cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative and qualitative study of STR DNA from ethanol and formalin fixed tissues

Complete and concordant autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) DNA profiles were obtained from 2.0mg human tissue samples of various types after they were preserved for 24 weeks in 100% ethanol and amplified with the GlobalFiler(®) and the PowerPlex(®) Fusion Amplification Kits. When 4.0mg of the same tissues were preserved for 12 weeks in 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin (NBF) they yielded partial profiles when amplified with the same kits. However, these NBF preserved tissues yielded complete autosomal profiles when amplified with the AmpFlSTR(®) MiniFiler™ Amplification Kit. Six tissue specimens from the male donor were also amplified with the PowerPlex(®) Y-23 System. Y-STR profiles were successfully generated from 2.0mg tissue specimens when preserved for 12 weeks in 100% Ethanol. Only partial profiles were obtained when the fixation time was increased to 24 weeks. Only partial Y-STR profiles were also obtained from 4.0mg tissue specimen from the same donor when preserved in 10% NBF. In an attempt to optimize the method, the preserved samples that yielded partial profiles were homogenized using the BioMasher III disposable homogenizer and BioMasher III homogenizer and filter. These homogenized tissues did not yield significantly better or more complete profiles when using the GlobalFiler(®), AmpFlSTR(®) MiniFiler™ Amplification Kits, the PowerPlex(®) Fusion System or the PowerPlex(®) Y23 System. A total number of 240 tissue samples were analyzed in this project. The amplification of the tissues preserved in 10% NBF with kits such as AmpFlSTR(®) MiniFiler™ and GlobalFiler(®) Amplification Kits that contain mini STR primers can be beneficial in forensic testing. The results of the study indicate that in cases such as when a victim or a suspect is missing, the profiles obtained from minute amounts of chemically fixed tissues can be used as reference samples and compared to evidence found at the crime scene.
Nature of Fatty Acids of Acetone Insoluble (Phospholipid) Fraction of Serum.

SummaryThis microgravimetric technic for the study of serum lipids in 14 normal infants and children disclosed that the acetone insoluble (phospholipid) fatty acids comprised about one-third of the total fatty acids. These fatty acids were more unsaturated and also had higher molecular weights than did the total fatty acids. Most methods used for the estimation of fatty acids of phospholipid fraction assume the presence of 18 carbon atoms. Our finding of high molecular weights indicates the necessity of revision of the calculations used in their determination.
Antibacterial activity of d-usnic acid and related compounds on M. tuberculosis.

SummaryThe entire usnic acid molecule is involved in its action against the tubercle bacillus since any major alteration in the molecule markedly reduced or destroyed the activity. This is in marked contrast to the equal activity previously demonstrated for stereoisomeric usnic acids.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute-onset, monophasic, immune-mediated polyneuropathy that often follows an antecedent infection. The diagnosis relies heavily on the clinical impression obtained from the history and examination, although cerebrospinal fluid analysis and electrodiagnostic testing usually provide evidence supportive of the diagnosis. The clinician must also be familiar with mimics and variants to promptly and efficiently reach an accurate diagnosis. Intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange are efficacious treatments. Supportive care during and following hospitalization is also crucial.
Intermolecular N–H Oxidative Addition of Ammonia, Alkylamines, and Arylamines to a Planar σ3-Phosphorus Compound via an Entropy-Controlled Electrophilic Mechanism

Ammonia, alkyl amines, and aryl amines are found to undergo rapid intermolecular N–H oxidative addition to a planar mononuclear σ3-phosphorus compound (1). The pentacoordinate phosphorane products (1·[H][NHR]) are structurally robust, permitting full characterization by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Isothermal titration calorimetry was employed to quantify the enthalpy of the N–H oxidative addition of n-propylamine to 1 (nPrNH2 + 1 → 1·[H][NHnPr], ΔHrxn298 = −10.6 kcal/mol). The kinetics of n-propylamine N–H oxidative addition were monitored by in situ UV absorption spectroscopy and determination of the rate law showed an unusually large molecularity (ν = k[1][nPrNH2]3). Kinetic experiments conducted over the temperature range of 10–70 °C revealed that the reaction rate decreased with increasing temperature. Activation parameters extracted from an Eyring analysis (ΔH⧧ = −0.8 ± 0.4 kcal/mol, ΔS⧧ = −72 ± 2 cal/(mol·K)) indicate that the cleavage of strong N–H bonds by 1...
Influences of Irrigation Practices on Spider Mite Densities on Field Corn

Field corn plants grown with seasonal irrigations of 70 cb or less soil moisture tension, applied every furrow, supported fewer mites ( Oligonychus pratensis (Banks) and Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval)) and showed lower levels of plant stress than plants in plots kept dry (200 cb) at some time during the growing season. Mite densities remained low before tassel and began increasing rapidly prior to soft dough. Prolonged rain and thunder-storms at tassel caused reduced mite density. It was concluded that rain and/or instrument controlled irrigations of ≤ 50 cb can limit the growth and severity of spider mite populations on corn.
Circuit reliability simulation

