cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical, Parasitologic, And Immunologic Observations Of Patients With Hydrocele And Elephantiasis In An Area With Endemic Lymphatic Filariasis

Hydrocele and elephantiasis, major clinical manifestations of bancroftian filariasis, are thought to share a common pathogenesis. The characteristics of 121 patients with hydrocele or elephantiasis in Leogane, Haiti, were compared: 39% of 57 men with hydrocele and 3% of 64 persons with lymphedema of the leg were microfilaria-positive (P < .001). Circulating filarial antigen, presumably from the adult worm, was detected in 15 (43%) microfilaria-negative men with hydrocele and 9 (15%) microfilaria-negative persons with leg edema (P = .004). Microfilaria-positive men had lower levels of filaria-specific IgG1 and hydroceles of significantly smaller volume and shorter duration than did microfilaria-negative men; hydrocele volume was inversely associated with microfilarial density (P = .001). In contrast, filarial antigen but not microfilariae was associated with filaria-specific IgG4 and decreased lymphocyte proliferation. Antigen status was not associated with severity of leg edema. In this filariasis-endemic area, men with hydrocele are more immunologically and parasitologically heterogeneous than are persons with elephantiasis.
Antimicrobial Agents for Surgical Infections

Antimicrobial drugs are useful for the empiric and definitive treatment of infections in surgical patients. They are also important agents for perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis. The proper selection and use of these drugs is a critical skill for surgeons. Although these agents have many beneficial effects, they also possess occasional adverse effects and should not be used indiscriminately.
Sex steroid levels and response to weight loss interventions among postmenopausal women in the diabetes prevention program.

Author(s): Kim, Catherine; Barrett-Connor, Elizabeth; Randolph, John F; Kong, Shengchun; Nan, Bin; Mather, Kieren J; Golden, Sherita H; Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group | Abstract: ObjectivesTo examine whether estrogen use potentiates weight loss interventions via sex steroid levels and whether endogenous sex steroid levels predict response to weight loss interventions among women not using estrogen.MethodsThe Diabetes Prevention Program randomized overweight or obese dysglycemic participants to lifestyle change with the goals of weight reduction of g7% of initial weight and 150 minutes per week of exercise, metformin, or placebo. In this secondary analysis, we examined sex steroid levels and reductions in weight and waist circumference (WC) among postmenopausal women using (n = 324) and not using (n = 382) oral estrogen.ResultsEstrogen users and nonusers randomized to lifestyle change and metformin both lost significant amounts of weight compared to placebo. Reductions in weight and WC over 1 year associated with randomization arm were not associated with baseline sex steroid levels among estrogen users or nonusers.ConclusionsAmong estrogen users, baseline sex steroids were not associated with reductions in weight or WC, suggesting that exogenous estrogen does not potentiate weight loss by altering sex steroids. Among nonestrogen users, baseline sex steroids were not associated with reductions in weight or WC.
A simple model of technological intensification

Ugan, Bright and Rogers [When is technology worth the trouble? Journal of Archaeological Science 30 (10) (2003) 1315e1329] develop procurement and processing versions of an optimization model, termed the tech investment model, to formalize the conditions that favor investing time in the manufacture of more productive but more costly technologies. Their approach captures the tradeoffs that occur as less costly versions are supplanted by more costly versions of the same category of technology (e.g., fishhooks), but not the tradeoffs that occur when more costly categories of technology supplant different but less costly categories used for the same purpose (e.g., hook and line vs. spear). We (i) propose an alternative model in which different categories of technology are characterized by separate costebenefit curves, (ii) develop point-estimate and curve-estimate versions on this model, and (iii) show how they might be applied using the development of weaponry in aboriginal California as an example. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Yields of damage to C4' deoxyribose and to pyrimidines in pUC18 by the direct effect of ionizing radiation.

Our mechanistic understanding of damage formation in DNA by the direct effect relies heavily on what is known of free radical intermediates studied by EPR spectroscopy. Bridging this information to stable product formation requires methods with comparable sensitivities, a criterion met by the 32P-post-labeling assay developed by Weinfeld and Soderlind, [Weinfeld,M. and Soderlind,K.-J.M. (1991) 32P-Postlabeling detection of radiation-induced DNA damage: identification and estimation of thymine glycols and phosphoglycolate termini. Biochemistry, 30, 1091–1097] which when applied to the indirect effect, detected phosphoglycolate (pg) and thymine glycol (Tg). Here we applied this assay to the direct effect, measuring product yields in pUC18 films with hydration levels (Γ) of 2.5, 16 or 23 waters per nucleotide and X-irradiated at either 4 K or room temperature (RT). The yields of pg [G(pg)] for Γ ∼ 2.5 were 2.8 ± 0.2 nmol/J (RT) and 0.2 ± 0.3 nmol/J (4 K), which is evidence that the C4′ radical contributes little to the total deoxyribose damage via the direct effect. The yield of detectable base damage [G(B*)] at Γ ∼ 2.5 was found to be 30.2 ± 1.0 nmol/J (RT) and 12.9 ± 0.7 nmol/J (4 K). While the base damage called B*, could be due to either oxidation or reduction, we argue that two reduction products, 5,6-dihydrouracil and 5,6-dihydrothymine, are the most likely candidates.
Feasibility of critical congenital heart disease newborn screening at moderate altitude

