technique to model the optical properties of each of these nanoparticles. We then develop a relationship between the theoretical extinction intensity provided by DDA and the extinction coefficients obtained experimentally. These relations...
Large ordinary differential equation systems and software

Over the last decade, the need to solve large stiff and nonstiff ordinary differential equation systems (initial value problems) has led to considerable software, mostly based on the methods of Adams (nonstiff case) and Gear (stiff case). The growing number of good general purpose initial value solvers has fueled discussions on the idea of a systematized collection of such solvers, called ODE-PACK. In recent years, a tentative user interface standard was developed, and an initial collection of five solvers was written, primarily at LLNL. These solvers handle stiff and nonstiff problems posed in standard (explicit) form, problems in linearly implicit form, full Jacobians, banded Jacobians, general sparse Jacobians, and problems with rootfinding requirements. They include solvers with automatic (stiff/nonstiff) method selection. These solvers are described briefly here, and their capabilities are illustrated with an example problem arising from a system of PDE's modeling atmospheric kinetics-transport.
Oral vs Transdermal Estrogen Therapy and Vascular Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Menopausal hormone therapy is widely used to alleviate climacteric symptoms but may increase the risk of venous and arterial vascular events. Objective: The objective was to synthesize the evidence about the risk of vascular events in postmenopausal women who use oral estrogen therapy (ET) and transdermal ET. Methods: We searched bibliographical databases through August 2013 for longitudinal comparative studies that enrolled postmenopausal women using either oral or transdermal ET and reported the outcomes of interest: venous thromboembolism (VTE), pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. Two reviewers independently selected and appraised studies. Outcomes were pooled using random effects meta-analysis and were reported as risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: We included 15 observational studies at moderate risk of bias with follow-up of 3 to 20.25 years. When compared to transdermal ET, oral ET was associated with increase...
The cultural evolution of emergent group-level traits.

Many of the most important properties of human groups-including properties that may give one group an evolutionary advantage over another-are properly defined only at the level of group organization. Yet at present, most work on the evolution of culture has focused solely on the transmission of individual-level traits. I propose a conceptual extension of the theory of cultural evolution, particularly related to the evolutionary competition between cultural groups. The key concept in this extension is the emergent group-level trait. This type of trait is characterized by the structured organization of differentiated individuals and constitutes a unit of selection that is qualitatively different from selection on groups as defined by traditional multilevel selection (MLS) theory. As a corollary, I argue that the traditional focus on cooperation as the defining feature of human societies has missed an essential feature of cooperative groups. Traditional models of cooperation assume that interacting with one cooperator is equivalent to interacting with any other. However, human groups involve differential roles, meaning that receiving aid from one individual is often preferred to receiving aid from another. In this target article, I discuss the emergence and evolution of group-level traits and the implications for the theory of cultural evolution, including ramifications for the evolution of human cooperation, technology, and cultural institutions, and for the equivalency of multilevel selection and inclusive fitness approaches.
A severe capacity limit in the consolidation of orientation information into visual short-term memory

Previous research has suggested that two color patches can be consolidated into visual short-term memory (VSTM) via an unlimited parallel process. Here we examined whether the same unlimited-capacity parallel process occurs for two oriented grating patches. Participants viewed two gratings that were presented briefly and masked. In blocks of trials, the gratings were presented either simultaneously or sequentially. In Experiments 1 and 2, the presentation of the stimuli was followed by a location cue that indicated the grating on which to base one's response. In Experiment 1, participants responded whether the target grating was oriented clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to vertical. In Experiment 2, participants indicated whether the target grating was oriented along one of the cardinal directions (vertical or horizontal) or was obliquely oriented. Finally, in Experiment 3, the location cue was replaced with a third grating that appeared at fixation, and participants indicated whether either of the two test gratings matched this probe. Despite the fact that these responses required fairly coarse coding of the orientation information, across all methods of responding we found superior performance for sequential over simultaneous presentations. These findings suggest that the consolidation of oriented gratings into VSTM is severely limited in capacity and differs from the consolidation of color information.
The Wax Block Metaphor Plato's Views on Learning Disabilities

