cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An empirical analysis of collective actions in university anchored community wireless networks

The emergence of wireless devices and the ease in setting up wireless devices has created opportunities for various entities, and in particular to universities, by partnering with their local communities in the form of a university anchored community wireless network. This provides opportunities for students to be part of the community-based initiatives, and universities can use the network as a source to fund some of its research. The main issue with university anchored community wireless is not technical but social in that student involvement is crucial and their contributions are necessary. This research employed empirical research methods on participants to understand the factors that influence the student participation and its significance on the collective actions. This involved analyzing five distinctive elements that were essential in understanding the collective actions, namely behavioral intention, attitude towards technology, facilitating conditions, impediments, and student participation. The research results revealed that the students expressed interest in participation, facilitating conditions, followed by attitude towards technology, then behavioral intention as the most important factors, whereas impediments was statistically insignificant for them. The research results also revealed that the majority of the participants were interested in being part of the community wireless networks and almost all the participants expressed their intention to contribute to the success of this initiative.
Driver obesity and the risk of fatal injury during traffic collisions

Background Few studies have looked at how obesity affects injury outcomes among vehicle occupants involved in traffic collisions. Objective To estimate the association of obesity with death risk among drivers of passenger vehicles aged ≥16 and to examine effect modification by driver sex, driver seat belt use, vehicle type and collision type. Methods We conducted a matched-pair cohort study using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. WHO body mass index (BMI) categories were calculated. Data were analysed using conditional Poisson regression. Results Estimated risk ratios (RRs) were slightly raised for underweight drivers (RR=1.19, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.63). RR increased with higher BMI categories and were 1.21 (0.98 to 1.49) for BMI 30–34.9, 1.51 (1.10 to 2.08) for BMI 35–39.9 and 1.80 (1.15 to 2.84) for BMI ≥40. Estimated BMI effects varied by gender. We found no meaningful variation across levels of vehicle type, collision type or seat belt use. Conclusions Findings from this study suggest that obese vehicle drivers are more likely to die from traffic collision-related injuries than non-obese occupants involved in the same collision. Education is needed to improve seat belt use among obese people, as is research to understand the potential role of comorbidities in injury outcomes.
Sitagliptin Augments Sympathetic Enhancement of the Renovascular Effects of Angiotensin II in Genetic Hypertension

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV converts neuropeptide Y(1-36) (Y(1)-receptor agonist released from renal sympathetic nerves) to neuropeptide Y(3-36) (selective Y(2)-receptor agonist). Previous studies suggest that Y(1), but not Y(2), receptors enhance renovascular responses to angiotensin II in kidneys from genetically-susceptible animals. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV with sitagliptin (antidiabetic drug) would augment the ability of exogenous and endogenous neuropeptide Y(1-36) to enhance renal vascular responses to angiotensin II in kidneys from spontaneously hypertensive rats. This hypothesis was tested using 3 protocols in isolated perfused kidneys. Results from Protocol 1: Exogenous neuropeptide Y(1-36) enhanced renovascular responses to angiotensin II. This effect of neuropeptide Y(1-36) was blocked by BIBP3226 (selective Y(1) receptor antagonist); Exogenous neuropeptide Y(3-36) did not enhance renovascular responses to angiotensin II. Results from Protocol 2: Sitagliptin augmented the ability of exogenous neuropeptide Y(1-36) to enhance renovascular responses to angiotensin II. This effect of sitagliptin was blocked by BIBP3226. Results from Protocol 3: Renal sympathetic nerve stimulation enhanced renovascular responses to angiotensin II; this enhancement was augmented by sitagliptin and abolished by BIBP3226. Neuropeptide Y(1-36) via Y(1) receptors enhances renovascular responses to angiotensin II in kidneys from genetically hypertensive animals. Sitagliptin, by blocking dipeptidyl peptidase IV, prevents metabolism of neuropeptide Y(1-36) and thereby increases the effects of neuropeptide Y(1-36) released from renal sympathetic nerves on Y(1) receptors leading to augmentation of neuropeptide Y(1-36)-induced enhancement of the renovascular effects of angiotensin II. The renal effects of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors in hypertensive diabetic patients merit a closer examination.
Disruption of the Fifth Melanocortin Receptor Alters the Urinary Excretion of Aggression-modifying Pheromones in Male House Mice

The preputial glands of house mice express the gene for the fifth melanocortin receptor (MC5-R) and are a primary source of urinary pheromones involved in inter-male aggression. A ‘resident-intruder’ behavioral model was used to compare the responses of resident males to urine from mice with an engineered disruption of the fifth melanocortin receptor (MC5-RKO) with residents’ responses to urine from wild-type mice (WT). Each type of urine was presented in combination with a castrated intruder male to provide the appropriate biological context. Resident males responded with a longer latency to bite when the urine was from gonadally intact WT males compared with urine from MC5-RKO mice. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that activation of the fifth melanocortin receptor in the preputial glands of male house mice causes excretion of urinary pheromones that delay aggressive responses by other males.
ReportingTools: an automated result processing and presentation toolkit for high throughput genomic analyses