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Consensus guidelines have recommended newborn pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). Given that newborn oxygen saturations are generally lower at higher altitudes, the American Academy of Pediatrics and others recommend additional evaluation of the screening algorithm at altitude. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility of newborn pulse-oximetry CCHD screening at moderate altitude (Aurora, CO; 1694 m). We hypothesized the overall failure rate would be significantly higher compared with published controls. METHODS: We enrolled 1003 consecutive infants at ≥35 weeks’ gestation in a prospective observational study. The nationally recommended protocol for CCHD screening was adhered to with the exceptions of no reflex echocardiograms being performed and providers being informed of results only if saturations were less than predefined critical values. RESULTS: There were 1003 infants enrolled, and 988 completed the screen. The overall failure rate for completed screenings was 1.1% (95% confidence interval: 0.6%–2.0%). The first 500 infants had 1.6% fail, and the last 503 infants had 0.6% fail. Among infants who failed screening, 73% failed secondary to saturations 3% difference, and multiple criteria were each responsible for 9% of failures. Overall, 1.6% of all infants had incomplete screening and had not passed at the time the test was stopped. CONCLUSIONS: Pulse oximetry screening failure rates at moderate altitude are significantly higher than at sea level. Larger studies with alternative algorithms are warranted at moderate altitudes.
Peripheral and diffused layer effects on doping profiles

The impurity profile of an epitaxial layer has been determined from the capacitance-voltage ( C-V ) characteristics of a diffused p-n junction. The C-V characteristics were corrected for peripheral and diffused layer effects. Peripheral capacitance corrections account for the lateral spread of the space-charge region, whose periphery is assumed to be cylindrical. Diffused layer corrections account for the penetration of the space-charge region into the diffused layer, assumed to be Gaussian. The importance of these corrections can be estimated from graphs that cover a wide range of practical diffusion conditions and junction diameters. The sensitivity of profiles to the assumed Gaussian diffusion are examined. Finally, the corrections are applied to an experimental junction and the results are presented from a computer printout. The Appendix includes graphs for determining the space-charge width of a Gaussian-diffused silicon junction, given the diffused layer sheet resistance, junction depth, and background concentration.
Pseudo-Crossed Renal Ectopia Secondary to Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction

To our knowledge we report the first case of pseudo-crossed renal ectopia without an apparent displacing retroperitoneal mass that was documented on sequential radiological studies. Ureteropelvic junction obstruction of the crossed kidney appeared to be the cause of pseudo-crossed renal ectopia. Our case is compared with previously described instances of pseudo-crossed renal ectopia and the pathophysiological basis of this condition is discussed.
Slant range and 3D sea floor models for real-time UUV simulation

Slant range and 3-D sea floor models were used in a real-time unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) simulation with a 3-D display. Two methods were used to generate 3-D terrain models. The first method uses specified spectral characteristics, random variations, and a discrete Fourier transform to generate plausible terrain. The second method uses non-Cartesian interpolation to convert contour information from oceanographic maps to a regular grid. Using terrain generated by either method, sensor models call a slant range algorithm to calculate, in real-time, the distance along the sensor beam to the first intersection of that beam with the terrain. >
Night Owl Women are Similar to Men in Their Relationship Orientation, Risk-taking Propensities, and Cortisol Levels: Implications for the Adaptive Significance and Evolution of Eveningness

Individual differences in morningness/eveningness are relatively stable over time and, in part, genetically based. The night-owl pattern is more prevalent in men than in women, particularly after puberty and before women reach menopause. It has been suggested that eveningness evolved relatively recently in human evolutionary history and that this trait may be advantageous to individuals pursuing short-term mating strategies. Consistent with this hypothesis, eveningness is associated with extraversion, novelty-seeking, and in males, with a higher number of sexual partners. In this study, I investigated whether eveningness is associated with short-term relationship orientation, higher risk-taking, and higher testosterone or cortisol. Both female and male night-owls were more likely to be single than in long-term relationships than early morning individuals. Eveningness was associated with higher risk-taking in women but not in men; this association was not testosterone-dependent but mediated by cortisol. Female night-owls had average cortisol profiles and risk-taking tendencies more similar to those of males than to those of early-morning females. Taken together, these findings provide some support to the hypothesis that eveningness is associated with psychological and behavioral traits that are instrumental in short-term mating strategies, with the evidence being stronger for women than for men.
Linkage analysis of the multilocus glucosephosphate isomerase isozyme system in sunfish (Centrarchidae, Teleostii).