In designing a complex circuit, designers make a large number of circuit simulations, design changes and optimizations and can predict the circuit’s performance reasonably accurately before committing it to silicon. It would be unthinkable to bypass detailed circuit simulation and optimization and rely on simple design rules and the testing of finished IC’s to discover errors or to find out if the performance of the circuit meet specifications. Yet, this is basically the way IC reliability is treated today. A logical alternative is to predict circuit reliability at the circuit design stage through reliability simulation. Reliability simulator BERT is used to illustrate the physical models and approaches used to simulate the hot electron effect, oxide time-dependent breakdown, electromigration, bipolar transistor gain degradation, and radiation effects. The goal is to make circuit reliability simulation a part of the IC design process.
Crystalline Principles From Ch'an Su, the Dried Venom of the Chinese Toad.∗:

In the river and lake regions of China there lives a large toad which secretes a whitish, slimy venom in some superficial organs located behind the eyes. These structures may be similar to the “parotid glands” and other smaller glands of the skin of the tropical toad, Bufo agua, the secretions of which were studied by Abel and Macht.1 When the venom is collected by irritating the animal and is allowed to dry spontaneously, it is known as Ch'an Su.2 This has been used empirically in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. It has been employed in the treatment of canker sores, sinusitis, and many local inflammatory conditions, in the relief of toothache, and in the arrest of hemorrhages from the gums.3 When administered internally in the form of a compound pill, it is said to be able to break colds.Ch'an Su has been a subject of study by Japanese investigators4, 5, 6, 7 under the name of “Senso” during the last few years. Their chemical results, however, do not agree, and their published pharmacological dat...
Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumors: 13 Cases of a Rare Condition (P3.269)

Objective / Background: This report will summarize key clinical features of thirteen cases of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNET), a rare brain tumor that can cause intractable seizures. Methods: Thirteen cases of DNET were identified from patient records at the Massachusetts General Hospital Brain Tumor Center. Key clinical features were extracted from each patient’s record for this summary report. The study database is approved by the institutional IRB. Results: Among the thirteen cases identified, 9 patients were female and 4 were male; median age at diagnosis was 39.2 years (range 24.3 - 68.4). Initial symptoms at presentation were most commonly seizures (n=11) and rarely sensory changes (n=1); one case discovered incidentally was asymptomatic at diagnosis. Radiographic appearance was most commonly T1 non-enhancing (8/11) and T2 hyperintense (9/9), where data was available. Tumor location was most commonly temporal (n=10) and less commonly frontal (n=2) or parietal (n=1). Nearly all patients were treated with gross total resection (GTR, n=12) but one patient received sub-total resection (STR, n=1). After surgical treatment, nearly all patients were progression-free (n=12), but one case of progression resulted in repeat surgery 4 months after initial surgery (n=1). Key post-surgical neurological deficits included seizures (n=2), memory deficits (n=2), and weakness (n=1); 5 patients were neurologically asymptomatic post-surgery, and post-surgical deficits were unknown in 3 of 13 patients. Median patient follow-up duration was 5.2 years (range 0.67 to 17.0 years) and no deaths were reported. Conclusions: This case series highlights key clinical themes in DNET cases as well as clinical areas of uncertainty. As previously reported, the most common presenting symptom was seizure, and the most common radiographic appearance was T1 non-enhancing, T2 hyperintense. Most tumors were located in the temporal lobe, and 12/13 patients were treated with gross total resection. Only one patient required repeat surgery for recurrence. Disclosure: Dr. Goslinga has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gill has nothing to disclose. Dr. Batchelor has received personal compensation for activities with Merck, Roche, Foundation Medicine, Proximagen/Upsher, Oxigene, Oakstone Publishing, Champtions Biotechnology as a presenter, consultant and lecturer. Dr. Batchelor has received personal
Extrapolation of black- and volatile-oil fluid properties with application to immiscible/miscible gas injection

