cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The presence of nucleosomes on a DNA template prevents initiation by RNA polymerase II in vitro

RNA was synthesized in vitro using HeLa cell nuclear extracts and circular DNA templates onto which varying numbers of nucleosomes had been reconstituted with Xenopus oocyte extracts. We found that fully reconstituted templates supported no specific initiation by RNA polymerase II; however, DNA exposed to the reconstitution extracts under conditions which did not allow nucleosome deposition was transcribed normally. A set of successively less reconstituted templates was also transcribed. No initiation occurred on reconstitutes with more than two-thirds of the physiological nucleosome density; reconstitutes with less than one-third of the physiological nucleosome density were transcribed as efficiently as naked DNA.
Evidence for multiple loci from a genome scan of autism kindreds

We performed a genome-wide linkage scan using highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. To minimize genetic heterogeneity, we focused on sibpairs meeting the strict diagnosis of autism. In our primary analyses, we observed a strong linkage signal (P=0.0006, 133.16 cM) on chromosome 7q at a location coincident with other linkage studies. When a more relaxed diagnostic criteria was used, linkage evidence at this location was weaker (P=0.01). The sample was stratified into families with only male affected subjects (MO) and families with at least one female affected subject (FC). The strongest signal unique to the MO group was on chromosome 11 (P=0.0009, 83.82 cM), and for the FC group on chromosome 4 (P=0.002, 111.41 cM). We also divided the sample into regression positive and regression negative families. The regression-positive group showed modest linkage signals on chromosomes 10 (P=0.003, 0 cM) and 14 (P=0.005, 104.2 cM). More significant peaks were seen in the regression negative group on chromosomes 3 (P=0.0002, 140.06 cM) and 4 (P=0.0005, 111.41 cM). Finally, we used language acquisition data as a quantitative trait in our linkage analysis and observed a chromosome 9 signal (149.01 cM) of P=0.00006 and an empirical P-value of 0.0008 at the same location. Our work provides strong conformation for an autism locus on 7q and suggestive evidence for several other chromosomal locations. Diagnostic specificity and detailed analysis of the autism phenotype is critical for identifying autism loci.
A first-principles survey of γ/γ′ interface strengthening by alloying elements in single crystal Ni–base superalloys

Abstract The strengthening effects induced by alloying elements on γ/γ′ interface in single crystal (SC) Ni–base superalloys have been investigated using first-principles quantum mechanics DMol3 calculations. The charge density difference indicates that a strong anisotropic bonding forms between the first-nearest alloying metal and Ni atoms due to alloying metal-d/Ni-d hybridization. The bond orders (BO) for a local environmental cluster are proposed and calculated to describe the cohesion and shear strength of γ/γ′ interface, respectively. Larger bond-order values represent stronger interfacial cohesion and shear strength. Our calculations show that alloying elements significantly increase the net vertical and horizontal bond-order values, with Mo yielding the most effective cohesive strength, while W yielding the most effective shear strength. A complete order of strengthening effects is presented for alloying elements that are typically added in SC superalloys.
Understanding the Estimation Risks of Value at Risk

This article discusses estimation of value at risk (VaR) in the context of alternative investments. The diverse return distributions of alternative investments raise both opportunities and challenges for value at risk. The opportunities arise from the inadequacy of traditional risk measures such as volatility and beta to capture the risks of alternative investments. The challenges arise from the difficulty of estimating VaR when return distributions are not well understood and/or trading strategies are dynamic.
Regulation of H+ Excretion ROLE OF PROTEIN RELEASED BY OSMOTIC SHOCK

When the protoplasts of peeled oat leaf segments ( Avena sativa L.) expand after a brief plasmolysis (osmotic shock), fusicoccin-enhanced H + excretion is reduced and protein is released to the rehydration medium. This shock protein seems to arise from the cell surface, not from the interior of leaky cells or from broken cells, because (a) the protein differs quantitatively and qualitatively from protein of cell homogenates as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; (b) peroxidase, phosphatase, and malate dehydrogenase activities, which are associated with the cell surface, are detected in the shock fluids; (c) the specific activities of enzymes in shock fluids are different than those of cell homogenates; (d) the amount of protein released is correlated with tissue mass, not number of cut surfaces and is not diminished by pre-washing the tissue. Some of the shock protein may arise from plasmodesmata; this suggestion is based on (a) the cell surface origin of the protein; (b) the presence in the shock fluid of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity, usually associated with the endoplasmic reticulum which traverses plasmodesmata; (c) on the release of smaller amounts of protein after plasmolysis with polyethylene glycol 4000, an osmoticum which may tend to preserve plasmodesmata. The amount of protein released by osmotic shock is correlated with the extent of inhibition of fusicoccin-enhanced H + excretion. A specific function for the shock protein is implied by the presence of a component which specifically binds fusicoccin.
Recurrence after coronary angioplasty