Plato's epistemological speculations on the nature of perception, memory, and ideation are expressed in a wax block metaphor in the dialogue Theaetetus. While this dialogue is primarily concerned with the nature of knowledge, it can also be construed as reflecting a Platonic conception of cognitive disabilities.
Hormonal therapy in metastatic hypernephroma

Abstract One hundred eight cases of hypernephroma were reviewed. Particular attention was paid to those patients who were given hormonal therapy for progressive metastatic disease. The principal drug used was medroxyprogesterone (Provera). Emphasis was placed on the patients undergoing emission or total regression of metastatic disease. Comparison between this and alternative therapies for metastatic hypernephroma were made.
THE USE OF ORAL KETAMINE FOR ANALGESIA WITH DRESSING CHANGE IN AN INFANT WITH EPIDERMOLYSIS BULLOSA: REPORT OF A CASE

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) describes a spectrum of disease from occasional bullae and callus formation to a debilitating life-threatening condition. In this study, we report the use of intravenous ketamine given orally to an infant with a phenotypically severe form of EB simplex, Dowling-Meara subtype, to achieve analgesia during painful dressing changes.
Fuzzy logic application for intelligent control of a variable speed drive

The slip power recovery configuration is an attractive scheme of variable speed drive, with high efficiency and low power converter rating; however, high performance control has been difficult. In this paper, novel applications of fuzzy logic for the intelligent control of a slip power recovery system are presented. A direct fuzzy logic controller and an adaptive fuzzy controller, based on model reference adaptive control, are developed and simulated for the doubly-excited induction machine and power converter system. Compared with field orientation control, the intelligent control of a complex slip power recovery system reduces costs and enhances robust and desired performance. >
Laboratory interferences with the newer cyanide antidote: hydroxocobalamin

Cyanide poisoning occurs in many smoke inhalation victims. The newest FDA-approved treatment for acute cyanide intoxication is hydroxocobalamin (Cyanokit®). However, hydroxocobalamin exhibits chemical properties that can disrupt several clinical laboratory tests. Knowledge of these effects on laboratory tests can be useful in assisting laboratory technicians and clinicians in managing these patients. This article briefly discusses acute cyanide poisoning and treatment, and summarizes laboratory interferences that have been reported with the use of hydroxocobalamin.
Winter rye as a bioenergy feedstock: impact of crop maturity on composition, biological solubilization and potential revenue

Winter annual crops such as winter rye (Secale cereale L) can produce biomass feedstock on seasonally fallow land that continues to provide high-value food and feed from summer annuals such as corn and soybeans. As energy double crops, winter grasses are likely to be harvested while still immature and thus structurally different from the fully senesced plant material typically used for biofuels. This study investigates the dynamic trends in biomass yield, composition, and biological solubilization over the course of a spring harvest season. The water soluble fraction decreased with increasing maturity while total carbohydrate content stayed roughly constant at about 65%. The protein mass fraction decreased with increasing maturity, but was counterbalanced by increasing harvest yield resulting in similar total protein across harvest dates. Winter rye was ground and autoclaved then fermented at 15 g/L total solids by either (1) Clostridium thermocellum or (2) simultaneous saccharification and cofermentation (SSCF) using commercial cellulases (CTec2 and HTec2) and a xylose-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. Solubilization of total carbohydrate dropped significantly as winter rye matured for both C. thermocellum (from approximately 80% to approximately 50%) and SSCF (from approximately 60% to approximately 30%). C. thermocellum achieved total solubilization 33% higher than that of SSCF for the earliest harvest date and 50% higher for the latest harvest date. Potential revenue from protein and bioethanol was stable over a range of different harvest dates, with most of the revenue due to ethanol. In a crop rotation with soybean, recovery of the soluble protein from winter rye could increase per hectare protein production by 20 to 35%. Double-cropping winter rye can produce significant biomass for biofuel production and feed protein as coproduct without competing with the main summer crop. During a 24-day harvest window, the total carbohydrate content remained relatively constant while the early-harvest yielded much higher carbohydrate solubilization for both C. thermocellum fermentation and SSCF. C. thermocellum fermentation achieved higher carbohydrate solubilization than SSCF across all growth stages tested. Although winter rye’s yield, composition, and biological reactivity change rapidly in the spring, it offers a substantial and stable income across the harvest season and thus flexibility for the farmer.
Habitat Associations and Co-occurrence of Chihuahuan Desert Hares (Lepus californicus and L. callotis)

