cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coronary Vessel Development Is Dependent on the Type III Transforming Growth Factor β Receptor

Transforming growth factor (TGF) receptor III (TGFR3), or -glycan, binds all 3 TGF ligands and inhibin with high affinity but lacks the serine/threonine kinase domain found in the type I and type II receptors (TGFR1, TGFR2). TGFR3 facilitates signaling via TGFR1/TGFR2 but also has been suggested to play a unique and nonredundant role in TGF signaling. Targeted deletion of Tgfbr3 revealed a requirement for Tgfbr3 during development of the coronary vessels. Coronary vasculogenesis is significantly impaired in null mice, with few vessels evident and numerous, persistent blood islands found throughout the epicardium. Tgfbr3-null mice die at embryonic day 14.5, the time when functional coronary vasculature is required for embryo viability. However, in null mice nascent coronary vessels attach to the aorta, form 2 coronary ostia, and initiate smooth muscle recruitment by embryonic day 14. Analysis of earlier developmental stages revealed defects in the epicardium. At embryonic day 13.5, these defects include an irregular and hypercellular epicardium with abundant subepicardial mesenchyme and a thin compact zone myocardium. Tgfbr3-null mice also displayed other defects in coronary development, including dysmorphic and distended vessels along the atrioventricular groove and subepicardial hemorrhage. In null mice, vessels throughout the yolk sac and embryo form and recruit smooth muscle in a pattern indistinguishable from heterozygous or wild-type littermates. These data demonstrate a requirement for Tgfbr3 during coronary vessel development that is essential for embryonic viability. (Circ Res. 2007;101:784-791.)
Does technical assistance matter? An impact evaluation approach to estimate its value added

Many public programmes include technical assistance to the direct beneficiaries of the programme in addition to pure financing. However, there is no body of studies that calculates the additional impact of technical assistance on the outcome of interest. The authors use multi-treatment propensity score – with exact matching for dosage. The impact calculations reveal that technical assistance does matter as it has an impact over and above that of only financing. Given the small dollar value of technical assistance relative to the dollar value of transfers, not only does technical assistance matter but it is a way of getting more for less.
“A HUNDRED FLOWERS BLOSSOMING:” CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARDS AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS

Citizen advisory commissions are increasing rapidly. This study examines the incidence, functions, and origins of these commissions in five suburban communities. Two questions are raised: First, are the commissions compatible with local governments' efforts to increase their efficiency? The answer is generally yes, although local governments have often taken steps to impose more administrative order on the process. Second, do they help administrative agencies to be more responsive to the community? It appears that the advisory process makes officials more responsive to the middle class, but not to lower income groups.
A control-configured flexible arm: integrated structure control design

The integrated structure/control design of flexible robot arms is presented. The open loop, poles, and zeros are relocated by modifying the geometry and the structure of the arm. To determine the geometry and structure in a systematic manner, an inverse mapping method based on finite-element modeling and sensitivity analysis is applied to the flexible arm design. Using this method, a beam geometry that allows for a significantly high natural frequency is obtained. In order to relocate zeros, the torque transmission technique is applied. It makes it possible to remove nonminimum-phase zeros and make the endpoint control robustly stable. Based on the theoretical analysis and computation, a prototype arm was designed and built, and its performance was evaluated. >
Estimation of High-Frequency Currents From Near-Field Scan Measurements

High-frequency currents on the pins of integrated circuits (ICs) and on printed circuit board (PCB) traces are needed to predict and analyze electromagnetic interference in high-speed devices. These currents can, however, be difficult to measure when traces are buried within the PCB or chip-package, especially when several current-carrying traces are in close proximity. Techniques for estimating high-frequency currents from near-field scan data are proposed in this paper. These techniques are applied to find currents on the pins of an IC, on traces buried beneath other traces in a PCB, and on traces over a slot in the ground plane. Methods of dealing with the ill-posed nature of the current-estimation problem are discussed, as are applications to electrically large structures. A study of the sensitivity of the technique to errors in the measured fields, errors in the circuit geometry, and errors in the estimated dielectric constant of the PCB or chip package show that, for reasonable errors in these parameters, currents can be estimated to within an average of 20% (1.6 dB) or less of their correct values.
Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma: its potential role in primary peritoneal serous carcinoma and serous cancer prevention.