Recurrence (restenosis) after coronary angioplasty has undermined the initial success of the procedure and has compromised, to some extent, the attractiveness of the technique in the treatment of ischemic heart disease. Assessment of recurrence predictors has been problematic due to lack of coordination of angioplasty recurrence research and includes: incomplete angiographic documentation, variations in definitions of restenosis anatomically and the results of restenosis physiologically (ie, myocardial ischemia), the dirth of morphologic specifications of subsets under investigation and late outcome pathology, limitations in statistical analyses used, and minimal efforts to classify the available data on recurrence. A review of the literature suggests that all findings regarding recurrence after angioplasty can be organized in four categories: (1) clinical, (2) morphologic, (3) technical (or procedural), and (4) pharmacologic. The reported findings with high concordance as risk factors for recurrence after angioplasty include the clinical factors of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and angina of short duration or unstable presentation. Morphologic factors which have been corroborated vis-a-vis recurrence include stenoses with diameter reduction of greater than 90% before and greater than 30% after angioplasty, residual trans-stenotic pressure gradients of greater than 20 mmHg after angioplasty, and lesions that are diffuse, long, eccentric, or calcified. Technical factors associated with recurrence include lower balloon/vessel (or graft) ratios and the absence of (uncomplicated) “intimal dissection.” The category most deficient in research regarding recurrence after angioplasty is pharmacologic. Since there are statistically documented and reproducible factors predictive of restenosis, to ignore or minimize these findings or resist further evaluation (because of the ease and safety of performing repeat angioplasty) is to deny the opportunity to understand the mechanisms and favorably affect the incidence of recurrence. This review concludes with two major implications of the restenosis research: (1) certain clinical, technical, and pharmacologic factors, if addressed, may predictably decrease the rate of restenosis and (2) certain clinical and morphologic factors may increase the risk of restenosis; these factors may be less readily modified (eg, diabetes, lesion calcification) and thus must be considered in the decision for angioplasty. Finally, this review recommends that there be more effective coordination of angioplasty recurrence research with agreement on a single anatomic definition of restenosis with consistent physiologic correlatives, more lucid statistical presentation and improved efforts to clarify and organize the information so that meaningful conclusions regarding the causes (and therefore the prevention) of recurrence may be achieved.
Gaucher disease: studies of phenotype, molecular diagnosis and treatment

This report summarizes the results on 39 patients with Gaucher disease who have been genotyped, evaluated, and/or followed at this center. Mutation analysis for 4 common mutations; N370S, L444P, 84gg and IVS2 (+1), was performed for all patients. Mutation analysis identified both mutant alleles in 69% and at least one mutant allele in 90% of all chromosomes. This study group of 39 patients included 32 type 1, four type 2 and three type 3 patients. We include the details of the clinical course of two patients with Gaucher disease treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). One patient with chronic neuronopathic Gaucher disease has been treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) at a dose of 60 U/kg every 2 weeks since 2.5 years of age and has shown no progression of neurologic involvement. A second patient with non-neuronopathic Gaucher disease has demonstrated an unusually delayed response to ERT. No clinical response was noted following 17 months of treatment at 60 U/kg every 2 weeks. Only after the dose was increased to 60 U/kg every week was a clinical response evident. Response to treatment at 15 U/kg every 2 weeks was variable in the four type 1 patients treated at the lower dose. In two of these patients with identical genotypes, one patient demonstrated a positive clinical response to low dose treatment while the other patient did not.
Is data cleaning and the testing of assumptions relevant in the 21st century

You must understand fully what your assumptions say and what they imply. You must not claim that the “usual assumptions” are acceptable due to the robustness of your technique unless you really understand the implications and limits of this assertion in the context of your application. And you must absolutely never use any statistical method without realizing that you are implicitly making assumptions, and that the validity of your results can never be greater than that of the most questionable of these (Vardeman and Morris, 2003, p. 26).
Role of fatty acid elongases in determination of de novo synthesized monounsaturated fatty acid species

Enhanced production of monounsaturated fatty acids (FA) derived from carbohydrate-enriched diets has been implicated in the development of obesity and insulin resistance. The FA elongases Elovl-5 and Elovl-6 are regulated by nutrient and hormone status, and have been shown using intact yeast and mammalian microsome fractions to be involved in the synthesis of monounsaturated FAs (MUFA). Herein, targeted knockdown and overexpression of Elovl-5 or Elovl-6 was used to determine their roles in de novo synthesis of specific MUFA species in mammalian cells. Treatment of rat insulinoma (INS)-1 cells with elevated glucose increased de novo FA synthesis and the ratio of MUFAs to saturated FAs. Elovl-5 knockdown decreased elongation of 16:1,n-7. Elovl-5 overexpression increased synthesis of 18:1,n-7; however, this increase was dependent on stearoyl-CoA desaturase–driven 16:1,n-7 availability. Knockdown of Elovl-6 decreased elongation of 16:0 and 16:1,n-7, resulting in accumulation of 16:1,n-7. Elovl-6 overexpression preferentially drove synthesis of 16:0 elongation products 18:0 and 18:1,n-9 but not 18:1,n-7. These findings demonstrate that coordinated induction of FA elongase and desaturase activity is required for balanced synthesis of specific n-7 versus n-9 MUFA species. Given the relative abundance of 16:0 to 16:1,n-7 and the specificity of Elovl-6 for 16:0, Elovl-6 is a major elongase for 18:1,n-9 production.
Health behavior modification after electron beam computed tomography and physician consultation

