cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
First Report of Charcoal Rot Caused by Macrophomina phaseolina on Sunflower in Illinois

In September 2009, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants (cv. Mycogen 8C451) from a University of Illinois field research trial in Fayette County, Illinois exhibited silvery gray girdling lesions on the lower stems and premature death. When lower stems and roots were split open, the pith tissue was compressed into layers. Black microsclerotia (90 to 180 μm) were present on the outside of the lower stem tissue and in the stem vascular tissue. Five pieces (approximately 1 cm long) of symptomatic stem tissue from five different affected plants (25 pieces total) were soaked in a 0.5% solution of NaOCl for 30 s, rinsed with sterile distilled water, and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA; Becton, Dickinson, and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ). Gray hyphae grew from all of the stem pieces, which subsequently turned black and formed black microsclerotia (75 to 175 μm). On the basis of plant symptoms and size and color of the microsclerotia, the disease was diagnosed as charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseoli...
Cholesteatoma of the maxillary sinus: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Cholesteatoma is a relatively common disease entity within the middle ear cavity, but it is rarely found in the paranasal sinuses. We describe a rare case of cholesteatoma in the maxillary sinus of an elderly man presenting with recurrent sinus infections and nasal obstruction refractory to medical treatment. The patient was treated using functional endoscopic sinus surgery with successful removal of the cholesteatoma. He has no recurrence of the cholesteotoma at a 13 year follow-up. We review the literature and history on maxillary cholesteatomas and discuss the theories on the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma formation. We propose functional endoscopic sinus surgery with maxillary antrostomy and marsupialization of the cholesteatoma as a primary treatment option for a maxillary cholesteatoma.
Market Size, Pay, and Performance: A General Model and Application to Major League Baseball

The authors construct a general model of fan behavior and team revenues to study compensation and competitive balance issues in professional sports. Baseball data from 1995 to 1999 support the mode...
Prevalence of hypertension, awareness, treatment, and control in the Hispanic community health study/study of Latinos

background The prevention and control of hypertension is an essential component for reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases. Here we describe the prevalence of hypertension in diverse Hispanic/Latino background groups and describe the proportion who are aware of their diagnosis, receiving treatment, and having their hypertension under control. methods The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos is a longitudinal cohort study of 16,415 Hispanics/Latinos, aged 18–74 years from 4 US communities (Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; and San Diego, CA). At baseline (2008–2011) the study collected extensive measurements and completed questionnaires related to research on cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension was defined as measured blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medication. results The total age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension in this study was 25.5% as compared with 27.4% in non-Hispanic whites in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Prevalence of hypertension increased with increasing age groups and was highest in Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican background groups. The percent with hypertension who were aware, being treated with medication, or had their hypertension controlled was lower compared with US non-Hispanic whites with hypertension and it was lowest in those without health insurance. conclusions These findings indicate a significant deficit in treatment and control of hypertension among Hispanics/Latinos residing in the United States, particularly those without health insurance. Given the relative ease of identification of hypertension and the availability of low-cost medi cations, enabling better access to diagnostic and treatment services should reduce the burden of hypertension in Hispanic populations.
Jump-diffusion based sampling algorithm for target tracking and recognition

A new random sampling algorithm for recognition and tracking of an unknown number of targets and target types is presented. Taking a Bayesian approach we define a posterior measure on the parameter space by combining the observed data likelihood with a prior based on airplane dynamics. The Newtonian force equations governing the airplane motion are utilized to form the prior density on the airplane positions. The sampling algorithm based on Jump-diffusion processes, first introduced by Grenander and Miller (1991), is derived for generating high probability estimates of target positions, orientations and types from the posterior measure. Results are presented from its joint implementation on the Silicon Graphics workstation and the DECmpp SIMD machine distributing data-simulation, visualization and computation over network. >
Print to electronic: measuring the operational and economic implications of an electronic journal collection

In this poster, we report methodology and initial results from a study of an academic library's migration to an all-electronic journal collection.
The Genome Sequence of Yersinia pestis Bacteriophage φA1122 Reveals an Intimate History with the Coliphage T3 and T7 Genomes

The genome sequence of bacteriophage phiA1122 has been determined. phiA1122 grows on almost all isolates of Yersinia pestis and is used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a diagnostic agent for the causative agent of plague. phiA1122 is very closely related to coliphage T7; the two genomes are colinear, and the genome-wide level of nucleotide identity is about 89%. However, a quarter of the phiA1122 genome, one that includes about half of the morphogenetic and maturation functions, is significantly more closely related to coliphage T3 than to T7. It is proposed that the yersiniophage phiA1122 recombined with a close relative of the Y. enterocolitica phage phiYeO3-12 to yield progeny phages, one of which became the classic T3 coliphage of Demerec and Fano (M. Demerec and U. Fano, Genetics 30:119-136, 1945).
A Multi-agent Prediction Market Based on Boolean Network Evolution