Summary: It is common for computational analyses to generate large amounts of complex data that are difficult to process and share with collaborators. Standard methods are needed to transform such data into a more useful and intuitive format. We present ReportingTools, a Bioconductor package, that automatically recognizes and transforms the output of many common Bioconductor packages into rich, interactive, HTML-based reports. Reports are not generic, but have been individually designed to reflect content specific to the result type detected. Tabular output included in reports is sortable, filterable and searchable and contains context-relevant hyperlinks to external databases. Additionally, in-line graphics have been developed for specific analysis types and are embedded by default within table rows, providing a useful visual summary of underlying raw data. ReportingTools is highly flexible and reports can be easily customized for specific applications using the well-defined API. Availability: The ReportingTools package is implemented in R and available from Bioconductor (version � 2.11) at the URL: http://
Subsurface transport of Cd, Cr, and Mo mediated by biosolid colloids

The potential of biosolid colloids to transport metals associated with organic-waste amendments through subsurface soil environments was investigated with leaching experiments involving undisturbed soil monoliths. The monoliths (25 cm in height and 18 cm in diameter) were carved from the upper solum of an Alfisol, a Mollisol, and an Entisol in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. Biosolid colloids were fractionated from two municipal wastes (lime-stabilized/LSB, and aerobically-digested/ADB), and a poultry-manure (PMB) organic waste and applied onto the monoliths at a rate of ∼0.7 cm/h. Eluents were monitored for soluble and sorbed Cd, Cr, and Mo concentrations over 16–24 pore volumes of leaching. Colloid-free solutions with metal concentrations similar to those of the biosolid colloids were used as controls. The results indicated significantly (P Cd>Cr for the metals, and ADB>PMB>LSB (Cd and Cr) or ADB>LSB>PMB (Mo) for the colloids. Metal elution was generally enhanced by soil macroporosity and increasing OM content, while pH and Fe-Al oxides had significant, but opposite effects for the elution of cationic and anionic metal forms. Colloid and metal breakthrough curves were correlated well, being mostly asymmetrical with several maxima and minima caused by multiple clogging and flushing cycles. Soil- and colloid-metal sorption affinities were not reliable predictors of metal attenuation/elution loads, underscoring the dynamic nature of transport processes. The findings demonstrate the important role of biosolid colloids as contaminant carriers and the significant risk they pose, if unaccounted, for soil and ground water contamination in areas receiving heavy applications of biosolid waste amendments.
The Menin Tumor Suppressor Protein Is an Essential Oncogenic Cofactor for MLL-Associated Leukemogenesis

The Mixed-Lineage Leukemia (MLL) protein is a histone methyltransferase that is mutated in clinically and biologically distinctive subsets of acute leukemia. MLL normally associates with a cohort of highly conserved cofactors to form a macromolecular complex that includes menin, a product of the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene, which is mutated in heritable and sporadic endocrine tumors. We demonstrate here that oncogenic MLL fusion proteins retain an ability to stably associate with menin through a high-affinity, amino-terminal, conserved binding motif and that this interaction is required for the initiation of MLL-mediated leukemogenesis. Furthermore, menin is essential for maintenance of MLL-associated but not other oncogene induced myeloid transformation. Acute genetic ablation of menin reverses aberrant Hox gene expression mediated by MLL-menin promoter-associated complexes, and specifically abrogates the differentiation arrest and oncogenic properties of MLL-transformed leukemic blasts. These results demonstrate that a human oncoprotein is critically dependent on direct physical interaction with a tumor suppressor protein for its oncogenic activity, validate a potential target for molecular therapy, and suggest central roles for menin in altered epigenetic functions underlying the pathogenesis of hematopoietic cancers.
Oxygen metabolite detoxifying enzyme levels in bleomycin-induced fibrotic lungs

Abstract The activities of three enzymes cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSHP), and malonylialdehyde (MDA), a by-product of lipid peroxidation, were determined in whole lungs of normal and bleomycin-treated rats. Two days after bleomycin treatment total lung SOD, CAT, and GSHP activities were significantly ( p p p 2 metabolites may play an important role in the development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
A Prospective Assessment of Renal Impairment After Preparation for Colonoscopy: Oral Sodium Phosphate Appears to Be Safe in Well-Hydrated Subjects with Normal Renal Status