Abstract Black-oil fluid properties are determined by lab measurements or can be calculated through flash calculations of the reservoir fluid. Allowing for variable bubble-point pressures in black- or volatile-oil models requires a table of fluid properties be extended above the original bubble-point. Reservoir simulation accuracy, however, may be affected by discontinuities in the input data and poor predictions of extrapolated fluid properties. Common practice is to add surface gas to the original oil in the lab and increase the pressure to reach a new bubble-point. Another approach is to use linear extrapolation of oil and gas K -values with pressure on a log-log plot, where K -values are equal to 1.0 at a pseudo-critical or convergence pressure. The latter approach results in discontinuities in the phase behavior. We calculate continuous black-oil fluid properties above the original bubble-point by adding a fraction of the equilibrium gas at one bubble-point pressure to achieve a larger bubble-point pressure. This procedure continues until a critical point is reached at the top of the pseudocomponent pressure-composition diagram. Unlike other methods commonly used or recently proposed, the approach provides a smooth and continuous pressure-composition curve to the critical point. The model further allows for reinjection of produced gas, methane, or CO 2 to increase oil recovery for both volatile and black oils. Further, the approach allows the use of black-oil or volatile-oil properties for tight rocks where capillary pressure alters the saturation pressures by decreasing the bubble-point pressure or increasing the dew-point pressure. Bubble-point pressure in the new model is a function of both capillary pressure (effective pore radius) and gas content. The phase behavior is illustrated using ternary diagrams for up to four components (water, oil, gas, and CO 2 or CH 4 ) and three phases (aqueous, oleic, gaseous) to allow for miscible and immiscible injection of various gases. The new phase behavior could be easily incorporated in a compositionally-extended black- or volatile-oil simulator. The approach could also be used to model gas condensate reservoirs with or without gas injection and capillary pressure. Finally, 1-D slim-tube simulations are made with the extrapolated black oil fluid properties to estimate minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) to demonstrate the applicability of the approach. Shocks occur in the 1-D displacement consistent with a compositional simulator.
Epidemiologic characteristics of measles in 2006 in Hezheng County of Gansu Province and strategy for its prevention and control

Objective To better understand the cause of high incidence of measles in Hezheng County, Gansu with description of its epidemiologic characteristics in 2006 and to explore strategies for its prevention and control.Methods Data of measles in 2006 in Hezheng County were collected from measles surveillance system and regular notification system of infectious diseases and analyzed by descriptive epidemiology.Results In 2006, totally 167 cases of measles were notified, with a reported measles incidence of 85.58 per 100?000 , 100～168.86 per 100?000 in some towns and townships, reaching the highest in the history of the County and significantly higher than that in the past years. Cases of measles focused in children aged under 15 years which accounted for 85.42 percent of the total cases, and during March to June. Young children aged more than eight months without history of immunization or with unknown history of immunization accounted for 71.54 percent of total measles cases. And, significantly less children of ethnic Hui and Dongxiang (4.76 percent) were immunized with measles vaccine than those of Han ethnic. Children in floating population constituted 9.8 percent of the total measles cases, 26.80 percent of them with history of measles immunization, 49.02 percent without it and 27.45 percent with history of immunization unknown.Conclusion Lower coverage of immunization was the main cause of higher incidence of measles in poor, remote and minority areas of Hezheng County. Implementation of strategies for measles control in poor and minority areas, including increasing governmental input for planned immunization work, strengthening management and improvement of cold-chain system of vaccine, especially improvement of conventional measles immunization, reinforced immunization for school-age children, and emergency immunization during measles outbreak, strengthening epidemiological and laboratory surveillance for measles, all are the keys to control and eradication of measles in poor, remote and minority areas.
Mechanisms Associated with Activation of Intracellular Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor, mGluR5

The group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGluR5, is found on the cell surface as well as on intracellular membranes where it can mediate both overlapping and unique signaling effects. Previously we have shown that glutamate activates intracellular mGluR5 by entry through sodium-dependent transporters and/or cystine glutamate exchangers. Calibrated antibody labelling suggests that the glutamate concentration within neurons is quite high (~10 mM) raising the question as to whether intracellular mGluR5 is maximally activated at all times or whether a different ligand might be responsible for receptor activation. To address this issue, we used cellular, optical and molecular techniques to show that intracellular glutamate is largely sequestered in mitochondria; that the glutamate concentration necessary to activate intracellular mGluR5 is about ten-fold higher than what is necessary to activate cell surface mGluR5; and uncaging caged glutamate within neurons can directly activate the receptor. Thus these studies further the concept that glutamate itself serves as the ligand for intracellular mGluR5.
p38 Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK): a new therapeutic target for reducing the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) and preterm premature rupture of the membranes (pPROM) remain as a major clinical and therapeutic problem for intervention and management. Current strategies, based on our knowledge of pathways of preterm labor, have only been effective, in part, due to major gaps in our existing knowledge of risks and risk specific pathways.Areas covered: Recent literature has identified physiologic aging of fetal tissues as a potential mechanistic feature of normal parturition. This process is affected by telomere dependent and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) induced senescence activation. Pregnancy associated risk factors can cause pathologic activation of this pathway that can cause oxidative stress induced p38 MAPK activation leading to senescence and premature aging of fetal tissues. Premature aging is associated with sterile inflammation capable of triggering preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes. Preterm activation of p38MAPK can b...
Th17 cells are not required for maintenance of IL‐17A‐producing γδ T cells in vivo