Purpose A diagnosis of primary peritoneal serous carcinoma (PPSC) requires exclusion of a source in other reproductive organs. Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC; stage 0) has been described in asymptomatic women with BRCA mutations and linked to a serous cancer precursor in the fimbria. This study examined the frequency of STIC in PPSC and its clinical outcome in BRCA-positive women. Patients and Methods Presence or absence of STIC was recorded in consecutive cases meeting the 2001 WHO criteria for PPSC, including 26 patients with nonuniform sampling of the fallopian tubes (group 1) and 19 patients with complete tubal examination (group 2; sectioning and extensively examining the fimbriated end, or SEE-FIM protocol). In selected cases, STIC or its putative precursor and the peritoneal tumor were analyzed for p53 mutations (exons 1 to 11). Outcome of STIC was ascertained by literature review. Result Thirteen (50%) of 26 PPSCs in group 1 involved the endosalpinx, with nine STICs (35%). Fifteen (7...
Dynamic crack nucleation, propagation, and interactions with crystalline secondary phases in aluminum alloys subjected to large deformations

The major objective of this work was to model within a continuum framework the dynamic nucleation and evolution of failure surfaces in aluminum alloys with complex microstructures, using a recently developed compatibility-based fracture criterion for large deformations. Computational analyses were conducted to understand how Mn-bearing dispersoids, Ω and θ′ precipitates affect dynamic fracture processes in an Al–Cu–Mg–Ag alloys (2139-Al). High strain-rate simulations were based on a rate-dependent dislocation-density-based crystalline plasticity formulation and a nonlinear explicit dynamic finite-element approach. Results indicate that the fracture criterion elucidated how dispersoids and precipitates have a dominant role in dynamic crack blunting, branching and arrest. Rationally orientated precipitates result in overall dynamic microstructural strengthening and enhanced uniformity of deformation. These precipitates, however, accelerated unstable crack propagation, and this is amplified in the presence o...
Stem cell-based gene therapy activated using magnetic hyperthermia to enhance the treatment of cancer.

Stem cell-based gene therapies, wherein stem cells are genetically engineered to express therapeutic molecules, have shown tremendous potential for cancer applications owing to their innate ability to home to tumors. However, traditional stem cell-based gene therapies are hampered by our current inability to control when the therapeutic genes are actually turned on, thereby resulting in detrimental side effects. Here, we report the novel application of magnetic core-shell nanoparticles for the dual purpose of delivering and activating a heat-inducible gene vector that encodes TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs). By combining the tumor tropism of the AD-MSCs with the spatiotemporal MCNP-based delivery and activation of TRAIL expression, this platform provides an attractive means with which to enhance our control over the activation of stem cell-based gene therapies. In particular, we found that these engineered AD-MSCs retained their innate ability to proliferate, differentiate, and, most importantly, home to tumors, making them ideal cellular carriers. Moreover, exposure of the engineered AD-MSCS to mild magnetic hyperthermia resulted in the selective expression of TRAIL from the engineered AD-MSCs and, as a result, induced significant ovarian cancer cell death in vitro and in vivo.
NESTING SUCCESS AND BEHAVIOR OF NORTHERN HARRIERS ON A RECLAIMED SURFACE MINE GRASSLAND IN KENTUCKY

ABSTRACT Grasslands are among the most threatened habitats in North America and populations of many grassland birds, including Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus), are declining. While native grasslands are disappearing, current procedures for reclaiming surface mines have produced large areas of grasslands in the eastern United States. Currently, little is known about the use of such grasslands by raptors. The objective of this study was to examine the nesting behavior of Northern Harriers on a reclaimed surface mine grassland in Kentucky. Over two breeding seasons (April–July 2002–03), 46 harrier nests were located, and young fledged from 10 (21.7%) of these nests. All but one nest were located in dry, upland areas, and the increased vulnerability of nests in such sites to predation may have contributed to this relatively low nesting success. Successful nests were located in denser vegetation than unsuccessful nests, suggesting that greater concealment may reduce predation risk. The percentage of breedin...
Changes in Pulmonary Function Following Image-Guided Stereotactic Lung Radiotherapy: Neither Lower Baseline Nor Post-SBRT Pulmonary Function Are Associated with Worse Overall Survival.

Purpose To determine changes in pulmonary function brought about by lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Methods One hundred and twenty-seven patients were treated with lung SBRT using 48 to 60Gy in four to five fractions on a prospective trial. We obtained pulmonary function tests (PFTs) at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, and 24 months after SBRT. Group mean PFT parameter values are reported. Results At baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 1.5 1 (67% predicted, range: 0.4–3.4 l), corrected diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide was 12.2 ml/min/mmHg (50.8% predicted, range: 3.3–27.2 ml/min/mmHg), and total lung capacity was 5.7 1 (102.4% predicted, range: 3.1–9.1 l). At 12 months, there was decline in FEV1 (−4.1%; p = 0.01), corrected diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (−5.2%; p = 0.027), forced vital capacity (−5.7%; p = 0.004), and total lung capacity (−3.6%; p = 0.039). Declines in FEV1 (−7.6%; p = 0.001) and forced vital capacity (−8.9%; p = 0.001) persisted at 24 months. Rates of pneumonitis were 3.1% and 0.8% for grades 2 and 3, respectively. There were no grade 3 PFT toxicities at 12 months. Lower PFTs at baseline and 1 year after SBRT did not predict for worse overall survival. Conclusions As the largest cohort of patients with prospective follow-up PFT evaluation after lung SBRT, this supports the safety of SBRT in this population of predominantly medically inoperable patients. "While statistically significant, nearly all declines in PFTs would be rated as a grade 1 on the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scale, demonstrating safety. PFT declines were not associated with worse overall survival.
Sites of Belonging: Acculturation, Discrimination, and Ethnic Identity Among Children of Immigrants