The outcome of colonoscopy is highly dependent upon the quality of bowel cleansing prior to the procedure. Oral sodium phosphate solutions (OSPS) or preparations containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) are generally employed. However, the safety of administering OSPS prior to colonoscopy has been questioned because of the potential for renal failure. To compare rates of renal failure after OSPS and PEG in a randomized, prospective trial and to assess the quality of colonoscopy after these two bowel preparations. Subjects with eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and expressed willingness to adhere to hydration recommendations were randomized to OSPS or PEG solutions. Renal function was assessed 1 week prior to, immediately prior to, and 1 week after colonoscopy. No subject had acute kidney failure after OSPS or PEG. OSPS was associated with significant increases in the serum phosphate and sodium levels and significant decreases in the calcium and potassium levels. These values returned to normal limits in all subjects by 1 week after colonoscopy. The quality of colonic cleansing was superior after OSPS than after PEG (Ottawa score 2.5 ± 2.2 vs. 3.5 ± 2.3, respectively, P < 0.05). The detection of one or more adenomatous polyps was higher after OSPS than after PEG. Renal failure was not detected after the use of OSPS for colonoscopy preparation in subjects with recently documented normal renal function who were able to consume the required amounts of water after each dose. However, based on the number of subjects studied, the theoretical risk of this complication is still between 0 and 6.3%. Thus, it is appreciated that only a very large prospective trial would have yielded a more accurate estimate of the likelihood of renal compromise after OSPS. Despite this caveat, OSPS has advantages over PEG in terms of the adequacy of colonic visualization and the number of polyps detected.
Injection pain of the inferior alveolar nerve block in patients with irreversible pulpitis

Objective The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to determine the pain associated with needle insertion, placement, and solution deposition for the conventional inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) block in patients with irreversible pulpitis. Study design One hundred two emergency patients with irreversible pulpitis received IAN block injections using 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. The patients recorded pain of the 3 injection stages on a Heft-Parker visual analog scale (VAS). Results Moderate-to-severe pain may occur 57% to 89% of the time with the IAN block. Needle placement was significantly more painful than needle insertion for men and significantly more painful than either insertion or deposition for women (P .05). Deposition of 0.2 to 0.4 mL anesthetic during placement did not significantly reduce placement pain for either gender (P = .753). Conclusion In conclusion, 57% to 89% of patients presenting with irreversible pulpitis have the potential for moderate to severe pain with the IAN block.
Attraction of Nontarget Species to Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Male Lures and Decaying Fruit Flies in Traps in Hawaii

Synthetic male lures are commonly used to monitor and mass trap pestiferous fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae). However, there has been much dispute as to the nontarget impacts of such lures on beneficial and native insects. To evaluate nontarget attraction effects, traps baited with Cue-Lure and methyl eugenol were maintained and emptied weekly in a range of native and non-native forest and commercial orchard and backyard sites on Hawaii and Maui Islands. Lure trap captures were compared against those from unbaited control traps and traps artificially baited with decaying fruit flies to mimic the effect of accumulation of dead trapped target flies in male lure traps. Cue-Lure did not attract nontargets, and methyl eugenol attracted low but significant numbers of five species of flower-associated insects (honey bees, syrphid flies, nitidulid beetles, and endemic crambid moths) and two endemic Hawaiian species of sciarids (Diptera) and mirids (Hemiptera). Saprophagous nontargets, mostly Diptera, were abundant and diverse in traps baited with decaying flies and in male lure traps where accumulation of dead flies occurred but not in male lure traps with few or no fruit fly captures. Most of the previously published records of attraction to methyl eugenol are shown to actually be secondary attraction to decaying fruit flies. Endemic nontargets were collected in native and adjacent forest, but almost exclusively invasive species were attracted to traps placed in non-native habitats. Attraction of flower-associated species may be minimized if methyl eugenol traps are placed in trees after flowering season in orchards.
Nucleation and Growth of NH4-ZSM-5 Zeolites

The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of nucleation and crystal growth of NH 4 -ZSM-5 zeolites having very high silica content, using the (TPA) 2 O-(NH 4 ) 2 O-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -H 2 O system. Our data show that: (a) the concentration of [OH-] promotes the dissolution rate of amorphous gel and the crystal growth rate, (b) the presence of Al 2 O 3 strongly inhibits crystal nucleation and enhances the final crystal size, (c) both the final crystal size and the maximum peak size of the crystal size distribution decrease with increasing TPA content, and (d) the crystal growth rate is not strongly temperature dependent in this Al-free system.
Stress and Auditory Responses of the Otophysan Fish, Cyprinella venusta, to Road Traffic Noise

Noise pollution from anthropogenic sources is an increasingly problematic challenge faced by many taxa, including fishes. Recent studies demonstrate that road traffic noise propagates effectively from bridge crossings into surrounding freshwater ecosystems; yet, its effect on the stress response and auditory function of freshwater stream fishes is unexamined. The blacktail shiner (Cyprinella venusta) was used as a model to investigate the degree to which traffic noise impacts stress and hearing in exposed fishes. Fish were exposed to an underwater recording of traffic noise played at approximately 140 dB re 1 μPa. Waterborne cortisol samples were collected and quantified using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Auditory thresholds were assessed in control and traffic exposed groups by measuring auditory evoked potentials (AEPs). After acute exposure to traffic noise, fish exhibited a significant elevation in cortisol levels. Individuals exposed to 2 hours of traffic noise playback had elevated hearing thresholds at 300 and 400 Hz, corresponding to the most sensitive bandwidth for this species.
Expanding the Range of Tractable Scope-Underspecified Semantic Representations