The purpose of the present investigation is to determine whether the two duplicated glucosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.9) loci Gpi-A and Gpi-B reside on the same chromosome in teleostean fishes. Interspecific sunfish hybrids were employed for the cross because of the different species-specific electrophoretic mobilities of the allelic isozymes at each GPI locus and because of their genomic compatibility. F1 sunfish hybrids, formed from a male warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) x female green sunfish (L. cyanellus) cross, were mated to form the F 2 generation. The number of each of the nine different isozyme phenotypes, revealed by starch gel electrophoresis, was determined using 256 F2 individuals. The high frequency of recombinant phenotypes in the F2 generation indicated that the two GPI loci are not linked. An excess of F 2 individuals heterozygous at both loci was observed and is interpreted as being caused by heterosis. The absence of linkage for the homologous loci encoding GPI subunits and for other multilocus isozyme systems is consistent with the postulate that the genomes of present-day vertebrates arose through one or more polyploidization events early in vertebrate evolution.
A 100 MHz 64-tap FIR digital filter in a 0.8 mu m BiCMOS gate array

A 64-tap FIR (finite-impulse-response) digital filter fabricated in a 0.8- mu m, triple-level interconnect, BiCMOS gate-array technology is discussed. The filter has been tested and is fully functional at 100-MHz sampling rate. These results are obtained by combining an optimized architecture and gate-array floor planning with submicron BiCMOS technology. A total design time of one week was achieved using a filter compiler. About two-thirds (49 mm/sup 2/) of the 100 K gate-array core was allocated to the filter. The design is equivalent to about 55 K gates (two-input NAND gates) in complexity and utilizes 76% of the core allocation. The device input/output are 100 K emitter-coupled logic (ECL) compatible. The functional switching waveforms of the master clock, least-significant-bit (LSB) input, and most-significant-bit (MSB) output at 1.00-MHz operating frequency are shown. >
Bioactive and immunoreactive prolactin variants in human milk.

Human milk from mothers of term (T) and preterm (PT) infants was collected during early (days 2-7), mature (2-16 weeks), or late (> 16 weeks) lactation. PRL-like bioactivity (B) was measured by Nb2 cell proliferation, and PRL immunoreactivity (I) was determined by RIA. PRL activity is reported in PRL equivalents (1 PRL equivalent = 1 ng NIDDK reference material). Milk from early lactation contained significantly greater PRL-like B compared to I (T:B, 132.5 +/- 13.0; I, 83.43 +/- 12; PT:B, 195.8 +/- 56; I, 74.45 +/- 13.7). PRL-like B and I declined as lactation progressed (T mature: B, 41.74 +/- 8.9; I, 27.19 +/- 5.5; T late: B, 17.84 +/- 5.5; I, 27.33 +/- 1.8; PT mature: B, 59.85 +/- 16; I, 45.16 +/- 4.3). Milk PRL B to I ratios were consistently greater than serum B to I ratios during early lactation (milk: T, 1.4 +/- 0.3; PT, 3.6 +/- 1.3; serum: T, 1.0 +/- 0.2; PT, 0.58 +/- 0.12). During early lactation, high PRL-like B was widely distributed among several (n = 4-6) bioactive forms differing in molecula...
Implicit representation and scene reconstruction from probability density functions

A technique is presented for representing linear features as probability density functions in two or three dimensions. Three chief advantages of this approach are (1) a unified representation and algebra for manipulating points, lines, and planes, (2) seamless incorporation of uncertainty information, and (3) a very simple recursive solution for maximum likelihood shape estimation. Applications to uncalibrated affine scene reconstruction are presented, with results on images of an outdoor environment.
Prospective Study of Functional Bone Marrow-Sparing Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy With Concurrent Chemotherapy for Pelvic Malignancies

Purpose To test the hypothesis that intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) can reduce radiation dose to functional bone marrow (BM) in patients with pelvic malignancies (phase IA) and estimate the clinical feasibility and acute toxicity associated with this technique (phase IB). Methods and Materials We enrolled 31 subjects (19 with gynecologic cancer and 12 with anal cancer) in an institutional review board-approved prospective trial (6 in the pilot study, 10 in phase IA, and 15 in phase IB). The mean age was 52 years; 8 of 31 patients (26%) were men. Twenty-one subjects completed 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) simulation and magnetic resonance imaging by use of quantitative IDEAL (IDEAL IQ; GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI). The PET/CT and IDEAL IQ were registered, and BM subvolumes were segmented above the mean standardized uptake value and below the mean fat fraction within the pelvis and lumbar spine; their intersection was designated as functional BM for IMRT planning. Functional BM-sparing vs total BM-sparing IMRT plans were compared in 12 subjects; 10 were treated with functional BM-sparing pelvic IMRT per protocol. Results In gynecologic cancer patients, the mean functional BM V 10 (volume receiving ≥10 Gy) and V 20 (volume receiving ≥20 Gy) were 85% vs 94% ( P P P =.06) and 62% vs 67% ( P =.002), respectively. Of 10 subjects treated with functional BM-sparing pelvic IMRT, 3 (30%) had acute grade 3 hematologic toxicity or greater. Conclusions IMRT can reduce dose to BM subregions identified by 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT and IDEAL IQ. The efficacy of BM-sparing IMRT is being tested in a phase II trial.
Myths in software engineering: from the other side