γδ T cells producing interleukin-17A (γδT17) are thought to develop spontaneously in the thymus and to be maintained in the periphery. Previous studies suggested a role for T-helper 17 (Th17) cells in the maintenance of γδT17 via the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1). However, we have previously found that Th17 cells were not required for expansion of γδT17 cells after lung transplant in a mouse model. Using mice deficient in signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in CD4+ T cells, which are unable to develop Th17 cells, we investigated the requirement for Th17 cells and TGFβ1 to maintain γδT17 cells in the lung and lymphoid tissues. At steady state, we found no defect in γδT17 cells in the thymus or periphery of these mice. Further, STAT3-deficient CD4+ T cells produced significantly higher levels of TGFβ1 than wild-type CD4+ T cells under Th17 differentiation conditions in vitro. To determine whether STAT3-deficient CD4+ T cells could expand γδT17 cells in vivo, we used TCRβ-/- mice, which are known to have a defect in γδT17 cells that can be rescued by Th17 cells. However, adoptive transfer of wild-type Th17 cells or bulk CD4+ T cells did not expand γδT17 cells in TCRβ-/- mice. In contrast, interferon-γ+ γδ T cells preferentially expanded, particularly in the lungs. Interestingly, we found in vivo and in vitro that TGFβ1 may negatively regulate the pool of γδT17 cells. Our data suggest that Th17 cells and TGFβ1 are not required for the maintenance of γδT17 cells.
Challenges of building community-university partnerships in new poverty landscapes

AbstractThis article reflects on six years of community–university partnerships (CUPs) between the Charlotte Action Research Project (CHARP), grassroots organizations, and residents of economically challenged neighborhoods in Charlotte, NC. We share lessons learned in participatory planning and community development by comparing experiences in older, urban neighborhoods with those in suburban, “new poverty landscapes.” We highlight neighborhood typology, residents’ choices to leave, place attachment, and sociospatial and geographic context as defining factors within CUPs. A grounded framework for evaluating CUPs is introduced, and a synthesis of interviews and CHARP archives provide insight into what to do best, and in what conditions, in partnership efforts. We conclude that community-based research should always start by listening and that sometimes moving to action research makes sense, while at other times an advocacy research route is more appropriate. We assert that the most challenged neighborhoods...
Curating identifiable data for sharing: The databrary project

Video captures the nuances and dynamics of human behavior more cheaply and completely than other recording methods. Although the detailed fidelity of video provides significant potential for reuse, this potential goes largely unrealized because videos are rarely shared. Moreover, the large size of video files, diversity of file formats, and incompatible software tools pose technical challenges, and recordings of faces and voices pose issues regarding participant identifiability. The Databrary (databrary.org) data library, based at NYU, has developed solutions for: securely sharing research video while respecting participants' privacy, storing and streaming shared video, and managing video datasets and associated metadata. Video data are big data, and interest in recording, analyzing, and sharing video for research, education, and policy purposes continues to grow. Databrary makes video data sharing convenient and attractive for researchers, thereby increasing transparency and enhancing the potential for discovery.
Relationship of Health Literacy of Heart Failure Patients and Their Family Members on Heart Failure Knowledge and Self-Care.

We explored the relationships among patients’ and family members’ (FMs) health literacy, heart failure (HF) knowledge, and self-care behaviors using baseline data from HF patients and their FMs (N = 113 pairs) in a trial of a self-care intervention. Measures included Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine, Atlanta HF Knowledge Test, a heart failure Medication Adherence Scale, and sodium intake (24-hr urine and 3-day food record). Patients with low health literacy (LHL) were more likely to have lower HF knowledge (p < .001) and trended to poorer medication adherence (p = .077) and higher sodium intake (p = .072). When FMs had LHL, FMs were more likely to have lower HF knowledge (p = .001) and patients trended toward higher sodium intake (p = .067). When both patients and FMs had LHL, lowest HF knowledge and poorest medication adherence were observed (p < .027). The health literacy of both patient and FM needs to be considered when designing interventions to foster self-care.
Reconsidering the potential role of saline springs in the Paleoindian occupation of Sandy Springs, Adams County, Ohio

Abstract The potential role of saline springs in Paleoindian settlement models has been espoused for over 50 years. An early example of this adaptive strategy was proposed in 1973 by Roger Cunningham in his formative discussion of the Paleoindian Sandy Springs site in Adams County, Ohio. Cunningham argued that saline springs located among local sand dunes acted as a significant draw for migrating game animals and, subsequently, the Paleoindian hunters that pursued them. Despite being widely accepted and repeated in the literature, the claim of saline-enriched groundwater at Sandy Springs has never been evaluated quantitatively. To assess the accuracy of Cunningham's claim, this study completed electrical conductivity and pH analysis of surface water and sediment samples within a 20-km radius of Sandy Springs. Testing failed to identify water samples > 320 ppm total dissolved solids, a result far below established thresholds for brackish or brine classification. Underlying local bedrock geology also is not conducive for the presence of saline springs, and no mention of salt licks, commercial salt wells, or animal trails has been identified in the literature for Adams County, Ohio. Sediment samples from sand dunes locations previously argued to contain saline springs at Sandy Springs also failed to yield statistically different pH values than those from non-dune, alluvial contexts. Overall, the reported presence of saline springs at Sandy Springs could not be verified by geochemical data. Instead, it is suggested in this article that saline groundwater was not a principal factor in determining Paleoindian occupation of the site. Alternative explanations for site occupancy include the possible presence of rare resources associated with a sand prairie ecosystem and the potential that Sandy Springs was positioned along an early trail system connecting the upper Ohio Valley with the Tennessee and Cumberland Valleys.
Robust fault detection for a jet engine using robust l 1 Estimation 1