Over the past decade, several underspecification frameworks have been proposed that efficiently solve a big subset of scope-underspecified semantic representations within the realm of the most popular constraint-based formalisms. However, there exists a family of coherent natural language sentences whose underspecified representation does not belong to this subset. It has remained an open question whether there exists a tractable superset of these frameworks, covering this family. In this paper, we show that the answer to this question is yes. We define a superset of the previous frameworks, which is solvable by similar algorithms with the same time and space complexity.
Solvable example of Regge poles at zero energy

We obtain in close form the solution of the radial Schrodinger equation at zero energy and its Regge poles, for the potentialV0rb−2/(1+rb)2, which is a superposition of Yukawa potentials. The asymptotic formS(λ, s)→exp[2iλπ] as |λ|→∞ in the left-hand plane is confirmed in this case, with an exception pointed out.
Attitudes Towards Candidate Traits: The Case of Latinos in Dallas

This paper evaluates a Latino voter’s attitudes towards a candidate’s race and gender. This research uses data gathered in the Dallas County during the historical 2008 presidential election. The data used was obtained from 767 exit polls at precincts located in the 103 and 104 districts in Texas. The data captured the public opinion of the ever-growing Latino city and a county that are under a major demographic transition. The survey unfolds a combination of socio-economic, demographic and cultural variables that are predicted by theory to be significant influencers of a voter’s attitudes towards a political candidate’s traits. I evaluate how well the socio-economic, demographic and cultural predictors explain a Latino’s attitudes towards an African American, a Latino and a woman candidate. This paper is also one of the few existing works that looks at Latinos attitudes towards an African American candidate. The findings from the 2008 presidential election may allow us to explore Latino attitudes towards an African American, Latino and/or woman candidates.
Reduction of p-Nitrobenzenesulfonamide and of Azobenzene-4,4′-disulfonamide by Animal Tissues.

Summaryp-Nitrobenzenesulfonamide is rapidly reduced by rat liver suspensions. After oral administration p-nitrobenzenesulfonamide is rapidly reduced by rats; a high percentage of the dose is excreted in the reduced form, and the extent of conjugation of the reduced form is large. A small amount of the drug is excreted in a state of oxidation above that of the amine. Azobenzene-4,4′-disulfonamide administered subcutaneously to rats is excreted slowly, reduced to only a small extent and conjugated to only a low degree.
Perfluoro-Alcohol-Induced Complex Coacervates of Polyelectrolyte–Surfactant Mixtures: Phase Behavior and Analysis

Perfluorinated alcohols and acids such as hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), trifluoroethanol, trifluoroacetic acid, pentafluoropropionic acid, and heptafluorobutyric acid induce coacervation and phase separation in aqueous solutions of a wide variety of individual and mixed amphiphiles [Khaledi Langmuir 2013, 29, 2458]. This paper focuses on HFIP-induced complex coacervate formation in the mixtures of anionic polyelectrolytes, such as sodium salt of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) or poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and cationic surfactants of alkyltrimethylammonium bromides. In purely aqueous media and over a wide concentration range, mixtures of PMA and CTAB form the catanionic complex (CTA+PM–) that is insoluble in water (white precipitate). Upon addition of a small percentage of HFIP, the mixture goes through phase transition and formation of two distinctly clear liquid phases. The phase diagram for the HFIP–PMA–CTAB coacervate system was studied. The coacervate volume was determined as a function of system variable...
What Can Bank Supervisors Learn from Equity Markets

Much recent academic attention has focused on the relative ability of markets and bank supervisors to assess the risk of depository institutions. We add to that literature by comparing the factors influencing bank holding company risk, as gauged by equity markets, with the factors influencing the confidential BOPEC scores, as awarded by bank supervisors. Specifically, we regress stock market measures of holding company risk and BOPEC scores on a host of on- and off-balance sheet risk measures taken from the Federal Reserve's Consolidated Financial Statements for Bank Holding Companies (FR Y-9C reports). Our sample includes data from 1988 through 1993. We estimate regressions year by year on a sample of 98 holding companies, with yearly observations ranging from 69 to 79. The results suggest that both equity markets and regulators closely scrutinize credit risk. Beyond that, the results suggest that regulators pay close attention to capital strength. Taken together, the evidence supports the view that the stock market emphasizes risk-return trade-offs, whereas regulators care more about probability of failure.
NMR studies of localized water and protein backbone dynamics in mechanically strained elastin.