An important component of Empirical Software Engineering (ESE) research involves the measurement, observation, analysis and understanding of software engineering in practice. Results analyzed without understanding the contexts in which they were obtained can lead to wrong and potentially harmful interpretation. There exist several myths in software engineering, most of which have been accepted for years as being conventional wisdom without having been questioned. In this talk we will deal briefly with a few popular myths in software engineering ranging from testing and static analysis to distributed development and highlight the importance of context and generalization.
Optimizing a continuous flow lipid extraction system (CFLES) used for extracting microalgal lipids

A laboratory-made continuous flow lipid extraction system (CFLES) was devised to extract lipids from microalgae Nannochloropsis sp., a potential feedstock for biodiesel fuel, with a focus to assess the workable temperatures and pressures for future industrial applications. Using conventional solvents, the CFLES recovered 100% of the lipids extracted with conventional Soxhlet extraction. The optimum temperature and pressure were found to be 100 °C and 50 psi, respectively; conditions significantly lower than those normally used in pressurized liquid extractions requiring specialized equipment. Approximately 87% of the extracted oil was successfully transesterified into biodiesel fuel (fatty acid methyl esters). Preliminary calculations based on the tested lab-scale system indicated savings in energy, solvent consumption, and extraction time as 96%, 80%, and more than 90%, respectively, as compared to Soxhlet extraction. However, the true cost savings can only be assessed at scaled up level. Energy efficiency of CFLES was calculated as 48.9%. Residual water (~70%) in the biomass had no effect on the extraction performance of CFLES, which is expected to help the process economics at scaled up application. The effect of temperature and pressure on the fatty acids profile of Nannochloropsis sp. is also discussed. Based on the existing literature, the authors believe that a pressurized liquid extraction system with continuous solvent flow has not been reported for lipid extraction from Nannochloropsis sp.
Feature-based image registration in log-polar domain

Image registration is a necessary step in a variety of computer vision applications. One of the recent focus areas in image registration is extracting and matching features that are invariant to affine transformation. This is critical in various applications, including 3D reconstruction and object recognition. In this paper, we present a feature-based image registration method that is robust to scaling and rotation. This is achieved by extracting and matching features in the log-polar domain, where rotation and scale correspond to translation. Registration parameters are then estimated by applying the RANSAC technique to the feature correspondences. The RANSAC technique provides a robust estimation even when there are moving objects within the scene. Experimental results with synthetic and real images are provided.
SAP Is Required for the Development of Innate Phenotype in H2-M3–Restricted CD8+ T Cells

H2-M3–restricted T cells have a preactivated surface phenotype, rapidly expand, and produce cytokines upon stimulation, and, as such, are classified as innate T cells. Unlike most innate T cells, M3-restricted T cells also express CD8αβ coreceptors and a diverse TCR repertoire: hallmarks of conventional MHC Ia-restricted CD8+ T cells. Although invariant NKT cells are also innate T cells, they are selected exclusively on hematopoietic cells (HC), whereas M3-restricted T cells can be selected on either hematopoietic or thymic epithelial cells. Moreover, their phenotypes differ depending on what cells mediate their selection. Although there is a clear correlation between selection on HC and development of innate phenotype, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Signaling lymphocyte activation molecule-associated protein (SAP) is required for the development of invariant NKT cells and mediates signals from signaling lymphocyte activation molecule receptors that are exclusively expressed on HC. Based on their dual selection pathway, M3-restricted T cells present a unique model for studying the development of innate T cell phenotype. Using both polyclonal and transgenic mouse models, we demonstrate that although M3-restricted T cells are capable of developing in the absence of SAP, SAP is required for HC-mediated selection, development of preactivated phenotype, and heightened effector functions of M3-restricted T cells. These findings are significant because they directly demonstrate the need for SAP in HC-mediated acquisition of innate T cell phenotype and suggest that, due to their SAP-dependent HC-mediated selection, M3-restricted T cells develop a preactivated phenotype and an intrinsic ability to proliferate faster upon stimulation, allowing for an important role in the early response to infection.
Early Childhood Memory and Attention as Predictors of Academic Growth Trajectories.