Prediction markets have been shown to be a useful tool in forecasting the outcome of future events by aggregating public opinion about the events' outcome. Previous research on prediction markets has mostly analyzed the prediction markets by building complex analytical models. In this paper, we posit that simpler yet powerful Boolean rules can be used to adequately describe the operations of a prediction market. We have used a multi-agent based prediction market where Boolean network based rules are used to capture the evolution of the beliefs of the market's participants, as well as to aggregate the prices in the market. We show that despite the simplification of the traders' beliefs in the prediction market into Boolean states, the aggregated market price calculated using our BN model is strongly correlated with the price calculated by a commonly used aggregation strategy in existing prediction markets called the Logarithmic Market Scoring Rule (LMSR). We also empirically show that our Boolean network-based prediction market can stabilize market prices under the presence of untruthful belief revelation by the traders.
Fullerene patches II

Large carbon molecules, discovered at the end of the last century, are called fullerenes. The most famous of these, C 60 has the structure of the soccer ball: the seams represent chemical bonds and the points where three seams come together represent the carbon atoms. We use the term fullerene to represent all mathematically possible structures for the chemical fullerenes: trivalent plane graphs with only hexagonal and pentagonal faces. A simple consequence of Euler's formula is that each fullerene has exactly 12 pentagonal faces; the only restriction on the number of hexagonal faces is that it not be 1. The chemical motivation for this paper is to answer the question: When is it possible to alter a fullerene by changing the structure inside a region of the fullerene bounded by a simple closed circuit? Such a region or patch is said to be ambiguous if alterations may be made to its interior without disturbing the structure of the fullerene outside of the region. In this paper, we show that, relative to the minimum distance between pentagonal faces, there are no small ambiguous patches.
Peasants and Petty Capitalists in Southern Oaxacan Sugar Cane Production and Processing, 1930–1980

The documented history of Mexican sugar in the twentieth century begins with the introduction of vacuum-pan technology between 1880 and 1910, subsequently chronicling the progressive expansion and concentration of the industry, and the creeping State intervention which eventually resulted in the nationalisation of most private sugar mills during the 1960s and 1970s. 1 Small-scale, labour-intensive rural trapiches producing panela (an unrefined form of semi-crystalline sugar) have largely been left out of this history, despite the fact that trapiches were often predecessors to modern sugar mills and in many areas survived displacement by them. Surveying Oaxaca's Isthmus of Tehuantepec region in 1940, for example, Ybarra recorded three industrialised mills and 37 small, motorised, panela- producing trapiches . 2 In 1947, according to Aragon Calvo and Vargas Comargo, panela accounted for an estimated 25% of Mexican sugar production overall, and consumption of panela exceeded that of refined sugar in the states of Veracruz and Guerrero. 3 Panela continues to be produced and consumed in Mexico today — albeit in reduced quantities. In Panama, Colombia, India and other nations, panela (or the local equivalent) is an even more important sugar source than in Mexico. 4 Nationally the labour-intensive panela industry pales into insignificance next to the modern sugar sector. However, in particular regions and communities, as I shall attempt to demonstrate, it has been an important source of employment and capital, providing rural dwellers with their first experience of disciplined factory work and numerous small entrepreneurs with profits that were invested back into the communities to expand control over local land and businesses.
Ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling: 1. Thermal plasma

The complex interaction of the cold plasma of the plasmasphere and ionosphere with the hot plasma of the ring current and the plasma sheet is studied. It is seen that a coupling, probably through wave particle interactions, exists which seems to have a strong influence on the temperature of the plasma of the outer plasmasphere and on the detailed dynamics of the bulge region, especially the formation of detached plasma regions or plasma tails. Also, there is evidence that the outer plasmasphere may display very high temperatures, and that detached plasma regions are closely associated with ring current injections.
Role of endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: correlation with surgical histopathology.

Background & Aims: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are precancerous tumors characterized by dilation of the main pancreatic duct, its side branches, or both. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in differentiating benign and malignant IPMNs. Methods: We identified all patients between July 1996–November 2005 who underwent preoperative EUS for IPMNs. Malignancy was defined as the presence of invasive carcinoma; all other neoplasms were considered benign. The results of EUS and EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) were compared with corresponding histopathology. Results: Seventy-four patients (38 male; mean age, 65 years) with 21 (28%) malignant and 53 (72%) benign IPMNs were identified. Sixty-five (88%) underwent EUS-FNA. Compared with benign tumors, patients with malignant IPMNs were more likely to be older ( P = .011), present with jaundice ( P = .03) or weight loss ( P = .03), and have EUS features of a dilated main pancreatic duct ( P = .0001), solid lesion ( P = .0001), pancreatic ductal filling defects ( P = .03), or thickened septa within any cyst ( P = .02). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of EUS-FNA for the diagnosis of malignancy were 75% (95% confidence interval [CI], 53%–89%), 91% (95% CI, 79%–97%), and 86% (95% CI, 76%–93%), respectively. Cyst or pancreatic duct fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 did not differ between groups. Conclusions: Older age, jaundice and weight loss, and EUS features of a solid lesion, dilated main pancreatic duct, ductal filling defects, and thickened septa are predictive of malignancy in patients with IPMNs. EUS-FNA cytology is helpful, but cyst fluid CEA and CA 19-9 are of limited value to differentiate malignant from benign IPMNs.
Geographic risk modeling of childhood cancer relative to county-level crops, hazardous air pollutants and population density characteristics in Texas