We report on measurements of the dynamics of localized waters of hydration and the protein backbone of elastin, a remarkable resilient protein found in vertebrate tissues, as a function of the applied external strain. Using deuterium 2D T1–T2 NMR, we separate four reservoirs in the elastin–water system characterized by water with distinguishable mobilities. The measured correlation times corresponding to random tumbling of water localized to the protein is observed to decrease with increasing strain and is interpreted as an increase in its orientational entropy. The NMR T1 and T1ρ relaxation times of the carbonyl and aliphatic carbons of the protein backbone are measured and indicate a reduction in the correlation time as the elastomer strain is increased. It is argued, and supported by MD simulation of a short model elastin peptide [VPGVG]3, that the observed changes in the backbone dynamics give rise to the development of an entropic elastomeric force that is responsible for elastins’ remarkable elasticity.
Analysis of the Radiation-Damage-Free X‑ray Structure of Photosystem II in Light of EXAFS and QM/MM Data

A recent femtosecond X-ray diffraction study produced the first high-resolution structural model of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II that is free of radiation-induced manganese reduction (Protein Data Bank entries 4UB6 and 4UB8). We find, however, that the model does not match extended X-ray absorption fine structure and QM/MM data for the S1 state. This is attributed to uncertainty about the positions of oxygen atoms that remain partially unresolved, even at 1.95 A resolution, next to the heavy manganese centers. In addition, the photosystem II crystals may contain significant amounts of the S0 state, because of extensive dark adaptation prior to data collection.
THE RESEARCH OF STRENGTHENED BRICK COLUMN BY BONDING CFRP STRIPS UNDER AXIALCOMPRESSION

Through single load testing to 3 groups of brick masonry column strengthened with CFRP sheet,this paper analyzed the effects of different amount of FRP and other parameters to the bearing capacity,ductility,and failure mode of the strengthened column.The test show that the transversely strengthened CFRP sheet effectively raised the bearing capacity of the short column under axial compression and the ductility of the column improved well too.
Limiting collagen turnover via collagenase-resistance attenuates right ventricular dysfunction and fibrosis in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe form of pulmonary hypertension in which right ventricular (RV) afterload is increased and death typically occurs due to decompensated RV hypertrophy and failure. Collagen accumulation has been implicated in pulmonary artery remodeling, but how it affects RV performance remains unclear. Here, we sought to identify the role of collagen turnover, defined as the balance between collagen synthesis and degradation, in RV structure and function in PAH. To do so, we exposed mutant (Col1a1R/R) mice, in which collagen type I degradation is impaired such that collagen turnover is reduced, and wild‐type (Col1a1+/+) littermates to 14 days of chronic hypoxia combined with SUGEN treatment (HySu) to recapitulate characteristics of clinical PAH. RV structure and function were measured by echocardiography, RV catheterization, and histology. Despite comparable increases in RV systolic pressure (Col1a1+/+: 46 ± 2 mmHg; Col1a1R/R: 47 ± 3 mmHg), the impaired collagen degradation in Col1a1R/R mice resulted in no RV collagen accumulation, limited RV hypertrophy, and maintained right ventricular‐pulmonary vascular coupling with HySu exposure. The preservation of cardiac function in the mutant mice indicates a beneficial role of limited collagen turnover via impaired degradation in RV remodeling in response to chronic pressure overload. Our results suggest novel treatments that reduce collagen turnover may offer a new therapeutic strategy for PAH patients.
Emergency Department Visits for Gastroenteritis Before and After Rotavirus Vaccine Implementation in 2006.

Objectives Gastroenteritis (GE) accounts for a significant number of emergency department (ED) visits in children. Several studies since the introduction of a new rotavirus vaccine in 2006 have found decreases in rotavirus illness. We sought to determine in a large multicenter ED database whether there was also a decrease in ED visits in young children for GE. Design Retrospective cohort of ED visits. Setting 28 EDs with annual visits between 22,000 and 82,000. Population Consecutive patients between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2011. Protocol We identified GE visits using International Classification of Diseases 9th revision (ICD-9) codes. For each year, less than 5 years, we determined the average daily percent of total ED visits for GE. We calculated the decreases from 2005 to 2011 in the average daily percent GE visits for each year of life and their 95% confidence intervals. Results There were 7,740,823 total visits in the database, and 811,317 (10.5%) are younger than 5 years. The annual percent of GE visits rose for all years of life from 1999 to 2005 and then decreased from 2005 to 2011. The decreases from 2005 to 2011 were greatest in the earliest years of life ranging from 41% in the first year of life to 15% in the fifth year of life. Conclusions We found a decrease in average daily ED visits for GE in each year of life for those younger than 5 years after the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine. This was most pronounced during the earliest years of life.
Optimizing energy costs of commercial buildings in developing countries