This study aimed to determine whether participants reported altering health behaviors (physical activity, diet, and alcohol consumption) after seeing results from an electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) scan for coronary artery calcium and reviewing these results with a physician. Clinicians attempt to motivate patients to control cardiovascular risk factors by adopting healthy behaviors and reducing harmful actions. Asymptomatic patients (N = 510) were evaluated by EBCT for the extent of coronary artery calcium. Information pertaining to demographics, health history, and lifestyle/health behaviors was obtained from each participant at the time of the EBCT scan. Patients were given their numerical calcium score, shown images of their coronary arteries, and counseled by a physician for lifestyle and medical risk modification based on their coronary artery calcium score. Approximately 6 years after the scan, participants completed a follow-up questionnaire related to lifestyle modifications. In multivariable analysis, the presence and extent of coronary artery calcium was significantly associated with beneficial health behavior modifications. Specifically, the greater a patient’s coronary artery calcium score, the more likely they were to report increasing exercise (odds ratio = 1.34, P = 0.02), changing diet (odds ratio = 1.40, P < 0.01), and changing alcohol intake (odds ratio = 1.46, P = 0.05). This study suggests that seeing and being counseled on the presence and extent of coronary artery calcium is significantly associated with behavior change.
Prevention of photoreactivation of tobacco mosaic virus-ribonucleic acid by reconstitution.

— The photoreactivation of TMV–RNA‡ irradiated with either 253–7 mμ or 302 mμ light can be prevented by reconstitution of the virus from TMV–protein and the ultraviolet irradiated RNA. The prevention of photoreactivation by reconstitution is not irreversible as the RNA can be extracted from the reconstituted virus and is still capable of undergoing photoreactivation.
Prepartum suckling reduces survival of newborn in the rat.

Pregnant female rats were induced to show maternal behavior by continuous exposure to 5-10 day old pups. Prepartum suckling continuing into the immediate postpartum period (when the new litter was present) resulted in a high rate of mortality among the newborn. Preventing suckling by the older pups by sealing their mouths with collodion or removing them within 17 hr before parturition restored the normal low rate of pup mortality. Examination showed that pre- and early postpartum suckling by the older pups had damaged the mother’s nipples preventing the delivery of milk to the newborn. Presumably, the mother’s nipples are hormonally conditioned to respond to the sucking of newborn at parturition and become gradually adapted to the increased suckling strength of older pups as nursing proceeds. The present study arose from the finding that pregnant female rats, who were given week-old pups that suckled their dry nipples, had extremely high rates of pup mortality when their own young were delivered. As mothers, the females exhibited adequate nursing behavior and maternal care (i.e., retrieving, nest-building, and liclung) toward their newborn. Because the older pups had been removed when the female gave birth to her own young, suckling competition between the different-aged young could not account for the failure of the newborn to survive. However, the possibility existed that the older pups had altered some aspect of nursing by their suckling and that the newborn were suffering the effects of this change. Our studies were directed at determining whether suckling by the older pups or some other aspect of their behavior was responsible for the postnatal effect upon the newborn, and whether the female showed temporally based susceptibility to the change produced in her by the older young.
Expression-driven salient features: Bubble-based facial expression study by human and machine

Humans are able to recognize facial expressions of emotion from faces displaying a large set of confounding variables, including age, gender, ethnicity and other factors. Much work has been dedicated to attempts to characterize the process by which this highly developed capacity functions. In this paper, we propose to investigate local expression-driven features important to distinguishing facial expressions using a so-called ‘Bubbles’ technique [4]. The bubble technique is a kind of Gaussian masking to reveal information contributing to human perceptual categorization. We conducted experiments on factors from both human and machine. Observers are required to browse through the bubble-masked expression image and identify its category. By collecting responses from observers and analyzing them statistically we can find the facial features that humans employ for identifying different expressions. Humans appear to extract and use localized information specific to each expression for recognition. Additionally, we verify the findings by selecting the resulting features for expression classification using a conventional expression recognition algorithm with a public facial expression database.
Mechanics of generating friction during locomotion on rough and smooth arboreal trackways.