Childhood cancer has been linked to a variety of environmental factors, including agricultural activities, industrial pollutants and population mixing, but etiologic studies have often been inconclusive or inconsistent when considering specific cancer types. More specific exposure assessments are needed. It would be helpful to optimize future studies to incorporate knowledge of high-risk locations or geographic risk patterns. The objective of this study was to evaluate potential geographic risk patterns in Texas accounting for the possibility that multiple cancers may have similar geographic risks patterns. A spatio-temporal risk modeling approach was used, whereby 19 childhood cancer types were modeled as potentially correlated within county-years. The standard morbidity ratios were modeled as functions of intensive crop production, intensive release of hazardous air pollutants, population density, and rapid population growth. There was supportive evidence for elevated risks for germ cell tumors and "other" gliomas in areas of intense cropping and for hepatic tumors in areas of intense release of hazardous air pollutants. The risk for Hodgkin lymphoma appeared to be reduced in areas of rapidly growing population. Elevated spatial risks included four cancer histotypes, "other" leukemias, Central Nervous System (CNS) embryonal tumors, CNS other gliomas and hepatic tumors with greater than 95% likelihood of elevated risks in at least one county. The Bayesian implementation of the Multivariate Conditional Autoregressive model provided a flexible approach to the spatial modeling of multiple childhood cancer histotypes. The current study identified geographic factors supporting more focused studies of germ cell tumors and "other" gliomas in areas of intense cropping, hepatic cancer near Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) release facilities and specific locations with increased risks for CNS embryonal tumors and for "other" leukemias. Further study should be performed to evaluate potentially lower risk for Hodgkin lymphoma and malignant bone tumors in counties with rapidly growing population.
Neurological Impairment and Hypersensitivity among Psychiatrically Disturbed Adolescents.

Cerebral dysfunction that occurs prior to maturity can be related to emotional and behavioral problems for the developing child and adolescent. The recent development of measurement technology allows for evaluating specific relationships between cerebral deficits and hyperactivity in a psychiatrically disturbed inpatient adolescent group. Findings suggest that neuropsychological deficits may be a diffuse problem that systemically affects complex cognitive functioning.
Dealing With Dependence (Part II): A Gentle Introduction to Hierarchical Linear Modeling:

In education, most naturally occurring data are clustered within contexts. Students are clustered within classrooms, classrooms are clustered within schools, and schools are clustered within districts. When people are clustered within naturally occurring organizational units such as schools, classrooms, or districts, the responses of people from the same cluster are likely to exhibit some degree of relatedness with each other. The use of hierarchical linear modeling allows researchers to adjust for and model this non-independence. Furthermore, it may be of great substantive interest to try to understand the degree to which people from the same cluster are similar to each other and then to try to identify variables that help us to understand differences both within and across clusters. In HLM, we endeavor to understand and explain between- and within-cluster variability of an outcome variable of interest. We can also use predictors at both the individual level (level 1), and the contextual level (level 2) to explain the variance in the dependent variable.This article presents a simple example using a real data set and walk through the interpretation of a simple hierarchical linear model to illustrate the utility of the technique.
Industry withdrawal from psychiatric medication development

Between 1950 and 1969, on a serendipitous basis, psychiatric drug development flourished. However, there has been a steep decline in the development of new medication classes. Instead of new molecular entities, slight molecular modifications producing "me-too" drugs attempted to garner market share. With failing profitability, industry is now withdrawing from psychiatric medication development. Managed care drastically shortened contact between patients and clinicians, so the possible observation of unexpected benefits has been nullified. The randomized, parallel-groups design met FDA requirements for specific pharmacological efficacy. However, it does not determine whether a patient who improved while drug-treated required the drug or would have gotten better on his own. Further, pathophysiology benefit remains obscure. The major psychotropic drugs have no benefits for normal subjects. Their remarkable benefits must stem from a necessary interaction with a pathophysiological state. Therefore, understanding therapeutic benefit by treating normal subjects becomes unlikely. The claim that therapeutic knowledge in psychiatry proceeds from bench to bedside has proven vacuous, primarily because of our limited understanding of brain pathophysiology. The utility of the alternative intensive design for understanding diagnosis, therapeutic benefit, and pathophysiology is emphasized.
Yersinia pestis Evades TLR4-dependent Induction of IL-12(p40)2 by Dendritic Cells and Subsequent Cell Migration

