cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zircon U–Pb chemical abrasion (“CA-TIMS”) method: Combined annealing and multi-step partial dissolution analysis for improved precision and accuracy of zircon ages

Abstract A long-standing goal in high-precision and high-accuracy U–Pb zircon geochronology is the total elimination of discordance caused by Pb loss. In theory, this is fairly straightforward, but in reality it has proven extremely difficult to attain (or even demonstrate attainment of) this goal. However, a new method, “CA (Chemical Abrasion)-TIMS”, is capable of completely removing zircon domains that have lost Pb, and then analyzing residual, perfectly closed-system zircon. CA-TIMS uses high-temperature treatment (in the range of 800–1100 °C for 48 h) to anneal zircon lattice radiation damage from natural alpha, alpha recoil, and spontaneous fission processes; this annealing eliminates elemental and isotopic leaching effects that have limited earlier efforts at chemical “leaching” or multi-step “step-wise dissolution” or “partial dissolution analysis (PDA)”. The annealed zircons are then subjected to a series of partial dissolution steps at progressively higher temperatures. These steps initially remove (usually outer) zircon zones with high U + Th concentrations. These earliest partial dissolution steps are invariably slightly to strongly discordant, due to Pb loss. Later steps sample progressively lower U + Th zircon domains. In zircon samples that lack inheritance, these later steps sample zircon domains that are completely free from Pb loss, defining 206Pb*/238U plateau ages with precisions (and accuracies, subject to decay constant and tracer calibration accuracies) better than 0.1%.
The Safety and Effectiveness of Long‐Term Warfarin Therapy in an Anticoagulation Clinic

Whenever long-term anticoagulation is prescribed, the risks of such therapy must be evaluated accurately. Whether these risks are influenced by the duration of therapy, the indication for therapy, patient demographics and social habits, or the use of an anticoagulation clinic is controversial. This study examined the occurrence rates of major hemorrhage, minor hemorrhage, and thromboembolic events among an inception cohort of 82 patients receiving long term-warfarin therapy in an anticoagulation clinic. During 199.34 patient-years of observation, there were 4 major hemorrhages (0.0201/patient-year), 31 minor hemorrhages (0.1555/patient-year), and 7 thromboembolic events (0.0351/patient-year). Although each type of event tended to occur during the first 6 months of therapy, this trend was not statistically significant. Failure to demonstrate statistically significant influence of any of the evaluated variables may have been due to the unusually low rate of complications, a finding that may reflect the safety of anticoagulant therapy when managed by a specialized clinic.
NEC in Twin Pregnancies: Incidence and Outcomes.

Background: Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in neonates. Previously established risk factors for the development of NEC include prematurity and low birth weight. However, it is not clear to date as to whether the etiology of NEC is due to host, environmental, or yet other unknown factors. We analyzed the differences in incidence of NEC in twin pregnancies to further clarify its etio-pathogenesis. Methods: After IRB approval, a retrospective search of the medical records of the Department of Pediatric Surgery was done to identify all the neonates treated for surgical NEC from 2006-2013. Patients that had been treated for NEC elsewhere and subsequently transferred in to our facility were excluded. The medical records of the resulting 45 patients were then analyzed for demographics, antenatal screening, risk factors, treatment (medical and surgical), and outcomes. The resulting data was then analyzed using relative risk calculations and standard statistical tests. Results: Of the 45 patients who developed surgical NEC, 9 neonates (20%) were born of a twin pregnancy. There were no cases in which both twin A and twin B developed NEC. NEC in twin pregnancy neonates showed a female preponderance (p<0.0001) and developed universally in the first born of the twins. Birth weight, time of onset of NEC, hospital stay and mortality were similar between twin and non-twin NEC. There was an average lead-time of three weeks to development of NEC in both singletons and twin pregnancies. Conclusion: There is a remarkable higher incidence of NEC amongst twins. Abnormal colonization of the gastrointestinal tract appears to be an immediate postpartum event. NEC in twin pregnancy does not appear to have a deleterious outcome compared to NEC in singleton pregnancy.
Response to androgen therapy in patients with dyskeratosis congenita.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome and telomere biology disorder characterized by dysplastic nails, reticular skin pigmentation and oral leucoplakia. Androgens are a standard therapeutic option for bone marrow failure in those patients with DC who are unable to undergo haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, but there are no systematic data on its use in those patients. We evaluated haematological response and side effects of androgen therapy in 16 patients with DC in our observational cohort study. Untreated DC patients served as controls. Seventy percent of treated DC patients had a haematological response with red blood cell and/or platelet transfusion independence. The expected age-related decline in telomere length was noted in androgen-treated patients. All treated DC patients had at least one significant lipid abnormality. Additional treatment-related findings included a significant decrease in thyroid binding globulin, accelerated growth in pre-pubertal children and splenic peliosis in two patients. Liver enzymes were elevated in both androgen-treated and untreated patients, suggesting underlying liver involvement in DC. This study suggests that androgen therapy can be effectively used to treat bone marrow failure in DC, but that side effects need to be closely monitored.
Stem-Loop Silencing Reveals that a Third Mitochondrial DNA Polymerase, POLID, Is Required for Kinetoplast DNA Replication in Trypanosomes

Kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), the mitochondrial genome of trypanosomes, is a catenated network containing thousands of minicircles and tens of maxicircles. The topological complexity dictates some unusual features including a topoisomerase-mediated release-and-reattachment mechanism for minicircle replication and at least six mitochondrial DNA polymerases (Pols) for kDNA transactions. Previously, we identified four family A DNA Pols from Trypanosoma brucei with similarity to bacterial DNA Pol I and demonstrated that two (POLIB and POLIC) were essential for maintaining the kDNA network, while POLIA was not. Here, we used RNA interference to investigate the function of POLID in procyclic T. brucei. Stem-loop silencing of POLID resulted in growth arrest and the progressive loss of the kDNA network. Additional defects in kDNA replication included a rapid decline in minicircle and maxicircle abundance and a transient accumulation of minicircle replication intermediates before loss of the kDNA network. These results demonstrate that POLID is a third essential DNA Pol required for kDNA replication. While other eukaryotes utilize a single DNA Pol (Pol γ) for replication of mitochondrial DNA, T. brucei requires at least three to maintain the complex kDNA network.
The Engineering of Change

Change is not a stranger to the profession of physical therapy. It has been a major element of our agenda since the initial development of our professional organization, the American Physical Therapy Association, in 1921. Too frequently, however, we evidence great acuity in identifying necessary change goals but fail to give sufficient attention to the engineering aspects of implementation (ie, planning, selecting, organizing, and implementing strategies designed to bring about the desired change in a systematic and organized fashion). This address will not focus on “change goals” or issues per se. It would appear that we are very much aware of those goals and issues as debated in the House of Delegates and as published in the various communication media of the Association.…
Insulin Resistance as a Proinflammatory State: Mechanisms, Mediators, and Therapeutic Interventions

Insulin resistance has been recognized as an inflammatory disease based on the scientific evidence collected over the last decade. Inflammatory markers like CRP, PAI-1, IL-6 are present in higher concentrations in insulin resistant people than in normal people. Mechanisms, linking inflammation to insulin resistance are being explored and progress has been made in this direction. TNFα has been shown to be responsible for insulin resistance in obese subjects. Macronutrient intake may also induce inflammation whereas fasting has antiinflammatory effects. Insulin itself has been found to be anti-inflammatory and this action may be useful in many disease states. Thiazolidinediones, such as rosiglitazone that act primarily as insulin sensitisers, have a profound anti-inflammatory and potentially antiatherosclerotic activity. These effects may be of considerable clinical significance if sustained during long-term therapy, given the morbidity and mortality associated with atherosclerosis, the major complication of insulin resistance.
Use of dielectric constants in the classification of surfactants.

The polar balance of a surfactant, as reflected by its hydrophile-Iipophile balance (HLB), was found to possess a linear relationship with the log dielectric constant (log DEC) of the surfactant. From this relationship, a rapid method of classifying surfactants was presented. A correlation between the polarity of an oil and that of the required emulsifying system was shown for oil-in-water emulsions. The use of direct DEC measurements for mixed surfactants and mixed oils was presented. Correlations between the DEC system and several phases of the HLB system were shown. Possible uses, advantages, and limitations of the DEC system were discussed.
ANTIPLATELET AND ANTICOAGULANT USE FOR ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT: “A CASE FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT” – AN ANALYSIS FROM NATIONAL HOSPITAL AMBULATORY MEDICAL CARE SURVEY 2002-2010

Quality improvement registries have shown high antiplatelet (ap) and anticoagulant (ac) use within 24 hours of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). But, unbiased national estimate of utilization of these therapies in emergency department (ED) is not known. We analyzed data from
State of actin in gastric parietal cells