SUMMARY Traveling on arboreal substrates is common among most small mammals living anywhere vegetation grows. Because arboreal supports vary considerably in surface texture, animals must be able to adjust their locomotor biomechanics to remain stable on such supports. I examined how gray short-tailed opossums ( Monodelphis domestica ), which are generalized marsupials living on or near the ground, adjust to travel on rough and smooth 2 cm-diameter arboreal trackways. Limb contact position was determined via high-speed videography, and substrate reaction force was measured by an instrumented section of each branch trackway. Normal and shear forces were calculated from substrate reaction force and limb contact position around the branch trackways. Normal force is greater in forelimbs, probably because of the forelimb9s greater weight support role. Shear force was identical between limb pairs, most likely because of interactions between vertical force, limb placement, mediolateral force, and torque. The opossums adjusted to the smooth trackway mainly by reducing speed, changing footfall patterns and increasing normal force. I predict that arboreal specialists will show less change in performance between rough and smooth arboreal trackways because of their greater ability to grasp or maintain contact with arboreal substrates.
Urea transporters in kidney: molecular analysis and contribution to the urinary concentrating process1.

Facilitated urea transporters (UTs) are responsible for urea accumulation in the renal inner medulla of the mammalian kidney and therefore play a central role in the urinary concentrating process. Recently, the cDNAs encoding three members of the UT family, UT1, UT2, and UT3 have been cloned. These transporters are expressed in different structures of the mammalian kidney. In rat, UT1 resides in the apical membrane of terminal inner medullary collecting ducts, where it mediates vasopressin-regulated urea reabsorption. UT2 and UT3 are located in descending thin limbs of Henle’s loop and descending vasa recta, respectively, and participate in urinary recycling processes, which minimize urea escape from the inner medulla. UT1 and UT2 are regulated independently and respond differently to changes in dietary protein content and hydration state. Identification and characterization of these urea transporters advances our understanding of the molecular basis and regulation of the urinary concentrating mechanism.
Degree bounds for Gröbner bases in algebras of solvable type

Abstract We establish doubly-exponential degree bounds for Grobner bases in certain algebras of solvable type over a field (as introduced by Kandri-Rody and Weispfenning). The class of algebras considered here includes commutative polynomial rings, Weyl algebras, and universal enveloping algebras of finite-dimensional Lie algebras. For the computation of these bounds, we adapt a method due to Dube based on a generalization of Stanley decompositions. Our bounds yield doubly-exponential degree bounds for ideal membership and syzygies, generalizing the classical results of Hermann and Seidenberg (in the commutative case) and Grigoriev (in the case of Weyl algebras).
Fabrication of SiO $_{2}$ Microcantilever Using Isotropic Etching With ICP

This paper reports a new design and microfabrication process for high sensing guard-armed silicon dioxide (SiO2 ) microcantilever sensor, which can be widely used in chemical, environmental and biomedical applications. One sensor platform consists of two SiO2 cantilever beams as the sensing and reference elements, two connecting wings, and three guard arms. The guard arms prevent damage to the cantilever beam from collision. To efficiently release the SiO2 cantilevers from the silicon substrate, an isotropic etch method using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) was developed. The isotropic etching with ICP system provides an advantage in good profile control and high etching rate than wet isotropic etching or conventional RIE (reactive ion etching); however, it has not been gained many attentions. In this work, the effects of chamber pressure, plasma source power, substrate power, SF6 flow rate relating with Si etching rate, undercutting rate, and isotropic ratio were investigated and discussed. The optimum isotropic etching process achieved a 9.1 mum/min etch rate, 70% isotropic ratio, and 92% etching uniformity. The SiO2 cantilever sensor was fabricated and the cantilever beam was successfully released using a patterned photoresist layer as an etching mask. This plasma isotropic etching release processing can be also applied to release other SiO2 or metal suspended MEMS structures, such as bridges and membranes, with a fast etch rate and reasonable isotropic ratio.
The Power of a Statistical Test What Does Insignificance Mean

In statistical testing of data, the p value is a standard measure for reporting quantitative results. When a significant difference is reported, (e.g., P less than .05), most readers understand that there is less than a 5% chance that the authors have made a type I error (false positive or alpha) with their conclusion. In contrast, when nonsignificant differences between treatments, groups, or parameters of interest are reported (e.g., P greater than .05), many investigators and readers incorrectly interpret the 95% confidence interval for this conclusion as a 95% chance of making the correct decision. In fact, the alpha level of significance (in this example, .05) is only one of the parameters that determines the probability of committing a type II error (false negative or beta) when concluding statistical insignificance. Statistical power is the probability of having made a correct decision when the statistical tests reveal insignificance (P greater than .05) and the null hypothesis is true. The higher the power, the greater the chance that the decision is correct. Power depends on the alpha level of significance, the sample size, the standard deviation of the population or the sample, and the magnitude of the difference the investigators are trying to demonstrate.
Alternative matings and the opportunity costs of paternal care in house sparrows