Longitudinal data from the children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) were used to assess how well measures of short-term and working memory and attention in early childhood predicted longitudinal growth trajectories in mathematics and reading comprehension. Analyses also examined whether changes in memory and attention were more strongly predictive of changes in academic skills in early childhood than in later childhood. All predictors were significantly associated with academic achievement and years of schooling attained, although the latter was at least partially mediated by predictors’ effect on academic achievement in adolescence. The relationship of working memory and attention with academic outcomes was also found to be strong and positive in early childhood but nonsignificant or small and negative in later years. The study results provide support for a “fade-out” hypothesis, which suggests that underlying cognitive capacities predict learning in the early elementary grades, but the relationship fades by late elementary school. These findings suggest that whereas efforts to develop attention and memory may improve academic achievement in the early grades, in the later grades interventions that focus directly on subject matter learning are more likely to improve achievement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Clinical Considerations of Transdermal Drugs

Mountain climbers have been known to say that they are challenged by a peak basically “because it is there.” Analogously, researchers and manufacturers may try to apply technologies just because they are available.
SOURCES OF EGG-SIZE VARIATION IN HOUSE WRENS (TROGLODYTES AEDON): ONTOGENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS

Abstract Evolutionary theory predicts that heritability of fitness-related traits should be low. Egg size in birds is a fitness-related trait, but exhibits high heritability. One possible explanation for the apparent failure of natural selection to exhaust variability is that variation in egg size is mediated by female condition. In this study, we estimated repeatability of egg size within and between successive clutches in a wild, double-brooded population of House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) in central Illinois, and examined the relationship of egg size with female size and condition. Repeatability of egg volume and mass in individual birds was high within years and between successive years (>0.77), suggesting a substantial heritable component to variation in egg size. However, egg mass was also significantly correlated with female condition. We suggest that the high repeatability values largely reflect permanent but nongenetic (ontogenetic) variation in egg size among females, which is reflected in the p...
Treatment of Sarcopenia and Cachexia in the Elderly

Cachexia is defined as physical wasting with loss of muscle mass and weight that is caused by disease [1]. It is common for elderly individuals who have disease to exhibit cachexia.Additionally,muscle mass loss is characteristic of the conditions of frailty and sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle mass [2]. Physical frailty has been characterised by Fried et al. [3] as a condition that results from reduced strength, reduced gait velocity, reduced physical activity, weight loss, and exhaustion. Clearly, sarcopenia and frailty could be classified as cachectic conditions because they are associated with muscle mass loss. This chapter will describe the causes of sarcopenia, treatment of sarcopenia, causes of cachexia in elderly individuals, and treatment of cachexia in elderly individuals.
Plant Cues and Factors Influencing the Behaviour of Beneficial Nematodes as a Belowground Indirect Defense

Abstract Plant signals play diverse roles to the many organisms that surround them. One facet of this is their ability to manipulate organisms in a manner that protects them or harms herbivores that feed on them. This relationship has more recently been recognized to occur belowground. Here, we discuss these belowground interactions, techniques and findings, focussing on entomopathogenic nematodes and soil nematode chemotaxis in response to plant root cues and potential implications for agroecosystems and fundamental concepts in ecological trophic cascades.
Outdoor PV Performance Evaluation of Three Different Models: Single-Diode, SAPM and Loss Factor Model

This study examines the accuracy and value of three different PV module performance modeling approaches by calibrating selected performance models to outdoor IV data measured on different module technologies. We compare measured and modeled IV characteristics by examining the error distributions and correlations with time varying quantities to assess the accuracy of each model for the modules tested. The equivalent circuit diode models (e.g., PVsyst, PV*SOL, CEC, etc.) are popular, but include technology-specific corrections and calibration is challenging. Empirical models such as the Sandia PV Array Performance Model (SAPM) and TEL/SRCL “Loss Factors model” (LFM) are better able to represent technology performance differences and changes over time. Several of the SAPM coefficients lack of physical meaning whereas the LFM coefficients relate directly to IV characteristics. This study explores the strengths and weaknesses of each approach to model PV module and system performance with the goal of reducing prediction uncertainty and project risk, and improving the quality and value of PV system modeling and simulations.
Potential clinical impact of laser-accelerated beams in cancer ion therapy

Abstract In this article, I present three advantages of plasma-accelerated ion beams for cancer therapy. I discuss how: 1. low-emittance and well-collimated beams are advantageous in proximal normal tissue-sparing; 2. highly-peaked quasi-monoenergetic beams are ideal for fast energy selection and switching in Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS) as a treatment delivery; 3. high fluence and ultra-short pulse delivery produce collective excitations in the medium and enhance the stopping power. This in turn produces denser ionization track signatures (spurs, blobs, etc.) in target tumors, higher linear energy transfer, higher Bragg peak, and higher radiobiological effectiveness at the micro-level.
Shear-induced amyloid fibrillization: The role of inertia

Agitation of protein is known to induce deleterious effects on protein stability and structure, with extreme agitation sometimes resulting in complete aggregation into amyloid fibrils. Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain how protein becomes unstable when subjected to flow, including alignment of protein species, shear-induced unfolding, simple mixing, or fragmentation of existing fibrils to create new seeds. Here a shearing flow was imposed on a solution of monomeric human insulin via a rotating Couette device with a small hydrophobic fluid interface. The results indicate that even very low levels of shear are capable of accelerating amyloid fibril formation. Simulations of the flow suggest that the shear enhances fibrillization kinetics when flow inertia is non-negligible and the resulting meridional circulation allows for advection of bulk protein to the hydrophobic interface.
Parsing Indoor Scenes Using RGB-D Imagery.