Energy cost from hvac is a significant fraction of the overall operational cost of a commercial building. Moreover, in developing countries such as India with inadequate grid connectivity and frequent outages, diesel generators are a common source of backup power. While this may solve the problem of outages, power produced by diesel generators is much more expensive than grid power. This work proposes an optimization framework targeted to minimize energy costs of buildings in the presence of outages and a mix of energy sources such as grid, diesel generators, solar, and battery. Our framework is novel since it exploits the inherent ability of a building to store thermal energy and availability of opportunistic occupancy proxies such as CO2 concentration. The framework when investigated for real world scenarios including office buildings and cell towers, resulted in savings of more than 10% relative to normal operational practices.
Spindle cell sarcomatoid carcinoma of the trachea: first case report of surgical resection

Primary malignant tracheal tumors are rare, accounting for approximately 0.2 % of respiratory tract tumors yearly, with squamous cell carcinomas and adenoid cystic carcinomas accounting for two-thirds of these cases. Sarcomatoid carcinomas are a group of poorly differentiated non-small cell lung carcinomas containing a component of sarcoma or sarcoma-like (spindle and/or giant cell) differentiation, categorized into five morphologic subgroups. Spindle cell sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare variant of sarcomatoid carcinomas, consisting of only spindle-shaped tumor cells. Only one other case has been reported as a primary tracheal tumor. We present a 75-year-old male, having progressive dyspnea and cough, with a spindle cell sarcomatoid carcinoma tumor visualized on chest computed tomography scan and confirmed with biopsy. Due to its low incidence, knowledge of treatment methods, prognostic factors, and etiology is limited thus approaches to eradication have widely varied. We are reporting the second published case of spindle cell sarcomatoid carcinoma of the trachea and the first reported successful outcome of definitive treatment with tracheal resection.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community and Respiratory Health

Health disparities related to sexual orientation have been relatively unexplored. Determining the impact of respiratory diseases in sexual minorities is difficult, given challenges in defining sexual orientation and few available data. Limited access to care or lack of provider education may lead to under-recognition of respiratory diseases in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Because of high prevalence of cigarette smoking, some subgroups within the LBGT community appear to be at risk for certain lung diseases (acute respiratory illnesses, asthma, and lung cancer), but data are inconclusive. Homosexual men are also at risk for HIV infection, which causes respiratory morbidity and may contribute to a higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Additional research and education are needed to improve the respiratory health of LGBT individuals and inform physicians regarding appropriate care for this population. Prevention and cessation of tobacco use present unique challenges in the LGBT community, but are of the utmost importance.
Training Status Indicators Predict Neuromuscular Control Alterations Over The College Men’s Soccer Season

There is growing evidence supporting the link between overtraining and increased injury risk. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) is a neuromuscular control assessment of 17 lower extremity biomechanical risk factors. However, there is paucity in the literature focusing on the LESS across the competitive Division-1 men’s college soccer season. This investigation sought to determine if significant changes in LESS scores occur over a competitive men’s soccer season and whether these changes coincide with common training status indicators. Twenty-six healthy Division-1 college men’s soccer players (age: 20 ± 1 yr, height: 181.5 ± 6.4 cm) were assessed for body mass (BM), resting heart rate (RHR), body fat (BF%), countermovement jump height (CMJ), and LESS at five experiment visits (V0-V4). A mixed effects model was analyzed to detect significant interactions between the LESS and each of the dependent variables. LESS scores were significantly elevated at V1 (p < 0.001), which was conducted at the end of preseason training. Additionally, RHR and CMJ were shown to be significant predictors of LESS performance (p = 0.003 and 0.040 respectively). Elevation in LESS scores following preseason training combined with the identification of RHR and CMJ further support the link between training status and injury risk. Periodic neuromuscular control assessments are essential for the optimization of performance and minimization of injury risk in college soccer athletes.
3-D Post-processing: Principles and Practical Applications

Computed tomography (CT) has evolved considerably since its introduction more than three decades ago. In 1998, multi-detector row CT (MDCT) technology provided a key breakthrough in the field of radiology. Today, MDCT scanners enable the rapid acquisition of an exceptional number of thin sections during multiple phases of contrast enhancement. The increasing spatial and temporal resolutions have allowed major improvements to be made in differentiating and characterizing normal and abnormal structures and processes.
Materialities of Homeplace

In this article, I discuss a semiotic approach to thinking archaeologically about the processes of racialization in the African diaspora. Within this, I employ the concept of “homeplace” as an archaeological, ideological, and memorial site. I situate my archaeological narrative in persistence rather than resistance, highlighting how narratives of persistence allow for and empower social agency in the past not solely situated in or responsive to systems of oppression.
Parametric system identification using deep convolutional neural networks