Among avian species with biparental care, male alternative reproductive opportunities can occur in the form of either extrapair fertilizations or additional social mates. We manipulated testosterone (T) levels in male house sparrows to assess whether participation in parental care detracts from male success in securing alternative matings; we also compared the annual reproductive success of males that engaged in normal levels of care with the success of males that displayed increased mating effort at the expense of parental care. Our results showed that the incidence of polygyny among high-T/low-parenting males was elevated relative to control males, but that success in obtaining extrapair mates was independent of hormonal treatment. Thus, male parental care seems to carry an opportunity cost in terms of reduced acquisition of additional social mates. Despite this cost, between-treatment comparisons of the estimated number of fledglings sired annually suggest that, in this species, the value of male contributions to care is sufficiently high to favor the reductions in T that facilitate normal male parenting.
Construction Profiles of High Rise Caged Layer Houses in Association with Insulation Damage Caused by the Lesser Mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) in Virginia

Abstract The relationship between types of contruction of high rise caged layer houses and insulation damage produced by the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), was examined. There were no infestations in polyurethane insulation that had heavy weight paper glued to the surface of the insulation and installed with tape to seal off the seam between insulation boards. High rise houses with pit walls constructed of concrete block had lower insulation infestations than houses with wooden walls forming the pits. Houses that had pit wall foundations built of both types of materials had intermediate lesser mealworm infestations. Houses with the support structure set on top of the concrete block pit wall had lower infestations than houses where the support structure was set directly into the earth. There was a reduced gradient of damage with height of insulation above the pit; insulation installed in the pit was the most severely infested. Extruded polystyrene insulation exposed to 10 years or more of lesser mealworm infestation suffered a substantial loss of volume in the corner area of the insulation panels, resulting in a 9.1 to 30.8% reduction from an original volume of 84,838 cm3. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in R-value of infested insulation.
Thinking Critically about Critical Thinking

As a philosophy professor, one of my central goals is to teach students to think critically. However, one difficulty with determining whether critical thinking can be taught, or even measured, is that there is widespread disagreement over what critical thinking actually is. Here, I reflect on several conceptions of critical thinking, subjecting them to critical scrutiny. I also distinguish critical thinking from other forms of mental processes with which it is often conflated. Next, I present my own conception of critical thinking, wherein it fundamentally consists in acquiring, developing, and exercising the ability to grasp inferential connections holding between statements. Finally, given this account of critical thinking, and given recent studies in cognitive science, I suggest the most effective means for teaching students to think critically.
Cracking in clays: Solutions to problems in earth structures

Methods are presented for analysing earth structures subjected to tensile stresses that may produce cracking. The linear elastic fracture mechanics approach is emphasized. Methods of solution are proposed for cracking of a clay layer above the water table due to desiccation; cracking of layered earth structures subjected to external loads; cracking of clay caps for landfills due to differential settlement; and radial cracking in pressurized boreholes. Causes and mechanisms of cracking are discussed for each problem and models pertinent to each problem are proposed. Solutions have been developed by synthesizing analytical and numerical methods. Published experimental data have been incorporated in modelling matric suction and cracked beams on elastic foundations. Finite element analyses were employed to obtain solutions for cracking due to differential settlement and radial cracking in boreholes. The solutions presented herein can be used to assess the soundness of existing structures or to assess the risk of cracking for the design of new structures.
METHODOLOGIES FOR OPTIMAL DESIGN OF COMPOSITE FUSELAGE CROWN PANELS

A computer-based optimization design algorithm known as COSTADE is discussed. The primary focus of the paper is on skin-stringer crown panel design, although the approach used is applicable to fuselage keel and side panel design as well. The underlying design philosophy and methods used to calculate effective panel stiffness, strength, damage tolerance, and buckling rigidity are presented. An analysis in which a crown panel design is optimized is included.
Localization of a Proteolytic Enzyme Within the Efferent and Deferent Duct Epithelial Cells of the Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Using Immunohistochemistry