Black-tailed and white-sided jackrabbits (Lepus californicus and L. callotis) occur sympatrically throughout much of the Chihuahuan Desert; black-tailed jackrabbits are widely distributed, whereas white-sided jackrabbits are endemic to the Mexican Plateau. I measured abundance, distribution and habitat associations of each species in western Chihuahua, Mexico, during the winters of 1998 and 1999. No difference was observed in mean density; however, black-tailed jackrabbits were more abundant in semi-desert grasslands, whereas white-sided jackrabbits were most abundant in high elevation, plains grasslands. The occurrence of the two species was negatively correlated, a result of different habitat preferences or competition. Black-tailed jackrabbits were solitary, whereas white-sided jackrabbits were usually observed in pairs (74 and 58% of the time for 1998 and 1999, respectively). Dry conditions and heavier grazing pressure present in 1999 accentuated differences in characteristics of sites used and not used by jackrabbit species. The presence of black-tailed jackrabbits was positively associated with vegetation density in 1998 and positively associated with shrub density in 1999. White-sided jackrabbit presence was positively associated blue grama grasslands in 1999. Remaining open patches of desert grassland are important for the persistence of white-sided jackrabbit populations.
An optocoupled poseable ball and socket joint for computationally enhanced construction kits

We present a novel design for connecting pieces of a computationally enhanced construction kit, an optocoupled ball and socket joint. Unlike other existing connectors, our joint is poseable and allows both the topology and dynamic configuration of a kit assembly to be sensed. We provide a survey of existing computationally enhanced construction kit connectors and describe the technical details of our design.
Dynamic Conversion Behavior at E-Commerce Sites

This paper develops a model of conversion behavior (i.e., converting store visits into purchases) that predicts each customer's probability of purchasing based on an observed history of visits and purchases. We offer an individual-level probability model that allows for different forms of customer heterogeneity in a very flexible manner. Specifically, we decompose an individual's conversion behavior into two components: one for accumulating visit effects and another for purchasing threshold effects. Each component is allowed to vary across households as well as over time.Visit effects capture the notion that store visits can play different roles in the purchasing process. For example, some visits are motivated by planned purchases, while others are associated with hedonic browsing (akin to window shopping); our model is able to accommodate these (and several other) types of visit-purchase relationships in a logical, parsimonious manner. Thepurchasing threshold captures the psychological resistance to online purchasing that may grow or shrink as a customer gains more experience with the purchasing process at a given website. We test different versions of the model that vary in the complexity of these two key components and also compare our general framework with popular alternatives such as logistic regression. We find that the proposed model offers excellent statistical properties, including its performance in a holdout validation sample, and also provides useful managerial diagnostics about the patterns underlying online buyer behavior.
A displacement measurement approach for machine geometric error assessment

It is complicated and time-consuming to evaluate the performance of a machine tool. In this research, a displacement method is proposed to shorten the measurement time and to simplify the measurement. By measuring the positioning errors along the 15 lines in the machine work zone, a total of 21 geometric error components can be determined. Among the 15 lines, seven of them are mandated by the ANSI/ASME standard for the performance evaluation of CNC machining centers. Therefore, only eight additional positioning error measurements are necessary to evaluate the machine's performance. The results from the experimental tests show that the method is feasible and accurate. This method shortens the calibration time and is beneficial, particularly to the reconfigurable machining system, which needs frequent calibration.
Uses and Selection of Equipment for Engineering Control Monitoring