As industrial systems become more complex with increasing connectivity, there has been a growing demand for scallable and robust methods for identification of hundreds to thousands system parameters from large time-series data (i.e., ordered measurements). In the past, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have been used successfully in system identification and controls of various systems such as magnetic levitation. Recent literature revealed how ANNs can also be used directly for extracting parametric information from dynamic systems. However, scalability of these approaches to complex systems, their robustness to sensor noise have not been well-studied for system identification of closed-loop control systems. This paper addresses the scalability and robustness issues in complex nonlinear system identification of dynamic system within the framework of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs). CNNs provide means to model local receptive fields, shared weights, and spatial or temporal subsampling, and some of the robustness issues. In addition, CNN weights are learned with back-propagation with respect to minimizing a loss function. Therefore, the weights are synthesized similar to traditional prediction error methods without the need to manually configure hundreds and thousands of ordinary differential equations. In this paper, a new deep CNN architecture to overcome scalability and robustness issues is proposed. The new deep CNN architecture is implemented in Keras with Tensorflow backend, and applied to building energy load prediction problem.
Abstract 5326: EZH2 regulation through lysine 63 linked ubiquitination in prostate cancer

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) plays crucial roles on the development of cells and tissues as well as the progression of prostate cancer (PCa) and castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). EZH2 can upregulate and activate progenitor genes including androgen receptor (AR) and the target genes. However, the mechanisms by which EZH2 is regulated in PCa remain elusive. Literature reports that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is essential for both normal tissue development and regulation of oncogenic signaling pathways in cancers. In this study, we reported that EZH2 is regulated by PTEN and SKP2 network in PCa. Specifically, we showed that the aberrant upregulation of EZH2 and histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) in both Pten null mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) in vitro and prostate tumors of Pten null mice in vivo, as compared to the controls. EZH2 levels were negatively correlated with TRAF6 in human PCa cells upon SKP2 dysregulation. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining results showed a co-localization of EZH2 and TRAF6 in nucleus of PC3 cells, and co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) analysis further confirmed a physical binding of EZH2 and TRAF6 in PC3 cells. Ectopic expression of TRAF6 promoted the K63-linked polyubiquitination of EZH2 to decrease EZH2 and H3K27me3 levels in PCa cells. Conversely, TRAF6 knockdown resulted in a reduction of EZH2 polyubiquitination with an increase of EZH2 and H3K27me3 levels in PCa cells. Furthermore, the catalytically dead mutant TRAF6 C70A abolished the TRAF6-mediated polyubiquitination of human EZH2 in vivo in 293T cells and in vitro in the recombinant human EZH2 protein, as compared with TRAF6 WT. Together, we report for the first time a novel mechanism on EZH2 ubiquitination and an important signaling network of SKP2-TRAF6-EZH2-H3K27me3 in PCa cells. Our findings provide valuable clues on the mechanism and efficiency of targeting EZH2 in PCa and CRPC . Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Wenfu Lu, Shenji Lu, Bo Li, Yingqiu Xie, Michael G. Izban, Billy R. Ballard, Sandeep A. Sathyanarayana, Samuel E. Adunyah, Robert J. Matusik, Zhenbang Chen. EZH2 regulation through lysine 63 linked ubiquitination in prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5326. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5326
The impact of Black cancer patients' race-related beliefs and attitudes on racially-discordant oncology interactions: A field study.

Abstract Objective Both physician and patient race-related beliefs and attitudes are contributors to racial healthcare disparities, but only the former have received substantial research attention. Using data from a study conducted in the Midwestern US from 2012 to 2014, we investigated whether 114 Black cancer patients' existing race-related beliefs and attitudes would predict how they and 18 non-Black physicians (medical oncologists) would respond in subsequent clinical interactions. Method At least two days before interacting with an oncologist for initial discussions of treatment options, patients completed measures of perceived past discrimination, general mistrust of physicians, and suspicion of healthcare systems; interactions were video-recorded. Measures from each interaction included patients' verbal behavior (e.g., level of verbal activity), patients' evaluations of physicians (e.g., trustworthiness), patients' perceptions of recommended treatments (e.g., confidence in treatment), physicians' evaluations of patient personal attributes (e.g., intelligence) and physicians' expectations for patient treatment success (e.g., adherence). Results As predicted, patients' race-related beliefs and attitudes differed in their associations with patient and physician responses to the interactions. Higher levels of perceived past discrimination predicted more patient verbal activity. Higher levels of mistrust also predicted less patient positive affect and more negative evaluations of physicians. Higher levels of suspicion predicted more negative evaluations of physicians and recommended treatments. Stronger patient race-related attitudes were directly or indirectly associated with lower physician perceptions of patient attributes and treatment expectations. Conclusion Results provide new evidence for the role of Black patients' race-related beliefs and attitudes in racial healthcare disparities and suggest the need to measure multiple beliefs and attitudes to identify these effects.
Neuroimmune Interactions: From the Brain to the Immune System and Vice Versa

Because of the compartmentalization of disciplines that shaped the academic landscape of biology and biomedical sciences in the past, physiological systems have long been studied in isolation from ...
Pacioli, Profit, and Positivism: How Inherited Professional and Academic Traditions Have Stymied Accounting Scholarship