Remodeling of the apical membrane-cytoskeleton has been suggested to occur when gastric parietal cells are stimulated to secrete HCl. The present experiments assayed the relative amounts of F-actin and G-actin in gastric glands and parietal cells, as well as the changes in the state of actin on stimulation. Glands and cells were treated with a Nonidet P-40 extraction buffer for separation into detergent-soluble (supernatant) and detergent-insoluble (pellet) pools. Two actin assays were used to quantitate actin: the deoxyribonuclease I binding assay to measure G-actin and F-actin content in the two pools and a simple Western blot assay to quantitate the relative amounts of actin in the pools. Functional secretory responsiveness was assayed by aminopyrine accumulation. About 5% of the total parietal cell protein is actin, with about 90% of the actin present as F-actin. Stimulation of acid secretion resulted in no measurable change in the relative amounts of G-actin and cytoskeletal F-actin. Treatment of gastric glands with cytochalasin D inhibited acid secretion and resulted in a decrease in F-actin and an increase in G-actin. No inhibition of parietal cell secretion was observed when phalloidin was used to stabilize actin filaments. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that microfilamentous actin is essential for membrane recruitment underlying parietal cell secretion. Although the experiments do not eliminate the importance of rapid exchange between G- and F-actin for the secretory process, the parietal cell maintains actin in a highly polymerized state, and no measurable changes in the steady-state ratio of G-actin to F-actin are associated with stimulation to secrete acid.
Nitric oxide inhibits Ca2+ mobilization through cADP-ribose signaling in coronary arterial smooth muscle cells

The present study was designed to determine whether the cADP-ribose-mediated Ca2+ signaling is involved in the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide (NO) on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. With the us...
Static Problems in Isotropic Rectangular Plates

Plate structures are often subject to static loads that can cause the loss of strength or instability. The solution of relevant problems can be undertaken either employing equations of equilibrium or applying energy methods. This chapter illustrates the formulation and solution of representative problems for isotropic rectangular plates. While mathematical formulations presented in the chapter can be employed in a finite element or finite difference analysis, solved problems are useful either as benchmark solutions or in cases where the plate can accurately be described by the corresponding model. The chapter illustrates various boundary conditions encountered in applications and presents a discussion on their relevance. The effect of initial imperfections that are present in numerous situations is discussed in detail. The approach to the analysis of plates on an elastic foundation that is often necessary in civil engineering applications is elucidated. The analysis of stringer-reinforced plates is also included since stringers are often employed to increase the strength and stability of plates. The discussion of stability includes the peculiarities of the postbuckling response of plates that is important in numerous design applications. Besides solutions employing the integration of the equation of equilibrium, the energy (Rayleigh-Ritz) approach to the analysis is demonstrated. Although problems considered in this chapter have been studied for a long time, their value and practical applicability have not diminished. Besides the introduction to the analysis of rectangular isotropic plates, we elucidate a number of application aspects and limitations to the present solutions that are seldom discussed in textbooks on the theory of plates. This discussion may be valuable to engineers working on design and development of isotropic plate structures.
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow, but Does it Have to Be so Complicated? Transmission of Property at Death in Vermont

What are the appropriate laws governing the transmission of property at death in the 21st century? This article contrasts the Uniform Probate Code with Vermont Law. The focus is on the substantive laws of inheritance, spousal rights, and wills rather than on provisions governing the probate process itself. Vermont law has not moved far from its 18th century roots and does not meet the needs or expectations of its citizens. The Uniform Probate Code would clarify and improve the law.
Candidate Recruitment and Party Networks: How the Characteristics and Choices of Local Party Leaders Affect Women’s Representation

In this paper, I examine how local party leaders’ beliefs and decisions about recruitment influence the gender of candidates they run in local elections. I use unique data from my 2008 survey of thousands of county party leaders nationwide and my interviews of party leaders to demonstrate that recruitment can enhance or inhibit the proportion of female candidates depending on party leader behavior. I test whether the choices party leaders make about where to look for candidates affect the gender of the candidates they find. I find that party leaders who seek candidates using insular recruitment networks recruit fewer women than those who use a broader network of groups and other contacts. My findings reveal differences between Democratic and Republican leaders in the recruitment networks they use, and differences between male and female party leaders in the ways in which leader beliefs and choices affect women candidates’ recruitment.
Stormwater performance of a full scale rooftop farm: Runoff water quality

Abstract A number of benefits have been attributed to green roofs including food production. However, little research has been done to quantify the effects of rooftop farming practices on green roof benefits. The impact of rooftop farming on stormwater runoff is especially important, considering the different nutrient management practices on ornamental and agricultural green roofs. In order to advance knowledge on this potential impact, runoff water quality from a full-scale rooftop farm in Long Island City, Queens, New York, was monitored and compared to runoff water quality from a suite of extensive, sedum green roofs, also located in New York City. Samples of runoff water and rain were collected and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, apparent color, suspended solids, nitrate-N, ammonium-N, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, boron, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, and lead. Results indicate that runoff from all green roofs is higher than the average pH of incoming acid rain water, although the pH of runoff from the rooftop farm was slightly lower than that of the extensive green roofs. The conductivity, apparent color, and suspended solids concentrations of runoff from the rooftop farm were higher than those of the extensive green roofs, but not higher than values reported in the literature on agricultural runoff. The concentrations of nitrate-N, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in runoff from the rooftop farm were also higher than those of runoff from the extensive green roofs. Measured values of nitrate-N, calcium, and magnesium were not higher than concentrations reported elsewhere in the green roof literature or in agricultural literature; nor where they higher than EPA guidelines for water quality. Measured values of phosphorus and potassium were found to be higher than EPA guidelines. However, changes in nutrient management practices would help reduce these values.
Nanoscale organization in aqueous dicationic ionic liquid solutions.