This paper presents an approach to parsing the Manhattan structure of an indoor scene from a single RGBD frame. The problem of recovering the floor plan is recast as an optimal labeling problem which can be solved efficiently using Dynamic Programming.
Chromosomal Abnormalities in ADHD

The prevalence of fragile X syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS), and other cytogenetic abnormalities among 100 children (64 boys) with combined type ADHD and normal intelligence was assessed at the NIMH and Georgetown University Medical Center.
Reply to "The role of sponsored supplements in a peer-reviewed journal: a reply to an editorial".

This letter is in response to the letter by Drs L. Franklyn Elliott and Bryant A. Toth1 commenting on the editorial by Dr Foad Nahai titled “The Role of Sponsored Supplements in a Peer-Reviewed Journal,” both in Aesthetic Surgery Journal ( ASJ ) in 2012.2 In their letter, Drs Elliot and Toth voiced their concerns regarding a lack of fair and balanced product discussion in a recent supplement in ASJ titled “Acellular Dermal Matrix: Fundamentals and Expanding Applications of Plastic Surgery.”3 They stated that the supplement was “heavily weighted toward one company [and its acellular dermal matrix (ADM) products], with very little representation of any of the other products,” and that the majority of the contributors …
Failure Resistant Data Center Cooling Control Through Model-Based Thermal Zone Mapping

Due to the tremendous cooling costs, data center cooling efficiency improvement has been actively pursued for years. In addition to cooling efficiency, the reliability of the cooling sys- tem is also essential for guaranteed uptime. In traditional data center cooling system design with N+1 or higher redundancy, all the computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units are either constantly online or cycled according to a predefined schedule. Both cooling system configurations, however, have their respec- tive drawbacks. Data centers are usually over provisioned when all CRAC units are online all the time, and hence the cooling ef- ficiency is low. On the other hand, although cooling efficiency can be improved by cycling CRAC units and turning off the back- ups, it is difficult to schedule the cycling such that sufficient cool- ing provisioning is guaranteed and gross over provisioning is avoided. In this paper, we aim to maintain the data center cool- ing redundancy while achieving high cooling efficiency. Using model-based thermal zone mapping, we first partition data cen- ters to achieve the desired level of cooling redundancy through zone overlap adjustment. We then design a distributed controller for each of the CRAC units to regulate the thermal status within its zone of influence. The distributed controllers coordinate with each other to achieve the desired data center thermal status us- ing the least cooling power. When CRAC units or their associ- ated controllers fail, racks in the affected thermal zones are still within the control "radius" of other decentralized cooling con- trollers through predefined thermal zone overlap, and hence their thermal status is properly managed by the active CRAC units and controllers. Using this failure resistant data center cool- ing control approach, both cooling efficiency and robustness are achieved simultaneously. A higher flexibility in cooling system maintenance is also expected, since the distributed control sys- tem can automatically adapt to the new cooling facility configu- ration incurred by maintenance.
Proteinuria and impaired glomerular permselectivity in uninephrectomized fawn-hooded rats

Previous studies of glomerular permselectivity have indicated that both size selectivity and charge selectivity changes play a role in the pathogenesis of proteinuria. In this study, we measured Fi...
Abstract 068: Role for the Rho-GAP Graf3 in the Pathogenesis of Human Hypertension

Activation of RhoA in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) has been linked to vasoconstrictor-induced hypertension (HTN), but the relevance of this pathway to human disease was undetermined. We identified GRAF3 as a RhoA-GAP expressed specifically in SMC in mice and humans and reported that global GRAF3-deficient mice exhibited significant basal HTN (+ 25 mm Hg) that was fully reversed by treatment with a Rho-kinase inhibitor (Nature Comm. 2013;4:2910). Importantly, we recently created a tamoxifen inducible SMC-GRAF3 re-expression model which resulted in a near complete reversal of MAP (from 123 mmHg to 95 mm Hg), indicating that GRAF3's ability to limit RhoA activity in SMC is required for the maintenance of normal BP. Given that a BP-associated locus within the GRAF3 gene was identified by Genome Wide Association, we next sought to characterize the mechanisms that control GRAF3 expression. Through the use of a series of siRNA-dependent approaches in cultured SMC, we found that SMC-specific expression of GRAF3 is mediated by the RhoA/MRTF-A/SRF-signaling axis. Interestingly, RhoA is known to be activated by mechanical forces and we found that GRAF3 expression was significantly increased (8-fold) in vessels subjected to pathological stress. The finding that GRAF3 expression was significantly increased in two separate hypertensive animal models relative to their littermate controls provides further evidence that GRAF3 expression is regulated as part of an auto-regulatory negative feedback loop to inhibit RhoA activity and SMC tone. Interestingly, the BP associated locus maps to the 80Kb first intron of the GRAF3 gene and we found that the minor GRAF3 allele that decreases BP was associated with a significant increase in GRAF3 mRNA in human tibial artery samples (3-fold increase; N=123; p=1e-10 ). We have identified regulatory elements within the hypertensive locus that exhibit SMC-selective transcriptional activity and have shown that a minor allele variation within one of these elements significantly increased transcriptional activity. Our studies add significantly to our understanding of the development and pathophysiologic consequences of hypertension and may lead to novel and perhaps individualized approaches to its treatment.
Labour Market Theory and Empirical Research