Control monitoring (continuous multipoint monitoring of workplace air) has been used in a number of industries to help control worker exposure to a wide variety of contaminants. Control problems were identified and effective control has been maintained by keeping workers and management aware of pollutant levels in the workplace. To be used effectively, the control monitoring system must be viewed as an integral part of workplace control. In this report, the general uses of control monitoring equipment are given, the factors to be considered in choosing equipment for control monitoring purposes are discussed, and a number of advances such as the the development of sampling and data acquisition and display components that would help to promote the future use of control monitoring equipment are given. The role of control monitoring in workplace control is examined by looking at the interactions of the control monitoring system with the other elements of workplace control (engineering control devices, work pr...
Biochemical Properties of a Novel U2AF65Protein Isoform Generated by Alternative RNA Splicing

Abstract A variety of RNA binding proteins with one or more RNA recognition (RNP-CS) motifs play essential roles in the pre-mRNA splicing process. One such factor, the U2 snRNP auxiliary factor large subunit (U2AF 65 ), contains three RNP-CS motifs each of which is required for high affinity binding to polypyrimidine tracts. Here we report the isolation of a natural cDNA variant of human U2AF 65 , U2AF 65 (S), which is shortened by a 12 nucleotide in frame deletion between RNP-CS2 and -CS3 motifs. A portion of the U2AF 65 (S) cDNA was reported previously but was not characterized further. We observe that the U2AF 65 (S) variant predominates in a variety of tissues and cell lines, and is generated together with the U2AF 65 (L) form (2) by alternative 5′ splice site selection from a single gene. The corresponding histidine-tagged recombinant proteins bind with similar affinities to model RNA substrates containing strong or weak polypyrimidine tracts. Both U2AF 65 (S) and (L) protein isoforms reconstitute splicing activity with similar kinetic profiles in U2AF-depleted (splicing-deficient) HeLa nuclear extracts. Finally, the thermal stabilities of the protein isoforms are essentially equivalent. Thus, the presence or absence of the peptide segment, VSPP (residues 345–348), in the linker region between RNP-CS2 and -CS3 does not detract from the intrinsic RNA binding and splicing properties of the U2AF 65 protein. The biological implications of alternative splicing for the function and evolution of RNA binding proteins are discussed.
Buffering by gene duplicates: an analysis of molecular correlates and evolutionary conservation

Background One mechanism to account for robustness against gene knockouts or knockdowns is through buffering by gene duplicates, but the extent and general correlates of this process in organisms is still a matter of debate. To reveal general trends of this process, we provide a comprehensive comparison of gene essentiality, duplication and buffering by duplicates across seven bacteria (Mycoplasma genitalium, Bacillus subtilis, Helicobacter pylori, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli), and four eukaryotes (Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), Caenorhabditis elegans (worm), Drosophila melanogaster (fly), Mus musculus (mouse)).
Non‐homogeneous Markov process models with informative observations with an application to Alzheimer's disease

Identifying risk factors for transition rates among normal cognition, mildly cognitive impairment, dementia and death in an Alzheimer's disease study is very important. It is known that transition rates among these states are strongly time dependent. While Markov process models are often used to describe these disease progressions, the literature mainly focuses on time homogeneous processes, and limited tools are available for dealing with non-homogeneity. Further, patients may choose when they want to visit the clinics, which creates informative observations. In this paper, we develop methods to deal with non-homogeneous Markov processes through time scale transformation when observation times are pre-planned with some observations missing. Maximum likelihood estimation via the EM algorithm is derived for parameter estimation. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed method works well under a variety of situations. An application to the Alzheimer's disease study identifies that there is a significant increase in transition rates as a function of time. Furthermore, our models reveal that the non-ignorable missing mechanism is perhaps reasonable.
The 1430 cm−1 Raman line in single crystals of La2CuO4−y