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations have been performed on aqueous solutions of the gemini dicationic ionic liquid 1,5-bis(3-decylimidazolium-1-yl) pentane bromide at room temperature to ...
Performance of optimized noncanonical amino acid mutagenesis systems in the absence of release factor 1

Site-specific incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins expressed in E. coli using UAG-suppression competes with termination mediated by release factor 1 (RF1). Recently, unconditional deletion of RF1 was achieved in a genomically recoded E. coli (C321), devoid of all endogenous UAG stop codons. Here we evaluate the efficiency of ncAA incorporation in this strain using optimized suppression vectors. Even though the absence of RF1 does not benefit the suppression efficiency of a single UAG codon, multi-site incorporation of a series of chemically distinct ncAAs was significantly improved.
Effect of Selection for Body Weight on Reproduction in Turkey Hens

Abstract PAYNE et al. (1957) have reported a correlation of +0.39 between body weight of turkey hens and the weight of their egg. Funk (1950), however, did not observe a consistent difference in numbers of eggs laid by hens differing in body weight. Fertility and hatchability were found to be correlated negatively with body weight by Kondra and Shoffner (1950). Fertility was related to posture in males according to Robblee et al. (1957). Rooney (1957), by using artificial insemination at relatively long intervals, was able to estimate the incidence of natural mating occurring in Broad Breasted Bronze hens. Selection at different ages for increased body weight at maturity (Abplanalp et al., 1963) provided several lines of turkeys on which the effect of selection for body weight on reproduction was tested. MATERIALS AND METHODS Parental stock was selected from Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys using weight as the main criterion. The selection of…
Protein, as a regulator of pancreatic enzyme secretion in the rat.

SummaryPancreatic enzyme secretion was studied in conscious, recovered rats with bile-pancreatic juice collected directly via a cannula. When bile-pancreatic juice was collected and continuously returned to the intestine, introduction of protein evoked a marked increase in enzyme secretion, while protein hydrolysates were not effective stimulants. Diversion of bile-pancreatic juice, or introduction of soybean trypsin inhibitor, resulted in very large increases in enzyme secretion. The results support the concept of negative feedback control of pancreatic enzyme secretion, and it is proposed that protein stimulates increased pancreatic enzyme secretion by reducing feedback inhibition produced by trypsin and chymotrypsin in the intestine.The authors express their thanks to Raul Reyes for his technical assistance.
Linear activation energy method for predicting service life of propellant

A new linear activation energy method for predicting service life of solid propellant is put forward on the basis of the function relationship of apparent activation energy and temperature. Through correlation check of an actual example, correlation coefficient r=98.74% of linear activation energy formula and confidence probability P85% are obtained.In comparison with actual measurement performance of propellant in natural storage at normal temperature, the method is proved to be more accurate for predicting the long-term storage performance and service life of propellant.
Abstract P1-07-14: A statewide, population-based study of molecular subtypes of female breast cancer: Treatment and associated factors

Background: Breast cancer is now recognized as a heterogeneous disease with distinct biological molecular subtypes which have different prognoses and treatment options. We conducted the first statewide, population-based study to examine systemic treatment among invasive breast cancer (IBC) patients by subtype and determined their associated factors with treatment. Methods: We analyzed data from the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) and a Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded special project of Enhancing Cancer Registry Data for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER), which included Louisiana women diagnosed with microscopically-confirmed invasive breast cancer in 2011. Patient9s socio-demographics, tumor characteristics and detailed information on the treatment, including chemotherapy, hormone, radiation and targeted therapy received within 12 months of diagnosis were collected from hospitals, radiation facilities, and medical oncology clinics. Systemic treatments received by each subtype were examined. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with not receiving systemic treatment. Analyses were carried out using SAS version 9.4. Results: About 70% of patients were hormone receptor (HR)+/ human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-, 15% triple negative (HR-/HER2-), 10 % HR+/HER2+ and only 5% HR-/HER2+. Among IBC patients with known HR and HER2 status, 72-78% with HR+ had hormonal therapy, 61-75% with HER2+ had Herceptin. About 0.5-6.1% of patients were given therapies which are contradictory to HR/HER2 status and 11-23% of IBC patients with known molecular subtypes did not receive any systemic treatment. Factors associated with not receiving systemic therapy include triple negative subtype and age >65 years. Patients younger than 50 years and with more advanced stages were more likely to receive systemic treatment. Race/ethnicity, grade, lymph node involvement, and comorbidity were not associated with receiving systemic treatment, adjusting for other covariates. Conclusions: About 12-29% of breast cancer patients in our data set were not receiving treatment consistent with their HR/HER2 status or treatment guidelines. Some possible explanations may be advancing age, death prior to therapy and refusal by patients and/or family. Race, lymph node status and comorbidity were not associated with receiving systemic therapy after adjusting for other covariates. Further studies are needed to explore reasons why patients are not receiving therapy that is concordant with the guidelines and the access to care. Citation Format: Loch MM, Zhang L, Hsieh M-C, Wu X-C, Chen VW. A statewide, population-based study of molecular subtypes of female breast cancer: Treatment and associated factors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-07-14.
Expression and Characterization of Hyperthermostable Exo-polygalacturonase TtGH28 from Thermotoga thermophilus