Economic theory provides a model of the operation of the labour market which helps to explain wage differentials and the allocation of labour between employers, occupations, industries, and regions as the market tends to move toward equilibrium. Marshall, for example, pointed to the ‘tendency’ of competition to result in ‘equality of efficiency-earnings in the same district’, and he added: 1 This tendency will be the stronger, the greater is the mobility of labour, the less strictly specialized it is, the more keenly parents are on the look-out for the most advantageous occupations for their children, the more rapidly they are able to adapt themselves to changes in economic conditions, and lastly the slower and the less violent these changes are.
Vascular endothelial over-expression of soluble epoxide hydrolase (Tie2-sEH) enhances adenosine A1 receptor-dependent contraction in mouse mesenteric arteries: role of ATP-sensitive K+ channels.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) converts epoxyeicosatrienoic acids that are endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors into less active dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids. Previously, we reported a decrease in adenosine A1 receptor (A1AR) protein levels in sEH knockout (sEH-/-) and an increase in sEH and A1AR protein levels in A2AAR-/- mice. Additionally, KATP channels are involved in adenosine receptor (AR)-dependent vascular relaxation. Thus, we hypothesize that a potential relationship may exist among sEH over-expression, A1AR upregulation, inactivation of KATP channels, and increased in vascular tone. We performed DMT myograph muscle tension measurements and western blot analysis in isolated mouse mesenteric arteries (MAs) from wild-type (WT) and endothelial over-expression of sEH (Tie2-sEH Tr) mice. Our data revealed that NECA (a non-selective adenosine receptors agonist)-induced relaxation was significantly reduced in Tie2-sEH Tr mice, and CCPA (A1AR agonist)-induced contraction was increased in Tie2-sEH Tr mice. A1AR-dependent contraction in Tie2-sEH Tr mice was significantly attenuated by pharmacological inhibition of CYP4A (HET0016, 10 µM), PKCα (GO6976, 1 µM), and ERK1/2 (PD58059, 1 µM). Our western blot analysis revealed significantly higher basal protein expression of CYP4A, A1AR, and reduced p-ERK in MAs of Tie2-sEH Tr mice. Notably, pinacidil (KATP channel opener)-induced relaxation was also significantly reduced in MAs of Tie2-sEH Tr mice. Furthermore, KATP channel-dependent relaxation in MAs was enhanced by inhibition of PKCα and ERK1/2 in WT but not Tie2-sEH Tr mice. In conclusion, our data suggest that over-expression of sEH enhances A1AR-dependent contraction and reduces KATP channel-dependent relaxation in MAs. These results suggest a possible interaction between sEH, A1AR, and KATP channels in regulating vascular tone.
Acute blood loss stimulates fibroblast growth factor 23 production

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) production is upregulated by iron deficiency and hypoxia. However, the influence of acute blood loss, and the resulting increases in circulating erythropoietin, ...
An inter-chromosomal transcription hub activates the unfolded protein response in plasma cells

Previous studies have indicated that the transcription signature of antibody-secreting cells is closely associated with the induction of the unfolded protein response pathway (UPR). Here we have used genome-wide and single cell analyses to examine the folding patterns of plasma cell genomes. We found that plasma cells adopt a cartwheel configuration and undergo large-scale changes in chromatin folding at genomic regions associated with a plasma cell specific transcription signature. During plasma cell differentiation, Blimp1 assembles into an inter-chromosomal transcription hub with genes associated with the UPR, biosynthesis of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as well as a cluster of genes linked with Alzheimer9s disease. We suggest that the assembly of the Blimp1-UPR-ER transcription hub permits the coordinate activation of a wide spectrum of genes that collectively establish plasma cell identity.
Alcohol retail sales licenses and sexually transmitted infections in Texas counties, 2008-2015.