At the temperature of its flea vector (∼20–30°C), the causative agent of plague, Yersinia pestis , expresses a profile of genes distinct from those expressed in a mammalian host (37°C). When dendritic cells (DC) are exposed to Y. pestis grown at 26°C ( Y. pestis -26°), they secrete copious amounts of IL-12p40 homodimer (IL-12(p40) 2 ). In contrast, when DCs are exposed to Y. pestis grown at 37°C ( Y. pestis -37°), they transcribe very little IL-12p40, which is secreted as IL-12p40 monomer (IL-12p40). Y. pestis -26° also induces migration of DCs to the homeostatic chemokine CCL19, whereas Y. pestis -37° does not; migratory DCs are positive for IL-12p40 transcription and secrete mostly IL-12(p40) 2 ; DCs lacking IL-12p40 do not migrate. Expression of acyltransferase LpxL from Escherichia coli in Y. pestis -37° results in the production of a hexa-acylated lipid A, also seen in Y. pestis -26°, rather than tetra-acylated lipid A normally seen in Y. pestis -37°. The LpxL-expressing Y. pestis -37° promotes DC IL-12(p40) 2 production and induction of DC migration. In addition, absence of TLR4 ablates production of IL-12(p40) 2 in DC exposed to Y. pestis -26°. The data demonstrate the molecular pathway by which Y. pestis evades induction of early DC activation as measured by migration and IL-12(p40) 2 production.
A Systematic Approach to Domain-Specific Language Design Using UML

UML includes special extensibility mechanisms, which are used to define domain-specific modeling languages that are based on UML. These mechanisms have been significantly improved in the latest versions of UML. Unfortunately, there is currently a dearth of published material on how to best exploit these capabilities and, consequently, many UML profiles are either invalid or of poor quality. In this paper, we first provide an overview of the new extensibility mechanisms of UML 2.1 and then describe a method for defining profiles that greatly increases the likelihood of producing technically correct quality UML profiles
Workload-based generation of administrator hints for optimizing database storage utilization

Database storage management at data centers is a manual, time-consuming, and error-prone task. Such management involves regular movement of database objects across storage nodes in an attempt to balance the I/O bandwidth utilization across disk drives. Achieving such balance is critical for avoiding I/O bottlenecks and thereby maximizing the utilization of the storage system. However, manual management of the aforesaid task, apart from increasing administrative costs, encumbers the greater risks of untimely and erroneous operations. We address the preceding concerns with STORM, an automated approach that combines low-overhead information gathering of database access and storage usage patterns with efficient analysis to generate accurate and timely hints for the administrator regarding data movement operations. STORM's primary objective is minimizing the volume of data movement required (to minimize potential down-time or reduction in performance) during the reconfiguration operation, with the secondary constraints of space and balanced I/O-bandwidth-utilization across the storage devices. We analyze and evaluate STORM theoretically, using a simulation framework, as well as experimentally. We show that the dynamic data layout reconfiguration problem is NP-hard and we present a heuristic that provides an approximate solution in O(Nlog(N/M) p (N/M)2) time, where M is the number of storage devices and N is the total number of database objects residing in the storage devices. A simulation study shows that the heuristic converges to an acceptable solution that is successful in balancing storage utilization with an accuracy that lies within 7p of the ideal solution. Finally, an experimental study demonstrates that the STORM approach can improve the overall performance of the TPC-C benchmark by as much as 22p, by reconfiguring an initial random, but evenly distributed, placement of database objects.
Effect of Angiotensin II Type I Receptor Blockade with Valsartan on Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis: A Double Blind Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Valsartan and Placebo (EFFERVESCENT).

Background Progression of atherosclerosis is associated with a greater risk for adverse outcomes. Angiotensin II plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the effects of angiotensin II type-1 receptor blockade with Valsartan on carotid wall atherosclerosis, with the hypothesis that Valsartan will reduce progression of atherosclerosis. Methods Subjects (n = 120) with carotid intima-media thickness >0.65 mm by ultrasound were randomized (2:1) in a double-blind manner to receive either Valsartan or placebo for 2 years. Bilateral T2-weighted black-blood carotid magnetic resonance imaging was performed at baseline, 12 and 24 months. Changes in the carotid bulb vessel wall area and wall thickness were primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints included changes in carotid plaque thickness, plasma levels of aminothiols, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular function. Results Over 2 years, the carotid bulb vessel wall area decreased with Valsartan (−6.7, 95% CI [−11.6, −1.9] mm 2 ) but not with placebo (3.4, 95% CI [−2.8, 9.6] mm 2 ), P = .01 between groups. Similarly, mean wall thickness decreased with Valsartan (−0.18, 95% CI [−0.30, −0.06] mm), but not with placebo (0.08, 95% CI [−0.07, 0.23] mm), P = .009 between groups. Furthermore, plaque thickness decreased with Valsartan (−0.35, 95% CI [−0.63, −0.08] mm) but was unchanged with placebo (+0.28, 95% CI [−0.11, 0.69] mm), P = .01 between groups. These findings were unaffected by statin therapy or changes in blood pressure. Notably, there were significant improvements in the aminothiol cysteineglutathione disulfide, and trends to improvements in fibrinogen levels and endothelium-independent vascular function. Conclusions In subjects with carotid wall thickening, angiotensin II type-1 receptor blockade was associated with regression in carotid atherosclerosis. Whether these effects translate into improved outcomes in subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis warrants investigation.
Toward a better understanding of student perceptions of writing feedback: a mixed methods study