Abstract This paper considers the application of robust l 1 estimation to robust fault detection for a jet engine. It reviews the design of robust l 1 estimators based on multiplier theory and the resulting fixed threshold approach to fault detection (FD). Although this methodology has been established, this paper investigates its application to a realistic system. As the jet engine is a highly nonlinear system, a linear representation of the system incorporates uncertainty to account for modeling errors. Due to the modeling errors and some unmeasurable disturbances, it is difficult to distinguish between the effects of an actual fault and those caused by uncertainty and disturbances. Of the various types of faults that may occur, it is typical for a jet engine to experience a drift in the sensor reading, where the error between the actual and sensed values increases over time. It is the aim of a robust FD system to be sensitive to faults, such as this, while remaining insensitive to uncertainty and disturbances. In addition to uncertainty in the system and output matrices A and C, respectively, this paper considers uncertainty in the input matrix B, whereas current theory does not apply to this uncertainty. Using a discrete-time, linear uncertain model of a jet engine and implementing an LQG controller, the closed-loop system is formulated. A fault is represented by simulating sensor drift in the system. The results of FD using robust l 1 estimation with a fixed threshold are demonstrated for the closed-loop system with very positive results.
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry visceral adipose tissue estimates: reproducibility and impact of pre-assessment diet

We examined the reproducibility of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) visceral adipose tissue (VAT) estimates as well as the impact of pre-assessment diet. In a counterbalanced design, 41 adults received 6 DXA scans, while consuming standardized high- and low-carbohydrate (LC) diets. The impact of pre-assessment diet was examined via repeated-measures analysis of variance and reproducibility of VAT estimates was evaluated by technical error of measurement (TEM) and s.e. of a single determination (SESD). VAT area, mass and volume were acutely decreased by ~ 6.5% after the LC diet (P ≤ 0.001), but not the high-carbohydrate diet (P > 0.3). Differences persisted after an overnight fast. TEMs for VAT area, mass and volume were < 5 cm2, ≤ 0.2 kg and < 25 cm3. SESDs for all VAT variables were ≤ 5.5%. In conclusion, DXA VAT estimates exhibit good reproducibility in controlled conditions, but may be impacted by pre-assessment diet.
Differential effects of innate immune variants of surfactant protein-A1 (SFTPA1) and SP-A2 (SFTPA2) in airway function after Klebsiella pneumoniae infection and sex differences.

Surfactant Protein-A (SP-A) is a major protein component of surfactant and plays a role in surfactant-related functions and innate immunity. Human SP-A consists of two functional genes, SFTPA1 and SFTPA2, encoding SP-A1 and SP-A2 proteins, respectively and each is identified with numerous genetic variants. These differentially enhance bacterial phagocytosis, with SP-A2 variants being more effective than SP-A1. Lung functions of humanized transgenic (hTG) mice that carry different SP-A1 and SP-A2 variants or both variants SP-A1/SP-A2 (6A2/1A0, co-ex), as well as SP-A knockout (KO), were studied. The animals were connected to a flexiVent system to obtain forced oscillation technique (FOT) measurements and the data were analyzed using various models. Lung function was assessed after infection (baseline) and following inhaled methacholine concentrations (0–50 mg/mL). Here, we investigated the role of SP-A variants on airway function after Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) infection (baseline) and following inhaled methacholine. We found that: 1) in the absence of methacholine no significant differences were observed between SP-A1 and SP-A2 variants and/or SP-A knockout (KO) except for sex differences in most of the parameters studied. 2) In response to methacholine, i) sex differences were observed that were reverse of those observed in the absence of methacholine; ii) SP-A2 (1A3) gene variant in males exhibited increased total and central airway resistance (Rrs and Rn) versus all other variants; iii) In females, SP-A2 (1A3) and SP-A1 (6A2) variants had similar increases in total and central airway resistance (Rrs and Rn) versus all other variants; iv) Allele-specific differences were observed, a) with SP-A2 (1A3) exhibiting significantly higher lung functions versus SP-A2 (1A0) in both sexes, except for Crs, and b) SP-A1 (6A2, 6A4) had more diverse changes in lung function in both sexes. We conclude that, in response to infection and methacholine, SP-A variants differentially affect lung function and exhibit sex-specific differences consistent with previously reported findings of functional differences of SP-A variants. Thus, the observed changes in respiratory function mechanics provide insight into the role and importance of genetic variation of innate immune molecules, such as SP-A, on mechanical consequences of lung function after infection and inhaled substances.
Hemodynamic Mechanisms of Bicuspid Aortic Valve Calcification and Aortopathy