BACKGROUND Research suggests that reduced retail alcohol outlet density may be associated with lower prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). On-premise sale of alcohol for immediate consumption is theorized as increasing social interactions that can lead to sexual encounters. OBJECTIVE We examined associations between on- and off-premise retail alcohol sales licenses and number of newly diagnosed HIV and STI cases in Texas counties. METHODS Retail alcohol sales license data were obtained from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. HIV and bacterial STI data were obtained from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Associations between retail alcohol sales licenses and STIs were estimated using spatial linear models and Poisson mixed effects models for over-dispersed count data. RESULTS Adjusting for county-specific confounders, there was no evidence of residual spatial correlation. In Poisson models, each additional on-premise (e.g., bar and restaurant) alcohol license per 10,000 population in a county was associated with a 1.5% increase (95% CI: 0.4%, 2.6%) in the rate of HIV and a 2.4% increase (95% CI: 1.9%, 3.0%) in the rate of bacterial STIs, adjusting for potential confounders. In contrast, number of off-premise licenses (e.g., take-out stores) was inversely associated with the incidence of STI and HIV, although the association with HIV was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS This study adds to the limited literature on the association between retail alcohol availability and STIs. Additional research is needed on the role of alcohol availability (and policies affecting availability) in the spread of HIV and other STIs.
The Relationship between Hedge Fund Performance and Stock Market Sentiment

We examine the dynamic effect of aggregate stock market sentiment on the performance of various hedge fund styles. We find that hedge funds typically perform better during periods of optimistic sen...
Model-Driven Verifying Compilation of Synchronous Distributed Applications

We present an approach, based on model-driven verifying compilation, to construct distributed applications that satisfy user-specified safety specifications, assuming a ”synchronous network” model of computation. Given a distributed application P d and a safety specification ϕ in a domain specific language dasl (that we have developed), we first use a combination of sequentialization and software model checking to verify that P d satisfies ϕ. If verification succeeds, we generate an implementation of P d that uses a novel barrier-based synchronizer protocol (that we have also developed) to implement the synchronous network semantics. We present the syntax and semantics of dasl. We also present, and prove correctness of, two sequentialization algorithms, and the synchronizer protocol. Finally, we evaluate the two sequentializations on a collection of distributed applications with safety-critical requirements.
Energy-Efficiency of Cooperative Sensing Schemes in Ad Hoc WLAN Cognitive Radios

In cognitive radio networks, the secondary users need to coordinate among themselves to reap the benefits of cooperative spectrum sensing. In this paper, we study and analyse the energy efficiency of two generic cooperative sensing schemes in an ad hoc WLAN backdrop — distributed cooperative sensing scheme and centralized cluster based cooperative sensing scheme. We further propose corresponding enhanced and adaptive versions of these two schemes where only a fraction of nodes sense in each sensing cycle, as opposed to all the nodes in the network. Using an analytical energy model for sensing, we quantify the energy costs of each of these schemes and perform a comparative numerical analysis to demonstrate the amount of energy savings of the proposed cooperative schemes over their generic counterparts and non-cooperative schemes.
The Role of Ion Dissociation Dynamics in the Study of Ion and Neutral Thermochemistry

Various thermochemical cycles involving dissociative photoionization onsets, electron affinities, and radical ionization energies are described in terms of their accuracy and information content. The information content of spectroscopic methods which yield spectral information and thus structural information are stressed. These ionic cycles are compared to traditional methods involving primarily chemical kinetics for obtaining free radical heats of formation. The ion methods are illustrated by thermochemical cycles involving the CH2CN radical and its positive and negative ions. Dissociative ionization is one of the most powerful methods for obtaining energetics of free radicals and ions. However, the information can only be accessed by carefully modeling the data with the statistical RRKM theory of unimolecular dissociation. Examples are illustrated for various molecular ions including the dissociation of ICH2CN which leads to CH2CN+ ions, and various organic esters, R’COOR+ which dissociate to various distonic and enolic isomers of methyl acetate.
Temporally sensitive neural measures of inhibition in preschool children across a spectrum of irritability

Irritability is a prominent feature of chronic mental disorders and a developmental marker of their early emergence. The most salient feature of irritability in early childhood is temper tantrums. While temper tantrums are normative in young children, they can be clinically concerning when they are dysregulated, very frequent, and/or occur in unexpected contexts. The present study uses behavioral and event-related brain potential (ERP) measures to characterize the relationship between irritability and neural markers of response inhibition in very young children. Forty-six children (ages 4-7 years) completed a go/no-go task under nonfrustrating and frustrating conditions. ERPs elicited by go and no-go stimuli were examined as a function of frustration condition and irritability, operationalized via the well-validated Temper Loss scale of the Multidimensional Assessment Profile of Disruptive Behavior (MAP-DB). Higher Temper Loss scores were associated with larger N2no-go amplitudes and reduced no-go accuracy during frustration. This suggests that higher levels of irritability corresponded with increased conflict monitoring and poorer task performance during frustration. These findings add to a developing literature identifying the neurocognitive markers of varying levels of irritability in young children.
Allograft Reconstruction of Chronic Ruptures of the Distal Biceps Tendon

Surgical intervention can successfully treat chronic distal biceps ruptures when conservative management fails. If inadequate tissue quality prevents primary repair, tendon reconstruction should be pursued. Tendon allograft remains a viable alternative to autograft for reconstruction and avoids donor site morbidity. Studies have documented significant improvement in flexion and supination strength that approaches the uninjured contralateral limb following distal biceps tendon reconstruction.
Mevalonate pathway inhibitors in the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

6561 Background: B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells are arrested in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and are resistant to programmed cell death, hypothesized to contribute to the resistan...