The Raman line at 1430 cm−1 (M-line) in single crystal La2CuO4−y was studied as a function of doping, temperature, magnetic field, and excitation wavelength. Upon Li doping the line becomes broader, and it vanishes rapidly with Sr-doping. The line also broadens with increasing temperature and increasing applied magnetic field. Resonance enhancement was found for decreasing laser excitation energies but was not as pronounced as the enhancement of several alleged two-phonon lines. Many of these features are correlated with the 2D antiferromagnetic ordering measured in this system by neutron scattering. The possible identification of this line as a one-spin excitation is favored by the data though a two-phonon excitation is also considered.
Association between Use of Exogenous Testosterone Therapy and Risk of Venous Thrombotic Events among Exogenous Testosterone Treated and Untreated Men with Hypogonadism

Purpose: Limited information exists about whether exogenous testosterone therapy is associated with a risk of venous thrombotic events. We investigated via cohort and nested case-control analyses whether exogenous testosterone therapy is associated with the risk of venous thrombotic events in men with hypogonadism.Materials and Methods: Databases were reviewed to identify men prescribed exogenous testosterone therapy and/or men with a hypogonadism diagnosis. Propensity score 1:1 matching was used to select patients for cohort analysis. Cases (men with venous thrombotic events) were matched 1:4 with controls (men without venous thrombotic events) for the nested case-control analysis. Primary outcome was defined as incident idiopathic venous thrombotic events. Cox regression and conditional logistic regression were used to assess HRs and ORs, respectively. Sensitivity analyses were also performed.Results: A total of 102,650 exogenous testosterone treated and 102,650 untreated patients were included in cohor...
Ground State Reactions of nC60 with Free Chlorine in Water.

Facile, photoenhanced transformations of water-stable C60 aggregates (nC60) to oxidized, soluble fullerene derivatives, have been described as key processes in understanding the ultimate environmental fate of fullerene based materials. In contrast, fewer studies have evaluated the aqueous reactivity of nC60 during ground-state conditions (i.e., dark conditions). Herein, this study identifies and characterizes the physicochemical transformations of C60 (as nC60 suspensions) in the presence of free chlorine, a globally used chemical oxidant, in the absence of light under environmentally relevant conditions. Results show that nC60 undergoes significant oxidation in the presence of free chlorine and the oxidation reaction rates increase with free chlorine concentration while being inversely related to solution pH. Product characterization by FTIR, XPS, Raman Spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, TOC, collectively demonstrates that oxidized C60 derivatives are readily formed in the presence of free chlorine with extensive c...
Serratia marcescens thigh infection after transobturator sling without associated mesh exposure

Introduction Soft tissue complications of the thigh occur after transobturator slings and are reported to uniformly accompany mesh exposure. Most commonly identified microorganisms cultured from such soft tissue infections include Bacteroides and Streptococcus species. This is the first reported case of Serratia marcescens leading to thigh cellulitis after a transobturator sling and the complication occurred in the absence of exposed mesh. Case A 54-year-old presented 7 days after a transobturator sling with right thigh cellulitis and sepsis in the absence of mesh exposure. She underwent explantation of the sling and incision and drainage of the groin incision. Cultures grew S. marcescens. Discussion Soft tissue infections of the thigh after transobturator tape are rare, but commonly associated with exposed mesh. Mesh exposure does not lead to thigh complications uniformly. The fact that this patient had no exposed mesh poses several questions about the pathogenesis of soft tissue infections of the thigh after transobturator slings.
Reaction of infectious mononucleosis sera with cell cultures infected by Newcastle disease virus.

SummaryReaction of sera from patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) with cell cultures infected by NDV was demonstrated by mixed agglutination (MA). The indicator system used in MA was specific for human IgM. A high incidence of positive results was obtained for IM sera in contrast to a low incidence in sera of patients suffering from other diseases and sera of healthy individuals. Good correlation was obtained between results in MA and tests with agglutination of NDV-modified RBC's. Positive results were obtained with IM sera using the VIC strain of NDV in MA, but not with the B1 strain.
Bureaucratic Torture, Israeli nationalism, and the Question of Palestine

Smadar Lavie’s Wrapped in the Flag of Israel analyses Mizrahi (Jews from the Arab world) protest at the intersection of race, religion, nationality, and gender. Lavie’s meticulous ethnographic work...
Beyond the urban stream syndrome: organic matter budget for diagnostics and restoration of an impaired urban river