D-galacturonic acid is a potential platform chemical comprising the principal component of pectin in the citrus processing waste stream. Several enzyme activities are required for the enzymatic production of galacturonic acid from pectin, including exo- and endo-polygalacturonases. The gene TtGH28 encoding a putative GH28 polygalacturonase from Pseudothermotoga thermarum DSM 5069 (Theth_0397, NCBI# AEH50492.1) was synthesized, expressed in Escherichia coli, and characterized. Alignment of the amino acid sequence of gene product TtGH28 with other GH28 proteins whose structures and details of their catalytic mechanism have been elucidated shows that three catalytic Asp residues and several other key active site residues are strictly conserved. Purified TtGH28 was dimeric and hyperthermostable, with K t (0.5) = 86.3 °C. Kinetic parameters for activity on digalacturonic acid, trigalacturonic acid, and polygalacturonic acid were obtained. No substrate inhibition was observed for polygalacturonate, while the K si values for the oligogalacturonides were in the low mM range, and K i for product galacturonic acid was in the low μM range. Kinetic modeling of the progress of reaction showed that the enzyme is both fully exo- and fully non-processional.
Comparison of the Aerosol Stability of 2 Strains of Zaire ebolavirus From the 1976 and 2013 Outbreaks

The largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease began in Gueckedou, Guinea, West Africa, in December 2013 and rapidly spread to major population centers in 3 West African countries. Early reports in some scientific and public media speculated that the virus had evolved to more effectively transmit between humans. One route of transmission postulated was aerosol transmission, although there was little epidemiological evidence to support this claim. This study investigates the viability of 2 Zaire ebolavirus strains within aerosols at 22°C and 80% relative humidity over time. The results presented here indicate that there is no difference in virus stability between the 2 strains and that viable virus can be recovered from an aerosol 180 minutes after it is generated.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Canavan’s Disease

The neuroradiological evaluation of Canavan’s disease in a 38 month-old girl is reported from the Alfred I. duPont Institute, Wilmington, DE and Children’s Hospital, Philadelphia, PA.
A new stack capacitor for polysilicon active matrix arrays (TFTs)

A novel stack capacitor structure is proposed for dynamic data storage in circuits using self-aligned polysilicon thin-film transistor technology. Unlike the conventional planar thick-oxide capacitor formed between the gate-polysilicon storage node and the metal ground line, the stack capacitor is fabricated by adding an island-polysilicon plate underneath the gate-polysilicon storage node, thus creating a sandwiched stack capacitor structure. Owing to the high capacitance per unit area of the thin oxide capacitor, significant savings in chip area can be achieved. The stack capacitor structure has been successfully applied to active matrix arrays using self-aligned polysilicon thin-film transistors as the control switches. Improved data retention and decreased feed-through voltage, characteristic of higher storage capacitance, are demonstrated. The stack capacitor also features high immunity to crosstalk due to its unique surrounding ground plate which serves to screen each individual storage node. The capacitor therefore appears quite attractive for circuit applications which require large (>0.1-pF) capacitance. >
Different Applications for CAS in Functional Classification of Protein Interfaces