Turkey seminal plasma contains a serine protease found to be distinct from the spermatozoal acrosin. However, the origin and biological roles of this enzyme are unknown. Our experimental objective was to identify the cellular source of this protease within the male reproductive tract. The enzyme was isolated from seminal plasma using benzamidine-Sepharose 6B chromatography. A synthetic substrate, Na-benzoyl-DL-arginine p-nitroanilide, was used to detect fractions containing the enzyme. The affinity chromatography technique yielded a 150-fold increase in amidase activity. Analysis of the protease by SDSPAGE revealed two protein bands with relative molecular masses of 37 000 and 61 000. Proteolytic activity was detected within the smaller band as evidenced by casein digestion. Further analysis of the purified protein revealed that the smaller protein band was glycosylated. To determine the cellular source of the protease, a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies was then developed against the purified protease, and used in immunohistochemistry. Frozen tissue sections from the liver, testis, epididymal region, and deferent duct were fixed in 4% (w/v) paraformaldehyde, permeabilized with 0.2% (v/v) (octylphenoxy)polyethoxyethanol followed by routine immunohistochemistry procedures. Monoclonal antibodies did not bind to tissue sections from either the liver or testis, or to blood plasma proteins. Both the distal portion of the efferent duct and the deferent duct were immunoreactive. We concluded that the protease found in turkey seminal plasma is concentrated to the distal efferent duct and the deferent duct epithelial cells. immunology, male reproductive tract, vas deferens
Transforming Learning with Technology

Throughout the industrial age, technology has promised to improve the lives of those who used it. Modernists believe that technology can produce faster, better, and more efficiently. During the 20th century, education has embraced technology. Technology has promised smarter, happier, better educated, and more fulfilled learners. Technology has always been zealously promoted as a modern solution for the problems of education—lack of productivity, inefficiency, and lack of focus.
mirPRo–a novel standalone program for differential expression and variation analysis of miRNAs

Being involved in many important biological processes, miRNAs can regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs to facilitate their degradation or translational inhibition. Many miRNA sequencing studies reveal that miRNA variations such as isomiRs and "arm switching" are biologically relevant. However, existing standalone tools usually do not provide comprehensive, detailed information on miRNA variations. To deepen our understanding of miRNA variability, we developed a new standalone tool called "mirPRo" to quantify known miRNAs and predict novel miRNAs. Compared with the most widely used standalone program, miRDeep2, mirPRo offers several new functions including read cataloging based on genome annotation, optional seed region check, miRNA family expression quantification, isomiR identification and categorization, and "arm switching" detection. Our comparative data analyses using three datasets from mouse, human and chicken demonstrate that mirPRo is more accurate than miRDeep2 by avoiding over-counting of sequence reads and by implementing different approaches in adapter trimming, mapping and quantification. mirPRo is an open-source standalone program (https://sourceforge.net/projects/mirpro/).
Salud en las ciudades: ¿es necesario un enfoque sistémico?

Este trabajo analiza las posibilidades de uso de los conceptos e instrumentos de la teoria de sistemas para entender y actuar en el ambito de la salud urbana. Se revisan los elementos basicos del enfoque sistemico y los vinculos entre las ciudades como sistemas y la salud poblacional como fenomeno emergente del funcionamiento del sistema. Se discuten tambien las implicaciones del pensamiento sistemico para la salud urbana, incluyendo la elaboracion de modelos dinamicos conceptuales, el uso de nuevos instrumentos, la integracion innovadora de los datos, la identificacion de carencias de informacion, el planteamiento de problematicas nuevas y la elaboracion de nuevas politicas. El articulo concluye con una reflexion sobre las dificultades y problemas que todo ello plantea.
Abstract W P78: Gene Expression Comparison of Flow Diversion and Coiling in an Experimental Aneurysm Model

Backgound and Purpose: Mechanisms of both healing and complications, including spontaneous aneurysm rupture, remain unclear following flow diverter treatment. The aim of the current study was to compare the gene expression of various key molecules involved in the healing of aneurysms between aneurysms treated with microcoils and flow diverters. Methods: Saccular aneurysms were created in rabbits (n=12). Aneurysms were either treated with coils (n=6) or with flow diverters (n=6). Aneurysm tissue was harvested at four weeks following treatment and used for gene expression and zymography experiments. Genes with a fold change of 1.2 or greater were considered up regulated, whereas those with a fold change of 0.8 or less were considered down regulated. Results: All coil embolized aneurysms were completely occluded at follow up. Two aneurysms were occluded and the remaining four samples were incompletely occluded in the flow diverter treated group. The following genes were expressed at lower levels in the flow ...
Utilizing information technology to improve transition of care from hospital to home