This explanatory sequential mixed methods study investigated the writing feedback perceptions of middle and high school students (N = 598). The predictive and mediational roles of writing self-efficacy and perceptions of writing feedback on student writing self-regulation aptitude were examined using mediation regression analysis. To augment the quantitative findings, the explanations students provided for either liking or disliking writing feedback were explored using open-ended questions. Quantitative findings revealed that students’ perceptions of the feedback they receive about their writing partially mediated the relationship between writing self-efficacy and writing self-regulation aptitude. Qualitative data suggested ways in which students perceive writing feedback—both positive and negative. Collectively, the quantitative and qualitative data illustrate the influential role writing feedback perceptions plays in middle and high school student writing motivation and self-regulation beliefs.
White matter alterations in individuals experiencing attenuated positive psychotic symptoms.

Aim Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies suggest that reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) occurs among schizophrenia patients and those at risk for psychosis. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of knowledge investigating white matter fibre pathways in non-help-seeking individuals who endorse attenuated positive psychotic symptoms (APPS) across a range of mental disorders. The aim of the current study was to determine if alterations in ILF and SLF microstructures were specific to distressing APPS related to risk for psychosis or to APPS symptoms occurring in multiple mental disorders, which would suggest a shared phenotype among disorders. Method Twenty-six non-help-seeking young adults were administered the Prodromal Questionnaire. DTI was conducted on participants (n = 13) who endorsed eight or more distressing APPS (D-APPS, a potentially clinically relevant group) and those who endorsed three or fewer distressing APPS (low-APPS; n = 13). Semistructured interviews were administered to determine diagnoses, as well as clinical risk for psychosis status. Results Results indicated that the D-APPS group exhibited decreased FA in the left ILF compared with the low-APPS group, even after removing four D-APPS participants who were considered at risk for psychosis. Conclusion Findings suggest that white matter microstructure is altered in individuals experiencing APPS across a range of disorders, independent of clinical high risk for psychosis status. Reduced FA in the left ILF may not be specific to psychosis risk, but rather for APPS that occur in a number of mental disorders.
Communication of Military Couples During Deployment and Reunion: Changes, Challenges, Benefits, and Advice

ABSTRACTThe emotional cycle of deployment model proposes that military couples face both obstacles and opportunities across the trajectory of deployment. Guided by the model, we seek to address gaps in the literature by investigating how 236 recently reunited service members and at-home partners (N = 118 couples) describe their experiences during deployment and reunion. Results of content analyses revealed a variety of changes to communication during deployment (RQ1), challenges of reunion (RQ2), benefits of deployment (RQ3), and advice for reintegration (RQ4). These findings bolster and extend the emotional cycle of deployment model; they also have practical utility for helping military couples navigate deployment and reunion.
Novel Method for Synthesis of Engineered Particulates with Thin Coatings

Particulate coatings have wide ranging applications in several new technologies such as flatpanel displays, sintering of advanced ceramics, rechargeable batteries, etc. In this paper, we show the feasibility of the pulsed laser ablation technique to make very thin, uniformly distributed and discrete coatings in particulate systems so that the properties of the core particles can be suitably modified. Presently, laser ablation techniques have been primarily applied to deposit thin films on flat substrate materials. To deposit discontinuous particulate coatings, the laser induced plume from the target comes in contact with an agitated bed of core particles (size 1–800μm). The pressure and nature of the background gas (inert or active) controls the cluster size of the particles in the laser plume. Experiments were conducted for laser deposition of silver particles on alumina core particles by excimer laser (wavelength = 248 nm and pulse duration = 25 nanosecond) irradiation of silver targets. The surface coverage and the coating of the film wasf found to depend on the laser parameters (energy density and number of laser pulses) as well as the residence time of the core particles in the plume regime. The films were characterized by wavelength and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques.
Generating linear orders of text-based events

Events described in textual narratives do not always occur in neat, chronological order but occur, for example, during or overlapping each other or as simultaneous events. Summarizations of narratives, however, benefit from a simpler, linear ordering of events. This paper describes an approach for modeling events in text as event intervals and for generating linear orders of event intervals, useful for the summarization of events or as the basis for question answering systems. Linear orders are derived through reducing the set of thirteen possible event interval relations to a set of only before or equal relations. The mapping of event interval relations into before/after sequences requires the support of additional constraints in order to preserve the original semantics of the events presented in the text and to derive plausible orders of events.
The CpxQ sRNA Negatively Regulates Skp To Prevent Mistargeting of β-Barrel Outer Membrane Proteins into the Cytoplasmic Membrane