Protein-protein interactions (PPI) play essential roles in virtually all biological processes. While modern structural determination methods such as x-ray crystallography and NMR provide valuable information that can aid in our understanding of these complexes, they often produce many putative conformations that require further refinement to determine the biological structure. Here, we outline two methods that may aid in the refinement of these potential conformations. Using a manually curated database of both biologically functional and biologically non-functional PPI (FLIPdb), we explore the relationship between binding free energy as determined by computational alanine scanning (CAS) and small translational perturbations of the interacting protein subunits. In short, the interacting protein subunits are translated along a grid that is coplanar with their dividing plane and the interface is subjected to CAS at each point along the grid. The coordinates of the translation are then used in combination with the binding free energy to create an energy landscape that is further analyzed for various features. Analysis of these features by SVM has allowed us to achieve discrimination of biologically functional/biologically non-functional interfaces with an accuracy of seventy-six percent, and suggests that biologically functional interfaces are more sensitive to perturbation than biologically non-functional interfaces. In addition to translational perturbation sensitivity, we analyze the size and distribution of energetic hotspots present in each PPI. Using solvent accessible surface area (SASA) as measured by NACCESS, and binding free energy as determined by CAS, residues are clustered into hotspots using density based clustering. The size and energy density of these hotspots is then analyzed. Analysis of these features by SVM allows us to discriminate between biologically functional and biologically non-functional PPI with an accuracy of approximately eighty percent.
Conflict of Interest: Why Does It Matter?

Preservation of trust is the essential purpose of policies about conflict of interest. Physicians have many important roles including caring for individual patients, protecting the public’s health, engaging in research, reporting scientific and clinical discoveries, crafting professional guidelines, and advising policy makers and regulatory bodies. Success in all these functions depends on others—laypersons, professional peers, and policy leaders—believing and acting on the word of physicians. Therefore, the confidence of others in physician judgment is of paramount importance. When trust in physician judgment is impaired, the role of physicians is diminished.
REGRESSION RATE OF VASCULAR EFFECTS INDUCED BY PREGNANCY AND BY NORETHYNODREL-MESTRANOL.

Based on results in a previous study showing specific vascular changes as the result of pregnancy and administration of norethynodrel-mestranal in the rabbit an attempt was made to determine how long these changes persist after the conclusion of pregnancy and after withdrawal of norethynodrel-mestranol. 8 pregnant rabbits and 8 norethynodrel-mestranol-treated rabbits were studied. The pregnant rabbits were allowed to deliver at term and 1 was sacrificed every second day from Postpartum Day 1-15. Histological preparations were made. Since normal findings were noted in all cases at 15 days postpartum 3 additional rabbits were sacrificed on different days. In the norethynodrel-mestranol-treated group each animal was treated with .2 mg intramuscularly daily for 6 days and then sacrificed every second day from Day1-15 after conclusion of treatment. 3 additional animals were sacrificed. It was concluded that in the rabbit the vascular effects of pregnancy and of norethynodrel-mestranol disappear at variable rates after the withdrawal of the stimulus. Reticular fragmentation persists until about 15 days after pregnancy conclusion and for 10 days after norethynodrel-mestranol therapy cessation. Acid mucopolysaccharides return to normal immediately in both instances. Muscle changes and elastic tissue changes are virtually normal within 10 days and completely normal within 15 days for both groups.
Comorbidity, but not age, predicted hospital and 2-year mortality for patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia

Source Citation Brancati FL, Chow JW, Wagener MM, Vacarello SJ, Yu VL. Is pneumonia really the old man's friend? Two-year prognosis after community-acquired pneumonia. Lancet. 1993 Jul 3;342:30-3.
Tribes Lobbying Congress: Who Wins and Why - Draft Report Presented at the 13th Annual Indigenous Law Conference Michigan State University

Indian nations lose in the United States Supreme Court over 75% of the time. As a result, many lawyers and advocates in Indian country have encouraged Indian nations to pursue legislation rather than litigate problems plaguing Indian country. Yet scholars, community leaders, and activists know very little about Indian nations in the political process. Historical records indicate that Indian nations have long petitioned Congress, but the empirical research on legislative advocacy by Indians remains limited. How frequently do Indians lobby Congress? How do they lobby? How successful are their lobbying efforts? How can tribes use legislative advocacy to change the law? Knowing the answers to these questions is essential to any tribal leader, in-house counsel, or advocate because sometimes Indian nations have to look to Congress to solve a problem or issue. Answering these questions will help Indian nations craft successful legislative strategies and become more informed consumers of lobbying services. This draft report is an initial attempt to answer some of these questions. It presents preliminary findings on when, why, and the extent to which the 566 Indian nations in the United States engaged in legislative advocacy on different kinds of issues from 1978 through 2012.
MODELING SIGNAL-NOISE PROCESSES SUPPORTS STUDENT CONSTRUCTION OF A HIERARCHICAL IMAGE OF SAMPLE