Background and objective: Failure to appropriately plan for a safe and effective transition to the next level of care leads to a greater use of hospital and emergency services, often measured by rates of readmission. A large academic medical center located in Houston, Texas, USA consistently achieves an overall University Health System Consortium (UHC) ranking for most benchmarks in the top decile (90th percentile) except for 30-day all-cause readmission rate, which ranks in the bottom decile. The objective of the study was to implement changes in Midas+, the system used by Houston Methodist Hospital for quality and case management activities, select a formal transition of care plan and implement the process on a pilot unit to reduce the 30-day readmission rate and improve the discharge planning process. Methods: Setting: Cardiovascular Intermediate Care Unit (CVIMU), a 30-bed cardiovascular surgery unit within an academic medical center in Houston Texas. The project intervention included the addition of a readmission risk screen in the Hospital Case Management (HCM) and intervention screens based on the Coleman Model in the Community Case Management (CCM) module of Midas+. The clinical improvement involved three components spanning from hospital to home: (1) Screening patients for readmission risk upon admission and assigning those identified as high-risk for readmission (with a planned discharge to home) to a Transition Coach, (2) A visit by the Transition Coach during the patient’s hospital stay to assess the patient and provide coaching, and (3) Providing five follow-up phone calls from the Transition Coach post-discharge. Results: The system changes in Midas+ were implemented and were effective in tracking the interventions. Of the 258 patients admitted from July through August 2014, 226 or 87.5% of the patients were screened using the readmission risk assessment tool. Of the patients’ screened, 49 were considered high risk with 26 discharged home, 22 or 45.8% discharged to another level of care and one patient expired. During the pilot, of 19 patients were followed by a transition coach only one patient readmitted to the hospital. Conclusions: The project demonstrated that utilization of a computer system to record the readmission risk screen, track the assessment of the pillars (medication management, continued care, red flags to report, and personal health record) over the six time intervals of the pilot transition program was effective in tracking the intervention. The data collected through information technology was easily retrieved for tracking progress and evaluation. The outcome of this pilot has shown that a well-defined transition of care program may decrease the 30-day readmission rate.
RuxTi1-xO2 as Catalyst Support for PEM Fuel Cell

Electrochemical stability and electrocatalytic activity of Pt supported on RuxTi1-xO2 were examined. The binary metal oxides were found to possess high stability during potential cycling between 0 and 1.8 V. The ECA of Pt/ RuxTi1-xO2 changes slightly after up to 1000 cycles, which suggests a strong interaction between Pt particles and the metal oxides. The synthesized RuO2 showed low BET surface areas, which may cause the low ECA and performance of Pt/ RuO2. Thus, RuxTi1-xO2 may be a promising material as a stable support for PEM fuel cells with increased specific surface area.
Habitat diversification for improving biological control: abundance of Anagrus epos (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in grape vineyards

A frequently cited habitat diversification tactic is the use of prune tree refuges that support overwintering populations of Anagrus epos (Girault), a mymarid egg parasite of the western grape leafhopper, Erythroneura elegantula Osborn, in vineyards. Here we test the effect of prune trees on early-season abundance of adult A. epos in vineyards. A. epos was found in vineyards downwind of prune trees at more than twice the densities of vineyards lacking prune trees, despite significant variation in A. epos immigration from sources outside the prune tree-vineyard system. Densities of A. epos overwintering within prune trees explained a significant amount of the variation in A. epos trap capture in vineyards. Furthermore, another factor associated with prune trees was found to influence A. epos abundance in vineyards: a windbreak effect created by the prune trees concentrated dispersing A. epos on the leeward side of the prune trees, thereby further enhancing A. epos numbers.
Centrifugaily-Assisted Size Classification and Immobilization of Silicon Crystallites in Gels

Stokes settling in viscous gels was used as a method for classifying mixed powders of silicon crystallites and amorphous silicon; Quantum-size materials derived from porous silicon were encapsulated and trapped in the viscous gels. After complete gelation the matrix retained size gradations developed during Stokes settling, thus yielding a new variant of functionally gradient materials (FGM). Production and rheological properties of the sol and preparation of specimens for centrifuging are discussed. The relative position of particles with various sizes are quantitatively interpreted in relation to the increase in gel viscosity with time.
Reflections on the Establishment of Special Library Collections

Describes a special library collection in business history, established at the University of Oklahoma. Historical background on the establishment of a collection in business history by Harry W. Bas...
Establishment of Security Assurance System for E-Government Network

The development of information technology is the technical origin of e-government. By using the information technology,the barriers between government and populace could be broken down,and the users could obtain the information and service from the government. The establishment of network information system in the Information Center of State Food and Drug Administration is of great significance in enhancing the administration efficacy,lowing the administration cost and strengthening the public service. Openness,virtualization and networking of the e-government would require a reliable security assurance system. A security assurance system is discussed and designed,thus to ensure that this information system could operate safely,reliably,orderly and efficiently.
Effects of elevated venous pressure on capillary permeability in cat hindlimbs.