This paper presents detailed findings on ethnic self-identity and the factors that shape it based on structured longitudinal surveys with a large representative sample of over 5,000 adolescent children of immigrants (1.5 and second generations), from scores of different national origins, coming of age on both coasts of the United States. Four mutually exclusive types of ethnic self-identities emerged: (1) a foreign national identity; (2) a hyphenated-American identity; (3) a plain American identity; and (4) a pan-ethnic minority group identity (e.g., Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, Black, Asian). The paths to those different forms of ethnic self-definition are shaped by a variety of social and psychological forces. The results show the complex, conflictual, often incongruous and unexpected ways in which race and class, discrimination and acculturation, family relationships and personal dreams can complicate their sense of who they are. They suggest that identities are neither fixed nor irreversible, but always a function of relational processes, whose meaning is embedded in concrete social and historical contexts. Ethnic self-identities emerge from the interplay of racial and ethnic labels and categories imposed by the external society and the original identifications and ancestral attachments asserted by the newcomers. Such considerations underscore the need for mixed research methods to get at dimensions of varying subjectivity and situationality, and to facilitate a more thoroughly contextualized study of ethnic identity and social belonging.
A Theory of Infinitary Relations Extending Zermelo's Theory of Infinitary Propositions

An idea attributable to Russell serves to extend Zermelo's theory of systems of infinitely long propositions to infinitary relations. Specifically, relations over a given domain $${\mathfrak{D}}$$D of individuals will now be identified with propositions over an auxiliary domain $${\mathfrak{D}^{\mathord{\ast}}}$$D* subsuming $${\mathfrak{D}}$$D. Three applications of the resulting theory of infinitary relations are presented. First, it is used to reconstruct Zermelo's original theory of urelements and sets in a manner that achieves most, if not all, of his early aims. Second, the new account of infinitary relations makes possible a concise characterization of parametric definability with respect to a purely relational structure. Finally, based on his foundational philosophy of the primacy of the infinite, Zermelo rejected Godel's First Incompleteness Theorem; it is shown that the new theory of infinitary relations can be brought to bear, positively, in that connection as well.
Erratum to: Retinoic acid receptor signaling preserves tendon stem cell characteristics and prevents spontaneous differentiation in vitro

Previous studies have reported that adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) tend to gradually lose their stem cell characteristics in vitro when placed outside their niche environment. They subsequently undergo spontaneous differentiation towards mesenchymal lineages after only a few passages. We observed a similar phenomenon with adult tendon stem cells (TSCs) where expression of key tendon genes such as Scleraxis (Scx), are being repressed with time in culture. We hypothesized that an environment able to restore or maintain Scleraxis expression could be of therapeutic interest for in vitro use and tendon cell-based therapies. TSCs were isolated from human cadaveric Achilles tendon and expanded for 4 passages. A high content imaging assay that monitored the induction of Scx protein nuclear localization was used to screen ~1000 known drugs. We identified retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonists as potent inducers of nuclear Scx in the small molecule screen. The upregulation correlated with improved maintenance of tendon stem cell properties through inhibition of spontaneous differentiation rather than the anticipated induction of tenogenic differentiation. Our results suggest that histone epigenetic modifications by RAR are driving this effect which is not likely only dependent on Scleraxis nuclear binding but also mediated through other key genes involved in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the effect of RAR compounds on TSCs is reversible by revealing their multi-lineage differentiation ability upon withdrawal of the compound. Based on these findings, RAR agonists could provide a valid approach for maintaining TSC stemness during expansion in vitro, thus improving their regenerative potential for cell-based therapy.
Electrical Power Setting for Optical Single Side-band Millimeter-wave Generation

A scheme is suggested to generate single side-band millimeter-wave signal. Mathematical analysis is considered for electrical power adjustment. Two Mach-Zehnders are used to up-convert the radio frequency to the 60 GHz range.
Impact of Race and Insurance Status on Surgical Approach for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in the United States: A Population-Based Analysis.