The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly and is present in 2–3 % of the general population. While the BAV anatomy may not intrinsically hamper valvular function, it is associated with a spectrum of secondary valvulopathy and aortopathy such as calcific aortic valve disease and aortic dilation. The current clinical management of BAV disease presents significant challenges related to the nontrivial identification of BAV patients, the difficult detection of the onset of aortic and valvular complications and the time-sensitivity of surgical intervention. The design of effective clinical guidelines and surgical procedures requires the elucidation of the etiology of BAV complications, which remains controversial.
Training a Tetris agent via interactive shaping: a demonstration of the TAMER framework

As computational learning agents continue to improve their ability to learn sequential decision-making tasks, a central but largely unfulfilled goal is to deploy these agents in real-world domains in which they interact with humans and make decisions that affect our lives. People will want such interactive agents to be able to perform tasks for which the agent's original developers could not prepare it. Thus it will be imperative to develop agents that can learn from natural methods of communication. The teaching technique of shaping is one such method. In this context, we define shaping as training an agent through signals of positive and negative reinforcement. In a shaping scenario, a human trainer observes an agent and reinforces its behavior through push-buttons, spoken word ("yes" or "no"), facial expression, or any other signal that can be converted to a scalar signal of approval or disapproval. We treat shaping as a specific mode of knowledge transfer, distinct from (and probably complementary to) other natural methods of communication, including programming by demonstration and advice-giving. The key challenge before us is to create agents that can be shaped effectively.
2.1 – Nitrogen Stabilization

This chapter covers the carbonyl addition chemistry of carbanions stabilized by a nitrogen atom or a nitrogen-containing functional group in which the nitrogen is responsible for the stabilization. In most cases, the carbanions are formed by deprotonation, but metal–halogen exchange is occasionally important. A carbanion that is stabilized by a nitrogen may exist in three oxidation states: sp, sp2 or sp3. The simplest nitrogen-stabilized carbanion is cyanide, the sp-hybridized case. In recent years, most efforts in this area have been expended on developing the chemistry of sp2- and sp3-carbanions. This chapter deals with the addition of these types of anions to carbonyl compounds. Alkylation reactions of sp3-hybridized species are covered in Volume 3, Chapter 1.2, and alkylation of sp2-hybridized carbanions is covered in Volume 3, Chapter 1.4. Specifically excluded from this chapter are additions of carbanions stabilized by a nitro group (the Henry nitroaldol reaction) and azaenolates, which are covered in Volume 2, Chapters 1.10, 1.16 and 1.17.
Textual/Graphical Design Capture for Concept-Level Synthesis

Abstract Requirements for new systems and products that are generally expressed in a variety of graphical and textual notations can be translated to conceptual graphs (semantic networks) for integration, consistency checking, and synthesis functions. In this paper, the capture, translation and integration of natural language, block diagrams, timing diagrams and state diagrams as used in specifying digital systems requirements are considered. For each of these source notations a set of basic concepts and their interrelationships are identified, and algorithms for automatically generating conceptual graphs from the notations are given. Mechanisms for integrating the resulting conceptual graphs and consistency are discussed.
Using numerical libraries in C/C++ and Fortran 2003 for computational modeling

Computational modeling and methods is an important component in today's computing education and in developing computational models. This tutorial provides a short overview of relevant numerical methods and the available libraries for developing computational models and presents a gentle introduction to various libraries in C and Fortran that apply numerical methods used for developing computational models. These are presented by solving several case studies and applying computational techniques for numerically solving mathematical models with C/C++ and Fortran, which are important languages used in high-performance computing. The main software tools and libraries that are used for solving and implementing the mathematical models are: GNU gfortran, the C/C+ compilers, linkers, the GNU Scientific Library (GSL), and the Slatec library. These tools and numerical methods are used in the Computational Modeling Tools Methods (CMTM) Project. The general goals of this project are to: develop general methods for modeling and solving computational models at different levels of abstraction, and develop a suitable high-level language for modeling high-performance models in scientific applications. Tools and methods at a higher level of abstraction use: LP_solve, Scilab, in addition to Matlab, FreeMat, and Octave, and will only be briefly discussed in this tutorial. The case studies were designed and developed to be of interest to faculty and students of computing (Computer Science, Software Engineering, and related disciplines), mathematics, and the various sciences.
Novel Methodologies in Regional Anesthesia for Knee Arthroplasty

Maximizing analgesia is critical following joint arthroplasty because postoperative pain is a major barrier to adequate physical therapy. Continuous peripheral nerve blocks have been the mainstay for acute pain management in this population; however, this and similar techniques are limited by their duration of action. Cryoneurolysis and peripheral nerve stimulation are two methodologies used for decades to treat chronic pain. With the advent of portable ultrasound devices and percutaneous administration equipment, both procedures may now be suitable for treatment of acute pain. This article reviews these two modalities and their application to joint arthroplasty.
Assessment in the Counseling Process for the 1980s

This article traces the historical relationship between testing and counseling, which culminated in the apparent mutual mistrust of the 1970s, and details developments since the 1970s that have bro...
Thermal Equilibration Controls H-Bonding and the Vertical Detachment Energy of Water Cluster Anions.