ABSTRACT The promoter most strongly induced upon activation of the Cpx two-component envelope stress response is the cpxP promoter. The 3′ untranscribed region (UTR) of the cpxP transcript is shown to produce a small RNA (sRNA), CpxQ. We investigated the role of CpxQ in combating envelope stress. Remarkably, the two effectors specified by the transcript are deployed to combat distinct stresses in different cellular compartments. CpxP acts in both a regulatory negative-feedback loop and as an effector that combats periplasmic protein misfolding. We find that CpxQ combats toxicity at the inner membrane (IM) by downregulating the synthesis of the periplasmic chaperone Skp. Our data indicate that this regulation prevents Skp from inserting β-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs) into the IM, a lethal event that likely collapses the proton motive force. Our findings suggest that Skp can fold and directly insert OMPs into a lipid bilayer in vivo without the aid of the Bam complex. IMPORTANCE Skp is a well-characterized periplasmic chaperone that binds unfolded OMPs. Surprisingly, we find that Skp can catalyze the folding and mistargeting of OMPs into the inner membrane without the aid of the other cellular proteins that normally assemble OMPs. Several OMPs function as diffusion pores. Accordingly, their mistargeting is lethal because it depolarizes the inner membrane. We show that the most highly expressed transcript of the Cpx stress response produces an sRNA from the 3′ UTR, CpxQ, which combats this potential toxicity by downregulating Skp production. Defects in OMP assembly trigger the σE response to upregulate factors, including Skp, that promote OMP folding. The Cpx response downregulates σE. Our findings reveal that this heretofore puzzling hierarchy exists to protect the inner membrane.
Bonded NdFeB Magnet Produced From Mixed Magnetic Powders With Different Properties

Using mixed powders with two different properties level NdFeB bonded magnets were prepared by compression molding. Test results showed that the magnetic properties of the magnet and the powders mixing ratio have a very good linear relationship. Fit linear equations were derived of magnetic property parameters of magnet with powders mixing ratio from test data,and also linear superposition equations were given between two mixed powders. It was found that the fit equations from test data are very close to the linear superposition ones. That is to say,Br,Hcj,(BH)max of magnet from any two kinds of Nd-Fe-B powders have a good linear relation to the powder mixing ratio. This discipline facilitates broadening the performance scope of bonded magnets to meet the different requirements for bonded magnets.
Influence of working gap on magneto-rheological coupler

This paper studies the influence of working gap on the magnitude and distribution of the magnetic field density and the shear stress of a magneto-rheological coupler.The results of FEA and experiments indicate that the magnitude of the magnetic field density decreases with the increase of the working gap,while the distribution of the magnetic field density and the shear stress becomes more uniform along the axial direction.Because of the magnetic saturation and the existence of the stress yield of the magneto-rheological fluid,the working gap,for the range of 0.2 to 1.2mm,has limited influence on the magnetic flux density and the stress.The further computational results show that the transmission torque only decreases 25% in this procedure.Base on these findings,the working gap should be chose properly to get a sufficient magnetic field and transmission torque for a given device with consideration of machining and assembling cost associated with a smaller working gap.
Analysis on Hepatitis B Immunization Coverage in Tongliao

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality and its influencing factors of immunization after Hepatitis B vaccine introducted into EPI,We have conducted an assessment of the routinei mmunization database from 8 counties of Tongliao.METHODS Comparing the DPT targeted and HBV administrated in the same cohort and period,and observing the differences betweenreported and estimated immunization coverage.RESULTS The reported coverage with threedose HepB from 8 counties were relative high,with the average coverage of 99.88%?99.30%?99.42%,from 2003 to 2005 respectively.The estimated coverage were much low,with the averagecoverage of 79.11%?91.73%?94.53%.The same period,the coverage of estimated birth dose of HB V in 2003 was only 46.94%.CONCLUSION The narrow gaps of reported and estimatedcoverage showed that we have achieved the GAVI project,and that most of the counties have metthe national goals of 80% for three doses of coverage,and 65%for birth dose coverage.It is alsosuggested that the hepatitis B immunization in 8 counties should be enhanced.
Renal Trauma: Re-Evaluation of the Indications for Radiographic Assessment

AbstractWe studied prospectively 359 consecutive patients with blunt (306) or penetrating (53) renal trauma to refine the indications for radiographic evaluation. Various factors, including the degree of hematuria, presence of shock and associated injuries easily assessable at the time of initial evaluation, were correlated with the severity of renal injury to determine whether any combination of parameters will separate patients with renal contusions from those with significant renal injuries (minor and major lacerations, and vascular injuries).We identified 3 groups: group 1—85 patients with gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria and shock after blunt trauma (including all 23 with significant renal injuries), group 2—221 patients with microscopic hematuria but no shock after blunt trauma (all with renal contusions) and group 3—53 patients with penetrating trauma. No combination of parameters was able to predict a severe injury in group 3.Our data support radiographic evaluation in groups 1 and 3. Howe...
Immunotherapy with low-dose interleukin-2: rationale for prevention of immune-deficiency-associated cancer.