Retrospective cohort study. The aim of the study was to assess factors potentially impacting the operative approach chosen for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients on a nationwide level. CSM is one of the most common spinal disorders treated by spine surgeons, with operative management consisting of three approaches: anterior-only, posterior-only, or combined anterior–posterior. It is unknown whether the operative approach used differs based on patient demographics and/or insurance status. The nationwide inpatient sample from 2001 to 2010 was used for analysis. Admissions having a diagnosis code of 721.1 and a primary procedure code of 81.02/81.03, 81.32/81.33, 81.02/81.03, or 81.32/81.33 (combined anterior and posterior fusion/refusion at C2 or below), and 3.09 (decompression of the spinal canal including laminoplasty) were included. Analysis was adjusted for several variables including patient age, race, sex, primary payer for care, and admission source/type. Multivariate analyses revealed that non-white race (black [odds ratio, OR = 1.39; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.32–1.47; P < 0.0001], Hispanic [OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.38–1.66; P < 0.0001], Asian/Pacific Islander [OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.15–1.70; P = 0.0007], Native American [OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.02–1.73; P = 0.037]) and increasing age (OR = 1.03; P < 0.0001) were predictive of receiving posterior-only approaches. Female sex (OR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.34–1.43; P < 0.0001), private insurance (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.14–1.25; P < 0.0001), and nontrauma center admission type (OR = 1.29–1.39; 95% CI = 1.16–1.56; P < 0.0001) were independently predictive of increased likelihood of receiving an anterior-only approach. Hispanic race (OR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.14–1.59; P = 0.0004) and admission source (another hospital [OR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.20–2.27; P = 0.0023], other health facility [OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.13–2.51; P = 0.011]) were the only variables predictive of increased combined anterior–posterior approaches; Native American race (OR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.13–0.78; P = 0.013) decreased the likelihood of a combined anterior–posterior approach. Private insurance status, female sex, and white race independently predict receipt of anterior-only CSM approaches, whereasd non-white race (black, hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American) and nonprivate insurance predict receiving posterior-only CSM approaches. Given recent literature demonstrating posterior-only approaches as predictive of increased mortality in CSM (Kaye et al, 2015), our findings indicate that for CSM patients, non-white race may significantly increase mortality risk, whereas private insurance status may significantly decrease the risk of mortality. Further prospective study will be needed to more definitively address these issues. Level of Evidence: 3
Urodynamic Patterns after Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Association with Bladder Trabeculation in Male Patients

AbstractA study was done on 80 male acute spinal cord injury patients with reflex bladder voiding to demonstrate an association between the development of radiological bladder trabeculation and serial urodynamic pressure/flow measurements. All patients were evaluated with cystograms and urodynamic studies during 1 to 3, 4 to 9 and 10 to 24 months after injury. Urodynamic measurements from those patients with bladder trabeculation were compared to those who retained normal-appearing bladders on x-ray. A high percentage of patients (70 per cent) suffered trabeculation by 24 months after injury. Post-void residual urine volumes were not clinically helpful in identifying those patients with bladder deterioration. However, analysis of the urodynamic pressure/flow measurements revealed significant differences between patients who had trabeculation and those who maintained normal bladders on x-ray during the 3 sequential intervals after injury.
2013 Scientific Sessions Sol Sherry Distinguished Lecture in Thrombosis Polyphosphate: A Novel Modulator of Hemostasis and Thrombosis

Polyphosphate is a highly anionic, linear polymer of inorganic phosphates that is found throughout biology, including in many infectious microorganisms. Recently, polyphosphate was discovered to be stored in a subset of the secretory granules of human platelets and mast cells, and to be secreted on activation of these cells. Work from our laboratory and others has now shown that polyphosphate is a novel, potent modulator of the blood clotting and complement systems that likely plays roles in hemostasis, thrombosis, inflammation, and host responses to pathogens. Therapeutics targeting polyphosphate may have the potential to limit thrombosis with fewer hemorrhagic complications than conventional anticoagulant drugs that target essential proteases of the blood clotting cascade.
Di-n-butyl phthalate induced hypospadias relates to autophagy in genital tubercle via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

Objective To explore the mechanisms of hypospadias induced by in utero exposure to din-butyl phthalate (DBP). Methods Timed-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 750 mg/kg of DBP by gavage from GD (gestation days) 13 to GD 18, whereas control group received corn oil. Genital tubercles (GTs) and blood samples were collected from male fetuses on GD 19. The serum testosterone concentration, apoptosis activity, autophagosomes and their related proteins (light chain 3 (LC3-I, LC3-II) ), and sequestosomes (SQSTM1/p62) in the GTs were then measured. Protein expression of protein kinase B (Akt), Beclin 1, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), p-S6, and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) in the GTs were analyzed by Western blotting. Results The incidence of hypospadias induced by DBP was 43.64% in male fetuses. The GT volume and GT volume/body weight of fetuses were significantly reduced in the hypospadias and the non-hypospadias groups. Apoptotic cell number was significantly decreased in the GTs of the hypospadias group, but unchanged in the non-hyposadias group. The ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I was higher in the GTs from DBP exposed fetuses compared to the control group. The ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I in the GTs was higher in the hypospadias group than in the non-hypospadias group. The number of autophagosomes was increased in the GTs of the hypospadias group. Protein expression of p-S6, p-mTOR, and p-Akt were significantly decreased in the GTs of hypospadiac rats. Conclusions DBP-induced hypospadias might be associated with apoptosis and autophagy mediated by the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in the GT.
German Speaking Sociology in the Chicago Archives

The most important repository of documents relating to the history of German-speaking sociology in Chicago is the University of Chicago’s Special Collections Research Center. This repository includes collections that document efforts to compile the early history of the social sciences, efforts to aid displaced or emigre German and Austrian scholars, records from individuals in the social sciences and humanities, and the records of international associations and publishers. The University of Chicago’s collections include a large number of personal papers from sociology department members, including materials from people who worked with Georg Simmel and Karl Mannheim, among others. The strengths of Northwestern University and other repositories in the Chicago-area are briefly mentioned for potential researchers’ reference.
This Is Not Dixie: Racist Violence in Kansas, 1861–1927 . By Brent M. S. Campney.