One of the outstanding puzzles in the photoelectron spectroscopy of water anion clusters, which serve as precursors to the hydrated electron, is that the excess electron has multiple vertical detachment energies (VDEs), with different groups seeing different distributions of VDEs. We have studied the photoelectron spectroscopy of water cluster anions using simulation techniques designed to mimic the different ways that water cluster anions are produced experimentally. Our simulations take advantage of density functional theory-based Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics with an optimally tuned range-separated hybrid functional that is shown to give outstanding accuracy for calculating electron binding energies for this system. We find that our simulations are able to accurately reproduce the experimentally observed VDEs for cluster anions of different sizes, with different VDE distributions observed depending on how the water cluster anions are prepared. For cluster anion sizes up to 20 water molecules, we ...
Universal Ethics and Biolaw for a Multicultural World

Diversity is part of what we call being human. We need an integrated cross-cultural approach to ethics. We should never expect all people to balance the same values in the same way all the time. Nevertheless, there are numerous benefits if the same values, or principles, can be used by all people and societies. All human beings are found as members of some society but all accommodate some individualism within a social niche. All societies have ethical norms and some system of ethics. Any international ethical approach to assisting people and systems to making bioethical decisions must consider the biological, social and spiritual origins of humanity. In this fashion, the focus of this chapter is to address the fundamental question of whether or not a common ethical system could be accepted and applied universally as well as what consequences this could have for biolaw.
Shifts in dragonfly community structure across aquatic ecotones

Dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) are often used as indicators of habitat type and quality due to their varied use of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Species differ in their preferences for lotic...
Molecular Strategies of Meiotic Cheating by Selfish Centromeres

Summary Asymmetric division in female meiosis creates selective pressure favoring selfish centromeres that bias their transmission to the egg. This centromere drive can explain the paradoxical rapid evolution of both centromere DNA and centromere-binding proteins despite conserved centromere function. Here, we define a molecular pathway linking expanded centromeres to histone phosphorylation and recruitment of microtubule destabilizing factors, leading to detachment of selfish centromeres from spindle microtubules that would direct them to the polar body. Exploiting centromere divergence between species, we show that selfish centromeres in two hybrid mouse models use the same molecular pathway but modulate it differently to enrich destabilizing factors. Our results indicate that increasing microtubule destabilizing activity is a general strategy for drive in both models, but centromeres have evolved distinct mechanisms to increase that activity. Furthermore, we show that drive depends on slowing meiotic progression, suggesting that selfish centromeres can be suppressed by regulating meiotic timing.
Managerial ability and bond rating changes

This study examines the relation between managerial ability and bond credit rating changes. We attempt to add to the credit rating agency literature by exploring the role managerial ability plays in the initial bond rating assignments and in rating changes. We predict firms with more‐able managers are more likely to have higher bond ratings and to be more able to have a positive influence on rating changes. We find a significant and positive relation between managerial ability and change in credit ratings, suggesting that more‐able managers can take effective actions to improve their credit ratings.
A very-high resolution (20m) measurement-based dust emissions and dispersion modeling approach for the Oceano Dunes, California

Abstract This study shows the results from very high-resolution (20 m) dust emissions and transport simulations for the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (ODSVRA), a coastal sand dune complex located in San Luis Obispo County, California. Field data from an enhanced observation period carried out in May–July 2013 helped estimate the emissions and flow conditions over the dune field. Emissions are based on a comprehensive emissions grid developed from in-situ measurements using the Portable In-Situ Wind ERosion Lab (PI-SWERL). PI-SWERL estimates the potential for a soil surface to produce PM10 dust emissions for a range of wind speeds. This approach provided a well-determined PM10 emissions field as a function of time and space. Wind and turbulence fields were estimated using the CALMET diagnostic meteorological model constrained with surface stations, upper air soundings, buoys, and the North American Reanalysis data. Hourly, three-dimensional wind flow and instability objective analysis fields were developed at 20 m resolution in order to consider the complex flow over realistic dune morphology, land use/land cover and terrain characteristics over and around the Oceano Dunes. The dust dispersion simulations were performed using a computationally efficient and vectorized Lagrangian Stochastic Particle Dispersion Model driven by the CALMET output and the PI-SWERL time-space variable emissions. The dispersion model is based on the Langevin formulation and includes the turbulent diffusion and stochastic particle motion (of millions of particles) in the inertial sub-range, and assuming particles as discrete units neglecting deposition. The model estimates diffusion of particles from an initial particle releases that scale according to the PI-SWERL time-variable emissions estimates. Results were then tested at two independent-downwind locations, with positive correlations for flow conditions (R2 = 0.89) and similar receptor PM10 concentrations (R2 = 0.85). Evaluations against those observations during mean flow conditions as well as for elevated dust events suggest that the model framework can capture the spatial and temporal characteristics of mean day-to-day and diurnal PM10 variability. In this study we describe the details of the model framework and its performance as well as its implementation to locate the dust sources that have the strongest impact in the receptor sites and to evaluate the impact of different dust reduction strategies used at the ODSVRA to mitigate PM10 at downwind receptors.
Moderate Prenatal Ethanol Exposure Stimulates CXCL12/CXCR4 Chemokine System in Radial Glia Progenitor Cells in Hypothalamic Neuroepithelium and Peptide Neurons in Lateral Hypothalamus of the Embryo and Postnatal Offspring.