PURPOSE: Congenital, acquired, and some iatrogenically induced immune deficiencies are characterized by an increased incidence of viral-associated cancers. Preclinical and clinical studies were conducted to understand the pathogenesis of immune-deficiency-associated cancer and its response to low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) therapy, with the ultimate goal of applying this or other immune therapy in the treatment or prevention of immune-deficiency-associated lymphoma. METHODS: We have used the severe combined immune-deficient (SCID) mouse engrafted with human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from healthy Epstein-Barr virus seropositive donors to study the pathogenesis of malignant B-cell lymphoproliferative disease that commonly occurs in some immune-deficient patients. In this chimeric human (hu)-PBL-SCID mouse model, administration of daily low-dose rIL-2 interacts with murine natural killer cells and human CD8+ T cells to prevent the outgrowth of human Epstein-Barr virus lymphoproliferative disease. We have utilized the information gained from this chimeric mouse model to perform a phase I study of daily, subcutaneous, low-dose rIL-2 therapy in patients with both acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cancer. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of rIL-2 were achieved in vivo comparable to those seen in our hu-PBL-SCID model, in the absence of significant (grade 3) clinical toxicity or an increase in the plasma human immune deficiency virus (HIV) RNA level. Significant expansion in human cells, particularly the CD3-CD56bright natural killer cell subset, resulted after 6 weeks of therapy. Results of the hu-PBL-SCID mouse model and the phase I study have led to a national trial of low-dose rIL-2 therapy in AIDS-associated lymphoma. CONCLUSION: Daily low-dose rIL-2 therapy may be effective in treating or preventing AIDS-associated lymphoma without amplifying HIV replication.
Selective thyromimetics: tissue-selective thyroid hormone analogs.

Thyroid hormone coordinates a diverse array of physiological events in development and homeostasis. Many of the actions of thyroid hormone are tissue-specific and are primarily mediated by a panel of thyroid hormone receptor isoforms that are expressed in different ratios in different tissues. Because these tissue-specific hormone signaling pathways are linked to a number of metabolic diseases, the development of synthetic thyroid hormone analogs that have tissue-selective hormone actions (i.e., selective thyromimetics) is highly desirable. There is a powerful collection of tools available today for this pursuit including efficient receptor binding and activation assays, receptor structures and a variety of thyroid hormone receptor knockout mice. The medicinal chemistry efforts in this area demonstrate that selective thyromimetics can be produced from a variety of approaches. These compounds are proving useful as probes to better define thyroid hormone actions and may one day find use in the clinic for the treatment of metabolic disorders.
Linear and Integer Programming in Practice

Ultimately, we learn about linear programming and integer programming because we wish to solve real-world problems using these techniques. In this chapter, we first discuss how problems can be formulated as linear and integer programs. We then give example formulation techniques that go well beyond the conversions used to obtain equivalent formulations in Section 4.1. Last, we note several formats in which linear and integer programs are commonly expressed so that modern solver codes can be applied to obtain solutions. Many more examples and exercises are given at this book’s website, http://lipme.org.
Synthesis and structure of a carbohydrate-fused [15]-macrodilactone.

Abstract The design, synthesis and structural characterization of a new α- d -glucose fused [15]-macrodilactone is reported. The macrolide was synthesized by a route involving sequential acylations of glucose at the C4′ and C6′ hydroxyl groups followed by an intramolecular Stille reaction previously established for other [15]-macrodilactones. Analysis of the X-ray crystallographic structure of the macrolide revealed a unique conformation of this macrocycle that differs from earlier models for [13]- and [15]-macrodilactones. Organizing the three planar units and the pyranose moiety into a macrocyclic ring resulted in a cup-shaped structure with planar chirality. Further, the gt conformation of the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group in the glucose unit was found to be crucial for controlling the planar chirality and, hence, governing the molecular shape and overall topology of the compound.
The Scientific and the Scientistic: Roger Scruton on the Consequences of Modern Science

ABSTRACTHow should we learn to think about scientific advancement and technological mastery to limit our potential for causing additional irreparable damage to ourselves and nature? Roger Scruton's account of science is a necessary reminder of the dangers and limits of technological dependence, the scientific method, and scientistic thought. His analysis is inseparable from his project for the restoration of conservatism. Because he acknowledges that most individuals are partisans of science, he encourages us to consider precisely those aspects of the human experience that are compromised by science and technology to mitigate the damaging effects we have on the environment and our way of life.
Respiratory Failure in Acid Maltase Deficiency