Grade 6 (modal age 11) students invented and revised models of the variability generated as each measured the perimeter of a table in their classroom. To construct models, students represented variability as a linear composite of true measure (signal) and multiple sources of random error. Students revised models by developing sampling distributions of model-generated statistics to judge model fit and validity. After instruction, interviews with 12 students were conducted to learn how they conceived of relations among chance, modeling, and inference. Most students’ inferences were guided by a hierarchical image of sample, a perspective constituted through their understandings of modeling variability as signal and noise. First published November 2017 at Statistics Education Research Journal Archives
Influence of temperature and synthesis dependent changes upon structure, morphology and electrical properties of BaCeO3-based proton conducting electrolyte

Abstract Current industrialization era stresses upon taking intensive measures to recognize and utilize sustainable, eco-friendly and high energy output generating resources, thus, shifting focus towards proton conducting fuel cells (PCFCs) for use in industrial, residential and transportation sectors. Accordingly, the following research focused on the development of a novel gadolinium-doped electrolyte material i.e. BaCe0.59Zr0.2Y0.15Gd0.06O2.97-δ (BCZYG59) for PCFCs using solid-state and wet-chemical synthesis approach. X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were carried out for analyzing microstructural morphology, grain-growth and characteristics, densification trends and other phase/structural transformations, whereas, electrical properties were investigated via DC conductivity testing to examine BCZYG59's feasibility as electrolyte. Homogenous cubic perovskite phase for ensuring proton conduction was achieved at 1300 °C and 1500 °C for BCZYG59 synthesized from wet-chemical and solid–state methods, respectively. These materials showed corresponding conductivity values of 3.20 × 10−4 S cm−1 and 4.70 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 650 °C in air with the promising prospects of exhibiting greater proton conductivity making it a fairly convincing choice among present-day electrolyte materials.
Remixing Remix Remixed

Remix culture plays an important role in the expression and communication of visual art. It is a discourse by which I strive to directly engage culture by cutting and pasting together already existing visual information. By doing so, I strive to promote an exchange of ideas and feelings between juxtaposed pieces. In this age of post-digital era collage, I am interested in the meaning and propaganda associated with collage and assemblage and the modes of disseminating messages via cut-and-paste. By juxtaposing images that differ in style, content, and meaning, I am able to build panoramas of fractured identities that manifest themselves as overlays-on-overlays of distorted caricatures. Taking inspiration from sources as diverse as prehistoric cave paintings and street art mark-making, my work is a free association landscape that draws comparisons between unlikely references. With a single work, I attempt to say everything and nothing simultaneously. This denies permanence in meaning and celebrates the bizarre unknown. My thesis work Reference Complex (2014) is a large-scale mural that investigates my own reference impulse my compulsion to combine and redefme imagery via appropriation and collage. The work aims to create a shift from traditional perspective. By recycling unrelated segments of visual information, I have created a landscape of divergent space and alternative culture. The mural is used as a strategy to explore the potential of remix culture and the exploration of free culture that allows visual representations for a new system of social culture and artmaking. -----------------------
CHAPTER V – BASIC THEORETICAL PERFORMANCE

This chapter discusses various methods of generating the internal electric field required for separation of hole-electron pairs, and then derives the equations necessary to predict the magnitude of the electrical power generated and the efficiency with which the solar cells convert solar energy to electrical energy. If a local electric field is present within the semiconductor, it can be used to separate the constituent parts (holes and electrons) of the hole-electron pairs. Once separated, the collected charge carriers (holes and electrons) produce a space charge that results in a voltage across the semiconductor. This voltage is known as the “photovoltage.” The product of the photovoltage and the photocurrent represents a net flow of energy (when integrated over time) from the solar cell (semiconductor) to the external load. This energy originated in the sun and was converted from photon-energy to electrical energy when the photons were absorbed within the solar cell and the resultant hole-electron pairs were separated by the internal electric field. Electric fields can be generated within a semiconductor by: (1) Altering the composition or impurity concentration of the semiconductor (a heterotransition); 2) by varying the type of impurity doping within a semiconductor (a pn junction); or (3) by varying both (a heterojunction). Other possible techniques which can be employed in the generation of local electric fields are: (1) the introduction of mechanical strains; (2) the introduction of impurity atoms which produce strains; (3) the Dember effect that is a result of the differential diffusivities of the mobile charge carriers; (4) the photomagnetoelectric effect; and (5) the anomalous photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon that frequently produces voltages much greater than the energy gap.
Mortgage Modification as a Solution to Ireland’s Mortgage Market Crisis: Drawing on Experience in the United States to Successfully Implement the Personal Insolvency Bill 2012