In response to water quality standard violations linked to excessive organic matter (OM) and a lack of sampling data informing the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), an organic matter budget was created to quantify and identify sources of OM in the lower Jordan River (Salt Lake City, UT). By sampling dissolved, fine, and coarse particulate OM, as well as measuring ecosystem metabolism at seven different sites, the researchers aimed to identify the origin of excess OM, and understand pathways by which different size classes of the OM pool are generated. The dissolved fraction (DOM; 94 %) was found to be the dominant form of OM transported within the river with fine particulate organic matter (FPOM; 6 %) the second most abundant, and coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM; 1 %) transport relatively insignificant in the overall OM budget. Primary production exceeded respiratory losses in the upper river, and this, along with OM inputs from two tributaries (where water reclamation facilities discharge into the river) delivered excess OM to the impaired lower reaches. Increasing stream metabolism index (SMI) with distance downstream (>1 in the lower river) further demonstrated that transport of excessive organic matter into the lower river was from upstream sources and not due to lateral inputs. This simple approach to characterizing the organic matter budget as it relates to water quality in the Jordan River was effective and could serve as a model for future studies attempting to quantify and identify sources of OM in urban ecosystems.
A Simulation Modeling Method of Equivalent Network to Simulate DC Magnetic Bias in Transformers Caused by Multi-Infeed HVDC Transmission Systems

There are four HVDC power transmission lines connected with Shanghai power grid, so the number of substations near to the inversion stations is unceasingly increased and it makes the DC magnetic bias phenomena in transformers frequently occurred. In allusion to the increasing of DC current in AC transformer neutrals caused by different operation modes of multi-infeed HVDC transmission system, a simulation model of equivalent network suited to such condition is built. The built equivalent model is divided into two parts, namely the above-ground part and the underground part, the above-ground part includes detailed models of four HVDC power transmission lines and the reasonable equivalence of the frame of Shanghai AC power grid, and the underground part is the series-parallel fitting of earth electrode resistances of HVDC transmission systems with the grounding grid resistance from the earth electrode to the transformer to be researched. The built model is validated by the measured current data of AC transformer neutrals during the monopole high power test of the second ±500 kV HVDC project from the Three Gorges to Shanghai and that during mono-polar ground return operation mode of ±800 kV DC transmission project from Xiangjiaba to Shanghai, and simulation results show that the proposed modeling method is effective and feasible. Using the built model, the impacts of multi-infeed HVDC transmission system under various operation modes on DC current flowing in AC transformer are researched, and the research results are available for reference to further research on the measures to suppress neutral DC current of transformers located at the region with receiving ends of multi-infeed HVDC transmission system.
CD4+CD25hiFoxp3+ Cells Exacerbate Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal lung disease with a median survival of 2 to 5 years. A decade of studies has downplayed inflammation contributing to its pathogenesis. However, these studies preceded the discovery of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and all of their functions. On the basis of human studies demonstrating Tregs can decrease graft- versus -host disease and vasculitides, there is consideration of their use to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We hypothesized that Treg therapy would attenuate the fibroplasia involved in a preclinical murine model of pulmonary fibrosis. IL-2 complex was used in vivo to expand CD4 + CD25 hi Foxp3 + cells in the lung during intratracheal bleomycin challenge; however, this unexpectedly led to an increase in lung fibrosis. More important, this increase in fibrosis was a lymphocyte-dependent process. We corroborated these results using a CD4 + CD25 hi Foxp3 + cellular-based therapy. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that CD4 + CD25 hi Foxp3 + cells undergo alterations during bleomycin challenge and the IL-2 complex had no effect on profibrotic (eg, transforming growth factor-β) or type 17 immune response cytokines; however, there was a marked down-regulation of the type 1 and augmentation of the type 2 immune response cytokines from the lungs. Collectively, our animal studies show that a specific lung injury can induce Treg alterations, which can augment pulmonary fibrosis.