Background Prenatal exposure to ethanol (EtOH) has lasting effects on neuropeptide and neuroimmune systems in the brain alongside detrimental alcohol-related behaviors. At low-to-moderate doses, prenatal EtOH stimulates neurogenesis in lateral hypothalamus (LH) and increases neurons that express the orexigenic peptides hypocretin/orexin (Hcrt/OX) and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), and the proinflammatory chemokine CCL2, which through its receptor CCR2 stimulates cell differentiation and movement. Our recent studies demonstrated that CCL2 and CCR2 colocalize with MCH neurons and are involved in EtOH's stimulatory effect on their development but show no relation to Hcrt/OX. Here, we investigated another chemokine, CXCL12, and its receptor, CXCR4, which promote neurogenesis and neuroprogenitor cell proliferation, to determine if they also exhibit peptide specificity in their response to EtOH exposure. Methods Pregnant rats were intraorally administered a moderate dose of EtOH (2 g/kg/d) from embryonic day 10 (E10) to E15. Their embryos and postnatal offspring were examined using real-time quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence histochemistry, to determine if EtOH affects CXCL12 and CXCR4 and the colocalization of CXCR4 with Hcrt/OX and MCH neurons in the LH and with radial glia neuroprogenitor cells in the hypothalamic neuroepithelium (NEP). Results Prenatal EtOH strongly stimulated CXCL12 and CXCR4 in LH neurons of embryos and postnatal offspring. This stimulation was significantly stronger in Hcrt/OX than MCH neurons in LH and also occurred in radial glia neuroprogenitor cells dense in the NEP. These effects were sexually dimorphic, consistently stronger in females than males. Conclusions While showing prenatal EtOH exposure to have a sexually dimorphic, stimulatory effect on CXCL12 and CXCR4 in LH similar to CCL2 and its receptor, these results reveal their distinct relationship to the peptide neurons, with the former closely related to Hcrt/OX and the latter to MCH, and they link EtOH's actions in LH to a stimulatory effect on neuroprogenitor cells in the NEP.
Application of the Bayesian statistical approach to develop a Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) pavement performance model

Stone mastic asphalt (SMA) has not been widely used in the pavement industry, and there are no detailed design specifications for this type of asphalt. Therefore, long-term performance data is not available widely, and no performance model has been developed for SMA. The main purpose of this study was to integrate expert knowledge (using the Markov-chain process) and experimental data from field investigations to propose a performance model for SMA through the incorporation of the Bayesian technique. The combination of these sources of data resulted in an efficient and effective method to develop a performance model for this type of pavement, which did not have a long-term performance database. As a result, a robust linear performance model was established to predict the service life of SMA. The service life of SMA can be estimated explicitly according to the developed performance model which has been validated using a new set of data.
Nutrition therapy of chronic diarrhea in children

Nutritional therapy is an important part of therapy of chronic diarrhea in children.The nutritional status is very important to growth and development of the children patients.The supplementation of appropriate amount of protein, abundant energy, vitamin, minerals and probiotics can improve the nutrition and promote growth and development, then remission the development of disease and decrease the incidence of the complication. Key words: Child; Chronic diarrhea; Nutritional therapy
On stability of steady nonlinear rotating viscoelastic jets

Abstract Recently Riahi (2018) studied steady nonlinear rotating viscoelastic jet, which was subjected to the Giesekus constitutive equations for the stress tensor. He applied scaling, perturbation and numerical techniques for the viscoelastic jet with sufficiently small aspect ratio and determined the nonlinear steady solutions for the jet. He then calculated and described the results for the jet quantities such as radius, speed, stretching rate, strain rate and tensile force. In this paper we investigate stability of the nonlinear steady solutions of the time dependent form of such jet system, by superimposing small amplitude disturbances in the form of travelling waves that can grow in time, in space or simultaneously in time and in space. We find, in particular, a main condition for the existence of instability is that the growth rates of the disturbances should depend on the arc length of the jet. Under such condition, the only possible instability of the steady solution is temporal in nature and is due only to disturbances that simultaneously grow in time but decay in space. The growth rates of these disturbances increase with increasing the rotation rate, viscoelasticity and the arc length of the jet. However, the magnitude of such growth rate decreases with increasing the fluid viscosity and surface tension.