This Is Not Dixie: Racist Violence in Kansas, 1861–1927 . By Brent M. S. Campney. (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2015. xi + 284 pp. Maps, tables, appendices, notes, bibliography, index. $50.00.) T his is Not Dixie: Racist Violence in Kansas, 1861–1927 represents an interesting cross-pollination between closely rendered, quantitative, and detailed community studies of lynching carried out by historians and sociologists, and a series of interpretive frameworks on lynching and vigilantism recently proposed by interdisciplinary and postcolonial scholars. In a way, one might read Brent M.S. Campney as extending W. Fitzhugh Brundage’s exacting accounting of lynching in specific southern communities to the (mid)western comparative frame proposed by the literary scholar Lisa Arellano—and in doing so, centering violence as the object of study as called for by Kidada E. Williams. All this is to say that Campney’s book goes beyond a simple annotated count of reported lynchings in Kansas. Instead, he grapples with … belew{at}uchicago.edu
Factions for the Rest of Us

This essay responds to essays by Professors Ashutosh Bhagwat, Susan Appleton, and Robert Vischer on my book Liberty’s Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly. The essays were presented at a March 2012 discussion hosted by Washington University School of Law that included additional presentations from Gregory Magarian, Bernadette Meyler, Ian MacMullen, and Neil Richards. I had three objectives in writing Liberty’s Refuge, one diagnostic, one historical, and one normative. The diagnosis highlights difficulties with the current doctrine of intimate and expressive association. The history excavates the prominent role that the right of assembly occupies in our constitutional and popular past. The normative theory contends that we ought to protect dissenting private groups even at the cost of stability and uniformity. The diagnostic, historical, and normative arguments are interrelated: the normative claim is strengthened by the weight of history and the weaknesses of the current doctrine. But even if I am right on the history and doctrine, the normative argument must attract some salience and support in order to be plausible under the kind of constitutional reasoning that underlies today’s First Amendment jurisprudence. The three essays to which this essay responds offer generous engagement with and thoughtful critiques of my arguments. Professor Bhagwat questions my reliance on expressionism to ground assembly and raises concerns about the boundaries of peaceable assembly. Professor Appleton suggests ways that I have neglected feminist arguments and also questions the role of government funding in my constitutional analysis. Professor Vischer pushes on my distinction between commercial and noncommercial groups. My response offers some tentative thoughts on these challenges and highlights related arguments in Liberty's Refuge.
Abstract 079: G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor Deletion Exacerbates Pulse Pressure in Female but not Male Hypertensive Mice

The protective cardiovascular effects of estrogen are mediated by both the classic steroid receptors (ERα/β) and the novel G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). Our previous work demonstrates a role for GPER in the beneficial effects of estrogen on blood pressure, vascular tone, end organ damage, and aortic remodeling in hypertensive females, due to both direct vasodilatory effects and local regulation of the renin-angiotensin system. Therefore, we hypothesized that genetic deletion of GPER in female mice exacerbates Ang II-induced hypertension and associated tissue damage. Male (M) and female (F) wt and GPER ko mice were implanted with radiotelemetry probes at 11-13 weeks of age to measure baseline blood pressure before infusing Ang II (700 ng/kg/min) for two weeks. MAP (in mmHg) was similar at baseline (F-wt: 108 ± 2, n=4, F-ko: 105 ± 2, n=3, M-wt: 106 ± 4, n=3, and M-ko: 105 ± 0.5, n=3; P = 0.62), and after Ang II (F-wt: 136 ± 11, F-ko: 131 ± 3, M-wt: 148 ± 7, M-ko: 135 ± 5; P=0.51). Pulse pressure was significantly higher in response to Ang II in both sexes (*P
Dual-band tunable graphene-based filter

We have demonstrated a scalable dual-band tunable infrared filter based on gating of a continuous graphene layer. The measured and modeled response of the device are in good agreement.
Near-source attenuation of high-frequency body waves beneath the New Madrid Seismic Zone