The Irish mortgage market is in crisis, with exceptionally high numbers of households in arrears and unprecedented levels of negative equity. The existence of a depressed property market, combined with strict austerity measures and substantial unemployment, creates the likelihood of vast mortgage defaults on a national scale. It is essential that Ireland take decisive action to resolve this crisis, as the current policy response of forbearance is unsustainable as a permanent solution. The similar housing boom and bust experienced in Ireland and the United States over the same period makes the United States a useful market analogue to Ireland. This paper draws lessons from the attempts in the United States to solve its mortgage crisis, in order to critically analyse the Personal Insolvency Arrangement under Ireland’s Personal Insolvency Bill 2012. As currently drafted, the Bill lacks the tools to promote a sustainable and efficient solution to the Irish mortgage market crisis. To ensure its effectiveness, several revisions are proposed based on US experience. The most imperative concern is to bring Irish mortgage debt levels in line with current housing market values in order to address the negative equity issue. This is fundamentally important to resolving the mortgage market crisis and promoting economic growth in Ireland. To accomplish this goal, the Bill must enable the writing down of mortgage debt. The Bill should also include strategies to maximise lender incentives to participate in Personal Insolvency Arrangements. It should further develop optimal eligibility criteria for Personal Insolvency Arrangements, and provide additional detail on the role of the Personal Insolvency Practitioner.
Ideological Temptations and Moral Crusading in Politics and Diplomacy: Reminders from Voegelin and Morgenthau

Ideological thinking about politics and diplomacy obviously impacts, as it distorts, the manner by which societies depict the truth of their existence, the ways in which the innermost purposes of a nation or people are acted upon by representatives of that truth (be they philosophers or statesmen), as well as the ethical potential of individuals, groups, and nations in a world not yet shorn of war and violence. Eric Voegelin’s diagnosis of modern ideologies on the left and right helps to refocus our attention on the meaning of politics, political reality, and how ideological movements (as pseudo-philosophies and expressions of modern Gnosticism) empty politics of authentic moral content by seeking a world immanent rationale for the transcendent sources of being and order. While this important slice of the Voegelin corpus has received considerable attention over the years, less-often-investigated by political thinkers has been the impact of ideological claims in international politics, how to judge such claims, and how to assess the connection between ideological arguments and moral choices in foreign policy. If a truly open society is going concern for the twenty-first century, one that spans different groups and civilizations, and one that is linked to a “post-national” world, then we may well profit if ideology and ideological temptations have faded from the scene.
AN INTERPRETATION OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF CARBONS

The authors have come to a consistent interpretation of the elastic properties of carbon and graphite. In brief, it is thought that graphite accommodates impressed stresses by way of resolved relative movement of the layer planes which make up the crystal structure of all carbons. This view explains the following phenomena: (1) The effect of neutron irradiation on elastic moduli; (2) The effect of impregnation and heat treatment on carbons; (3) The elastic moduli and their temperature coefficients for a variety of graphites; (4) The high-temperature creep properties of a variety of graphites; (5) The elastic hysteresis and dynamic damping (at low frequencies) of carbons and graphites before and after heat treatment and neutron irradiation. The application of these views to an understanding of the strength of carbons and graphites is considered.
White-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) habitat selection and Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) canopy use in an urban forest

Urban parks undergo significant changes in their community composition and habitat structure as a result of anthropogenic land-use changes. Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) dominates invaded urban parks and changes the vegetative community. This study examines the impact of L. maackii on white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) foraging behavior and habitat selection. Detailed vegetative and structural surveys allowed for analysis of habitat use. A capture-mark-recapture study was conducted in both the terrestrial and arboreal environment. We found that P. leucopus increased preference for the honeysuckle canopy when berries and leaves were present, but the primary habitat component selected for was coarse woody debris (CWD). Peromyscus leucopus appeared to avoid areas heavily trafficked by people, regardless of habitat. We demonstrated that urban P. leucopus could adjust to the presence of a dominant invasive plant, but still appeared to retain a threshold tolerance for human presence. The arboreal behavior of P. leucopus suggests L. maackii can provide desirable habitat and has practical implications for nesting birds through egg predation. Strong avoidance of human paths by P. leucopus has practical implications for Lyme disease transmission.
Leadership Preferences of the Millennial Generation

As more graduates enter the workforce, organizations must be able to manage and attract younger workers, particularly Millennial employees, those born between 1982 and 2004. Further, firms recognize the importance of the role of the leader in maintaining worker organizational commitment and thus increasing employee retention. Through survey data collected from students at a public university in Southeast Texas, this paper examines Millennial leadership preferences. We found that Millennials value leaders who provide coaching, caring, and information as well as participation in decision-making and fairness. Despite previous conclusions, this study finds that Millennials are not so different from previous generations.
Lattice Light-Sheet and Self-Interference Incoherent Digital Holography

We demonstrate lattice light-sheet microscopy combined with Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH) in the detection path. We present the imaging performance of the microscope with an example of post-data-acquisition image reconstruction.