ABSTRACT: Many criticisms have been leveled at the dominant positivist accounting research paradigm. This paper links this modern research paradigm to the development of double entry bookkeeping, which itself was part of a larger intellectual movement toward quantitative knowledge production, referred to herein as the quantification paradigm shift. Among the items discussed are the socio-economic forces that facilitated this shift, the role played by this movement in the development of accounting techniques, the advent of the concept of profit, and the emergence of positivism in accounting research. These items will be analyzed in the light of historical changes in philosophy and science, critical perspectives on the dominant research paradigm, and calls for alternative research programs.
Severe Plasmodium ovale malaria complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome in a young Caucasian man

Although Plasmodium ovale is considered the cause of only mild malaria, a case of severe malaria due to P. ovale with acute respiratory distress syndrome is reported. A 37-year old Caucasian man returning home from Angola was admitted for ovale malaria to the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani in Rome, Italy. Two days after initiation of oral chloroquine treatment, an acute respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed through chest X-ray and chest CT scan with intravenous contrast. Intravenous artesunate and oral doxycycline were started and he made a full recovery. Ovale malaria is usually considered a tropical infectious disease associated with low morbidity and mortality. However, severe disease and death have occasionally been reported. In this case clinical failure of oral chloroquine treatment with clinical progression towards acute respiratory distress syndrome is described.
Dynamic vibratory membrane processing for use in water recovery from soluble coffee product manufacturing wastewater

The performance of a dynamic vibratory membrane system for the recovery of usable water from soluble coffee processing wastewater has been investigated. Coffee wastewater is a complex food and beverage wastewater consisting of a variety of inorganic and organic constituents and dissolved and suspended solids. Manufacturing processes require high volumes of water, which leads to significant generation of wastewater. Effective design and scale-up of a recovery process are necessary to improve the sustainability of water draw for production. Rejections of COD, turbidity, and conductivity were observed to determine the purity of water recovered. A variety of membranes were initially screened for effective performance; a thin-film composite nanofiltration and a thin-film composite reverse osmosis membrane were selected for further studies. Process parameter studies for these membranes evaluated the effect of time, pressure, and vibration (shear). Steady-state flux was enhanced when vibration was introduced by factors of 4.5 and 1.6 when processing with the nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes, respectively. COD and turbidity rejection were above 97% for both the nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes in vibratory filtration. Conductivity rejection was 75 and 99% for the nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes, respectively, in vibratory filtration. The nanofiltration membrane was tested in a high-recovery simulation run and produced high flux at 85% total permeate recovery, indicating commercial-scale design is feasible.
The Cost Approach to Pricing: The Tenneco Pattern

Chapter 4 has two parts. The first discusses why and when fixed and variable costs should be assigned to the demand charges of multi-part rates. Each of the four famous methods is covered: the Atlantic Seaboard method, the United method, the modified fixed–variable method, and the straight fixed–variable method. Two other issues are included as well: the demand charge and zoning. The second part of the chapter covers the entirety of the accounting involved in a full rate case before the responsible US regulatory commission, starting with the aggregation of the pipeline’s total costs of service stated pursuant to the commission’s uniform system of accounts, and ending with the allocation of these total costs to the demand and commodity charges of the pipeline’s individual rate schedules.
The University of Houston Solar Research Program

The University of Houston has been active in the Sola Central Receiver area since 1970 and has had an actiy program in chemical energy storage and chemical energ transport since 1976. Since 1981 we have operated a Sola Thermal Advanced Research Center for the United State Department of Energy, funding up to seven discrete researo projects related to the Solar Thermal Program. The areas a emphasis are analytic model development, high temperatun materials and receiver, and fuels and chemicals processes In this paper I will present only a very brief survey a each task, interested parties can contact the name principal investigators for more detailed information or se reference 1 and subsequent annual reports from the STAR project.
Negative Disc Exploration: AN ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSES OF NERVE-ROOT INVOLVEMENT IN SIXTY-EIGHT PATIENTS

In 842 patients, with the clinical diagnosis of root compression due to a disc herniation, laminectomy failed to reveal any lesion of the intervertebral disc in sixty-eight patients. In nine, the source of the root compression was found to be foraminal migration of a sequestrated portion of the intervertebral disc; in twelve, pedicular kinking; in nineteen, articular-process impingement; in eight, segmental spinal stenosis; and in two, a lateral disc protrusion. In eighteen explorations, performed early in the series, no cause could be found for the root compression, and it is suggested that the lack of findings in these cases was due to inadequate exploration of the nerve root. The series analyzed is too small to make any dogmatic statements. However, a plea is entered for a careful appraisal of the level of root involvement preoperatively, using all ancillary methods available—myelography, discography root-sleeve injection, electromyography, diagnostic differential epidural injections—in patients without objective signs of the site of root involvement. Armed with such evidence, it is suggested that a radical exposure of the nerve root should be undertaken in all patients in whom the intervertebral disc fails to reveal pathological changes of sufficient degree to account for the nerve-root compression or tautness demonstrated.