Attenuation characteristics in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) are estimated from 157 local seismograph recordings out of 46 earthquakes of 2.6 ≤ M ≤ 4.1 with hypocentral distances up to 60 km and focal depths down to 25 km. Digital waveform seismograms were obtained from local earthquakes in the NMSZ recorded by the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) at the University of Memphis. Using the coda normalization method, we tried to determine Q values and geometrical spreading exponents at 13 center frequencies. The scatter of the data and trade-off between the geometrical spreading and the quality factor did not allow us to simultaneously derive both these parameters from inversion. Assuming 1/R 1.0 as the geometrical spreading function in the NMSZ, the Q P and Q S estimates increase with increasing frequency from 354 and 426 at 4 Hz to 729 and 1091 at 24 Hz, respectively. Fitting a power law equation to the Q estimates, we found the attenuation models for the P waves and S waves in the frequency range of 4 to 24 Hz as Q P = (115.80 ± 1.36) f (0.495 ± 0.129) and Q S = (161.34 ± 1.73) f (0.613 ± 0.067), respectively. We did not consider Q estimates from the coda normalization method for frequencies less than 4 Hz in the regression analysis since the decay of coda amplitude was not observed at most bandpass filtered seismograms for these frequencies. Q S/Q P > 1, for 4 ≤ f ≤ 24 Hz as well as strong intrinsic attenuation, suggest that the crust beneath the NMSZ is partially fluid-saturated. Further, high scattering attenuation indicates the presence of a high level of small-scale heterogeneities inside the crust in this region.
Compact modeling of carbon nanotube thin film transistors for flexible circuit design

Carbon nanotube thin film transistor (CNT-TFT) is a promising candidate for flexible electronics, because of its high carrier mobility and great mechanical flexibility. An accurate and trustworthy device model for CNT-TFTs, however, is still missing. In this paper, we present a SPICE-compatible compact model for CNT-TFT circuit simulation and validate the proposed model based on fabricated CNT-TFTs and Pseudo-CMOS circuits [1][2]. The proposed CNT-TFT model enables circuit designers to explore design space by adjusting device parameters, supply voltages and transistor sizes to optimize the noise margin (NM) and power-delay product (PDP), which are the key merits for larger scale CNT-TFT circuits. We further propose a design framework to effectively optimize the NM and PDP to facilitate greater automation of flexible circuit design based on CNT-TFTs.
Embodied Devotion: The Dynastic and Religious Loyalty of Renée de France (1510–1575)

Peebles analyzes sixteenth-century literary representations of Renee de France, daughter of King Louis XII and widow of Duke Hercule d’Este, in which she is promoted as a symbolic leader of the French reform movement. Examining three literary genres—court poetry by Clement Marot, a commemorative pamphlet by Antoine Couillard, and a dedicatory epistle by Theodore Beza—the chapter investigates how each author embellishes his work with her public persona, thereby creating an emblematic structure. This omnipresent literary form vivifies the lifeless rhetoric of the text by juxtaposing the author’s words with a visual or verbal image. Thus, Renee de France becomes a unifying figure, embodying specific political and spiritual qualities and becoming a unifying model for dynastic and religious loyalty.
Diagnosis And Characterization of New Mutations in Man

Complete deficiency of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) is associated with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, a severe neurological deficiency characterized by choreoathetosis, mental retardation, and a compulsive behavior toward self mutilation, while a partial deficiency results in gouty arthritis (1). The HPRT enzyme is involved in the metabolic salvage of purines, and is encoded by an X-lined gene (1,2). As there is no selective advantage associated with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, and the defect is effectively lethal since affected males do not reproduce, Haldane’s principle predicts that the gene must be maintained in the population by new mutations (3).
Gender Differences in the Functional Organization of the Brain

Publisher Summary Converging lines of research suggest that sex differences may modulate healthy behavior across the lifespan as well as brain structure and function. Sex differences are evident in the presentation and course of a range of mental disorders, other brain disorders, and autoimmune disorders. The growth of divergent methodologies has reached the level of maturity necessary for integrative research that can help advance understanding of such sex differences. It is important to keep in mind that sex differences exist against a background of fundamental similarities, and that aspects of behavioral differences between men and women vary across cultures. However, there is increasing evidence for neurobiological substrates. Animal and human studies have suggested that reproductive hormones play a significant neuroregulatory role in brain development and sexual dimorphism. The existence of sex differences in brain anatomy and physiology has implications for understanding the neural organization of behavior in healthy people, and its disruption in illness. This chapter aims to review the available evidence for sex differences in behavior that may relate to differences in brain anatomy and physiology. While the implications of these sex differences are still unclear, the chapter attempts to outline some general directions that may help improve patient care. One issue merits mention prior to examining specific evidence. Reporting the discovery of sex differences in neurobiology requires sensitivity to potentially strong social and public reactions. Investigators who have been studying such differences since the late 1970s have experienced the intensity of both positive and negative reactions.
Entropy, Efficiency and the Index Numbers