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and respiratory failure (RF) were studied in 27 patients with juvenile and adult acid maltase deficiency (AMD) and compared with polysomnography outcomes at the University of Essen, Germany.
Histones, Differentiation, and the Cell Cycle

Albrecht Kossel discovered a new class of basic proteins known as histones among the nuclear proteins of goose erythrocytes in 1884 (155). In 1900 Traube reported the chemical synthesis and definitive identification of a white crystalline alkaloid called theophylline, which is one of the active ingredients of tea. According to Hnilica (122) theophylline was also discovered in Kossel’s laboratoy. We shall see by the end of this paper that it is possible to use theophylline in cells to determine one of the important functions of the histones and that it is quite intriguing that both of these apparently unrelated discoveries came from the same source.
The igmspec database of public spectra probing the intergalactic medium

Abstract We describe v02 of igmspec, a database of publicly available ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared spectra that probe the intergalactic medium (IGM). This database, a child of the specdb repository in the specdb github organization, comprises 403 277 unique sources and 434 686 spectra obtained with the world’s greatest observatories. All of these data are distributed in a single ≈ 25 GB HDF5 file maintained at the University of California Observatories and the University of California, Santa Cruz. The specdb software package includes Python scripts and modules for searching the source catalog and spectral datasets, and software links to the linetools package for spectral analysis. The repository also includes software to generate private spectral datasets that are compliant with International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) protocols and a Python-based interface for IVOA Simple Spectral Access queries. Future versions of igmspec will ingest other sources (e.g. gamma-ray burst afterglows) and other surveys as they become publicly available. The overall goal is to include every spectrum that effectively probes the IGM. Future databases of specdb may include publicly available galaxy spectra (exgalspec) and published supernovae spectra (snspec). The community is encouraged to join the effort on github: https://github.com/specdb .
Liposuction-induced fat embolism syndrome.

Three days after undergoing an elective liposuction procedure, a 60-year-old woman presented to her local emergency department with shortness of breath and lethargy. Physical examination was remarkable for abdominal distention, bilateral lower extremity swelling and hypoxaemia. Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) trial was initiated but it was unable to sustain adequate oxygen saturation; consequently, the patient was intubated and mechanically ventilated. Pulmonary thromboembolism was suspected, but a chest CT scan was contraindicated due to acutely poor kidney function. Therefore, …
Suppression of planar cell polarity signaling and migration in glioblastoma by Nrdp1-mediated Dvl polyubiquitination

The lethality of the aggressive brain tumor glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) results in part from its strong propensity to invade surrounding normal brain tissue. Although oncogenic drivers such as epidermal growth factor receptor activation and Phosphatase and Tensin homolog inactivation are thought to promote the motility and invasiveness of GBM cells via phosphatidylinostitol 3-kinase activation, other unexplored mechanisms may also contribute to malignancy. Here we demonstrate that several components of the planar cell polarity (PCP) arm of non-canonical Wnt signaling including VANGL1, VANGL2 and FZD7 are transcriptionally upregulated in glioma and correlate with poorer patient outcome. Knockdown of the core PCP pathway component VANGL1 suppresses the motility of GBM cell lines, pointing to an important mechanistic role for this pathway in glioblastoma malignancy. We further observe that restoration of Nrdp1, a RING finger type E3 ubiquitin ligase whose suppression in GBM also correlates with poor prognosis, reduces GBM cell migration and invasiveness by suppressing PCP signaling. Our observations indicate that Nrdp1 physically interacts with the Vangl1 and Vangl2 proteins to mediate the K63-linked polyubiquitination of the Dishevelled, Egl-10 and Pleckstrin (DEP) domain of the Wnt pathway protein Dishevelled (Dvl). Ubiquitination hinders Dvl binding to phosphatidic acid, an interaction necessary for efficient Dvl recruitment to the plasma membrane upon Wnt stimulation of Fzd receptor and for the propagation of downstream signals. We conclude that the PCP pathway contributes significantly to the motility and hence the invasiveness of GBM cells, and that Nrdp1 acts as a negative regulator of PCP signaling by inhibiting Dvl through a novel polyubiquitination mechanism. We propose that the upregulation of core PCP components, together with the loss of the key negative regulator Nrdp1, act coordinately to promote GBM invasiveness and malignancy.
The Environmental Potential of Autonomous Vehicles

Automated vehicle technologies are rapidly developing, and their emergence on the automotive landscape will likely be transformative in nature. Autonomous vehicles could provide better access to mobility that is not only significantly safer, but also potentially cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient. These technologies could play a leading role in addressing the enormous challenge of climate change, yet their ultimate environmental impact is an open question whose answer will be influenced by a large array of decisions yet to come. We have an opportunity now, while policy is in its infancy, to shape the direction of autonomous vehicles to ensure that the transformational change they will bring is overwhelmingly positive for the environment.