Measuring productive efficiency of a set of decision making units (DMUs) basically involves the comparison of two sets of distribution of input-output data: one is the observed set and the other the optimal set. The technique of data envelopment analysis (DEA) defines the optimal set in terms of a Pareto criterion of efficiency and uses the positive distance between the two sets as a measure of inefficiency. The DEA approach however fails to incorporate any statistical aspect of the data distribution, e.g., skewness, asymmetry or heteroscedasticity. Farrell (1957) as the precursor of the DEA approach noted in his empirical analysis of the agricultural farms that the statistical distribution of the efficiency measure is highly skewed and also outlier sensitive. Since entropy provides a measure of diversity of the data distribution, it is useful to explore its application in comparing different output distributions.
Cofactor Involvement in Prion Propagation

Pure amyloid proteins are responsible for the transmissible properties of yeast prions (Tanaka et al., Nature 428(6980):323–328, 2004; Tanaka et al., Cell 121(1):49–62, 2005; King and Diaz-Avalos, Nature 428(6980):319–323, 2004). However, it is currently unknown whether the infectious properties of mammalian prions can also be explained by a “protein-only” mechanism in which a host-encoded protein, PrPC, undergoes a conformational change into an infectious conformer, PrPSc. Recent studies have shown that non-proteinaceous cofactors are necessary for the formation of PrPSc and mammalian prion infectivity in vitro. Reconstitution studies suggest that different prion variants may preferentially propagate with specific classes of cofactor molecules. The pathogenic roles played by putative prion cofactors remain to be elucidated.
A dynamic model of lignin biosynthesis in Brachypodium distachyon .

Lignin is a crucial molecule for terrestrial plants, as it offers structural support and permits the transport of water over long distances. The hardness of lignin reduces plant digestibility by cattle and sheep; it also makes inedible plant materials recalcitrant toward the enzymatic fermentation of cellulose, which is a potentially valuable substrate for sustainable biofuels. Targeted attempts to change the amount or composition of lignin in relevant plant species have been hampered by the fact that the lignin biosynthetic pathway is difficult to understand, because it uses several enzymes for the same substrates, is regulated in an ill-characterized manner, may operate in different locations within cells, and contains metabolic channels, which the plant may use to funnel initial substrates into specific monolignols. We propose a dynamic mathematical model that integrates various datasets and other information regarding the lignin pathway in Brachypodium distachyon and permits explanations for some counterintuitive observations. The model predicts the lignin composition and label distribution in a BdPTAL knockdown strain, with results that are quite similar to experimental data. Given the present scarcity of available data, the model resulting from our analysis is presumably not final. However, it offers proof of concept for how one may design integrative pathway models of this type, which are necessary tools for predicting the consequences of genomic or other alterations toward plants with lignin features that are more desirable than in their wild-type counterparts.
Morphologic and Molecular Features of Breast Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) encompasses a highly heterogeneous group of lesions that differ with regard to their clinical presentations, histologic features, biomarker profiles, genetic abnormalities, and potential for progression. DCIS is a nonobligatory precursor for invasive carcinoma. With the advent of screening mammography, the incidence of DCIS has significantly increased. There is an argument that many of these lesions will not progress to invasive carcinoma within the lifetime of a patient. In addition, many studies have found enormous heterogeneity within DCIS. There is a need for biomarkers that can stratify patients with DCIS into different prognostic groups based on the biology of the disease. Estrogen and progesterone receptors are the established biomarkers that are used for clinical decision making. In addition, a number of biomarkers, such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 protein, p53 tumor suppressor gene, Ki-67 proliferation marker, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, carry prognostic significance, although their use is considered investigational and has not been transferred to clinical practice. On the molecular level, low-grade and high-grade DCIS have different molecular alterations, and the intrinsic molecular subtypes that exist in invasive carcinoma also exist in DCIS with prognostic implications. In this article, we review the morphologic features, prognostic biomarkers, and molecular features of DCIS.
Two-stage estimation of the impact of contextual variables in stochastic frontier production function models using Data Envelopment Analysis: Second stage OLS versus bootstrap approaches

Abstract Banker and Natarajan (2008) identified sufficient conditions in a stochastic framework to justify the popular two-stage approach of Data Envelopment Analysis followed by Ordinary Least Squares (DEA + OLS) to estimate the impact of contextual variables on productivity. Simar and Wilson (2007) suggested an alternative approach involving a second-stage truncated regression model and bootstrap method to estimate confidence intervals. We show that the effectiveness of the Simar–Wilson approach critically depends on the assumption that the actual data generating process (DGP) exactly matches their assumed DGP and their approach does not yield correct inferences in environments characterized by stochastic noise. Extensive simulations from a stochastic frontier data generating process document that the simple two-stage DEA + OLS model significantly outperforms the more complex Simar–Wilson model with lower mean absolute deviation (MAD), lower median absolute deviation (MEAD) as well as higher coverage rates when the contextual variables significantly impact productivity. Subject classifications: Data Envelopment Analysis, productivity, two-stage, contextual variables, performance, nonparametric, simulation Area of review: Optimization.
Parkin, a large common fragile site gene, is a potential tumor suppressor gene involved in cancer development.

3450 The Parkin gene was originally identified due to gene mutations in patients with autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism (AJRP). We recently found that Parkin is an extremely large gene (1.4 Mb) within the highly unstable FRA6E common fragile site (CFS) region. Parkin /FRA6E has genomic similarities to Fhit/FRA3B and WWOX/FRA16D, two other large tumor suppressor genes that are located within highly active CFSs. Fhit and WWOX, although not typical tumor suppressor genes, have both been demonstrated to play important roles in cancer development due to their loss of expression in many different cancers. We were therefore very interested in characterizing Parkin gene alterations and its possible association with cancer. After analyzing over 50 cancer-derived cell lines including 11 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, we found one HCC cell line, PLC/PRF/5, with a detectable homozygous deletion encompassing exon 3. Using quantitative duplex PCR and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis to characterize the copy number changes of Parkin exons in HCC cell lines, we found 4 out of 12 cell lines with heterozygous deletion of Parkin exons (PLC5, SNU398, SK-Hep1 and Hep3B), and one cell line, Hep3, with a heterozygous duplication of an exon. Parkin protein expression was significantly diminished or absent in all the HCC cell lines and primary tumors examined. We also detected loss of Parkin in ovarian cancer and other types of cancer. To examine the role that the loss of Parkin plays in the development of HCC we generated stable transfectants with Parkin and Parkin-myc in two HCC cell lines, pLC5 and Hep3B. Examination of growth rates revealed that expression of Parkin was associated with slightly slower growth rates. In addition, cells expressing Parkin were more sensitive to apoptosis with certain apoptotic-inducing agents. We also utilized the Parkin-myc transfectants to identify other proteins in epithelial cells that might be interacting with Parkin. This analysis revealed that the cytokeratins CK8 and CK18 are associated with Parkin in epithelial cells. In addition, we demonstrate that Parkin can ubiquitinylate CK8 both in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that Parkin may be involved with the cytoskeleton in epithelial cells. We hypothesize that Parkin functions to monitor cytoskeletal stress in these cells and that the loss of Parkin expression, presumably due to instability within the highly unstable FRA6E common fragile site, results in cells that grow more quickly and are less sensitive to apoptotic induction. Our overall hypothesis for the common fragile sites, and the genes contained within them, is that they all function to monitor cells for different types of stress and to help the cells respond appropriately. What we observe in cancer cells may actually represent the distintegration of this system caused by the genomic instability present in developing cancer cells.
Proton-CoupledElectron Transfer at Anthraquinone Modified Indium Tin Oxide Electrodes

The molecular modification of electrode surfaces enables synthesis of materials with atomic-level specificity. In order to fully realize the benefits of molecularly modified materials, immobilized molecules must maintain their solution-phase reactivity upon attachment to surfaces. We report the noncovalent immobilization of a pyrene-appended anthraquinone derivative onto indium tin oxide electrodes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry confirm the attachment of anthraquinone on the electrode surface. Cyclic voltammetry is reported between pH 5 and 9. The reduction potential of immobilized anthraquinone shifts cathodically with increasing pH by 60 mV/pH unit, consistent with proton-coupled electron transfer. The electron transfer rate constant also increases with increasing pH. Analogous electrochemical experiments performed using a water-soluble anthraquinone derivative freely diffusing in aqueous solution exhibit the same pH dependence in reduction potential. Thus, anthraquinone mainta...
SONYC: a system for monitoring, analyzing, and mitigating urban noise pollution

SONYC integrates sensors, machine listening, data analytics, and citizen science to address noise pollution in New York City.
Abstract 693: RNA Stability Protein ILF3 Mediates IL-19 Induced Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a physiological process vital for growth, development and wound healing but is also a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of ischemic cardiovascular disease. Presently, t...
Sedentary behavior after breast cancer: motivational, demographic, disease, and health status correlates of sitting time in breast cancer survivors.

Sedentary behavior is associated with poor health outcomes including obesity, lower quality of life, and mortality in breast cancer survivors. This study sought to identify motivational, demographic, and disease characteristics of breast cancer survivors who engage in greater amounts of sedentary behavior. Multivariate linear regression models estimated associations between demographic, disease, and health characteristics with reported sitting in breast cancer survivors (n = 279; Mage = 60.7 (± 9.7) years). Regression models estimated associations between motivational factors and reported sitting adjusted for demographic and disease and health covariates. Working at least part-time and marital status were associated various sitting domains including weekday and non-leisure sitting. Higher BMI was associated with more average daily, weekend, and weekday sitting. High income was additionally associated with less non-leisure sitting. The belief that sedentary behavior is bad for health, physical function, and self-evaluative OE, and lifestyle self-efficacy were associated with multiple sitting domains in both univariate and covariate-adjusted models. Future work should examine the relationships between motivational, demographic, and disease predictors and objectively measured sedentary behavior over time and across different sedentary behavior domains. Understanding activity changes during and after treatment is needed to identify intervention targets and develop effective interventions.