We investigated the effects of elevated venous pressure, Pv, (up to 140 mmHg) on the solvent drag reflection coefficient, sigma f, for protein and on the capillary filtration coefficient, CFC, in the isolated cat hindlimb perfused at constant flow. The perfusate contained 30% cat plasma and the remainder was a dialyzed albumin-electrolyte mixture. Cat red cells were added to a hematocrit of approximately 2%. sigma f was measured from the changes in hematocrit and plasma protein concentration (Integral-Mass Balance method) resulting from the fluid filtration caused by the Pv elevation. CFC was measured from the slope of the limb weight recording 2-4 min after the Pv elevation. sigma f decreased linearly from 0.807 (Pv less than 50 mmHg) to approximately 0.2 at 140 mmHg. CFC increased linearly from 0.0086 ml.min-1.mmHg-1.100 g-1 to about 0.04 over the same pressure range. A weight-independent filtration coefficient calculated from the change in hematocrit and a measurement of the initial perfusate volume gave comparable results, except at the very highest of pressures, where this coefficient was sometimes 20-40% less than CFC. Successive sigma f determinations at Pv at about 40 mmHg did not return to control after an initial measurement in which Pv was approximately 110 mmHg. Pore-theory analysis of the data suggests that the elevated Pv causes large pores to open as opposed to the stretching of small pores. Also, these large pores may remain open for a period of hours.
Role of macrophage cell surface sulphydryl groups in endocytosis, but not recognition of immune complexes

Mononuclear phagocytes play a central role in the removal of immune complexes from the circulation. Cell surface receptors for the Fc domain of IgG mediate, at least in part, the recognition and internalization of particulate and soluble immune complexes. Recently, there have been significant advances in understanding the structural and functional aspects of Fc receptors (Leslie & Alexander, 1979; Zuckerman & Douglas, 1979). However, the post-receptor binding events which trigger endocytosis of immune complexes are not well understood. In the present communication, we employ the membrane-impermeable reagent 5,5′-dithiobis (nitrobenzoic acid), DTNB, to demonstrate that cell surface sulphydryl groups are required for the endocytosis, but not recognition of immune complexes.
Widespread assessment of risk-adjusted outcomes: lessons from local initiatives.

Article-at-a-Glance Background Controlling costs while maintaining quality is a crucial element of national health care reform. Prompted generally by concerns of local businesses, states and regions around the country have already initiated such dual efforts. The central component of these activities is the examination of risk-adjusted outcomes. Issues Publicizing comparisons across providers and using these data for payer contracting have prompted several concerns among many providers, primarily involving reservations about the validity of the risk-adjustment methodologies and the fairness of the outcomes data reports. In contrast, business leaders recognize potential limitations in the data but argue that some information is better than none. They believe that these efforts have already saved money by forcing providers to compete and to justify unusually high costs. Troubling questions arise about whether publicizing their outcomes may prompt providers to avoid especially sick and high-risk patients. Although common themes emerge, each of these initiatives to monitor risk-adjusted outcomes has had to address specific local concerns. The form that these local initiatives take is influenced particularly by relationships between the business and provider communities and their respective visions of how to motivate change in the health care sector. Summary In some regions, businesses and providers have worked collaboratively, whereas in others relationships have been strained. One major problem in making objective decisions about risk-adjusted outcomes methods is the lack of clear evidence about whether such information truly measures quality of care. Whether a standard national quality monitoring program will satisfy local demands remains unclear.
A semantic similarity analysis for data mappings between heterogeneous XML schemas

One of the most critical steps to integrating heterogeneous e-Business applications using different XML schemas is schema mapping, which is known to be costly and error-prone. Past research on schema mapping has not made full use of semantic information imbedded in the hierarchical structure of the XML schema. In this chapter, we investigate the existing schema mapping approaches and propose an innovative semantic similarity analysis approach to facilitate XML schema mapping, merging and reuse. Several key innovations are introduced to better utilize available semantic information. These innovations includes: 1) a layered structure analysis of XML schemas, 2) layer-specific semantic similarity measures, and 3) an efficient semantic similarity analysis using parallel and distributed computing technologies. Experimental results using two different schemas from a real world application demonstrate that the proposed approach is valuable for addressing difficulties in XML schema mapping.
Comorbidity in Children and Adolescents with Depression

This article reviews current knowledge about comorbidity among depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence. It reviews the clinical and epidemiologic literature, presents some new epidemiologic data, and addresses the methodologic and interpretive problems in understanding them. Some possible research and analytic strategies for investigating these issues are discussed. The article concludes with a review of the research and clinical implications of depressive comorbidity.
Accuracy of a piezoelectric pedometer in persons with and without Down syndrome

Abstract Background Piezoelectric pedometers with a tri-axial accelerometer mechanism may effectively monitor physical activity in persons with Down syndrome (DS), but their accuracy has not been determined in this population. Aim To examine the accuracy of a pedometer with a tri-axial accelerometer mechanism in measuring steps at different walking speeds in persons with and without DS. Methods Eighteen persons with DS (8 women; age 25 ± 7 y) and 22 persons without DS (9 women; 26 ± 5 y) participated in this study. Participants completed six over-ground walking trials at the preferred speed and at 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5 m s −1 , each lasting 6 min. The steps taken were measured with hand-tally and with the Walk4Life MVPa piezoelectric pedometer. Pedometer accuracy was assessed with absolute percent error and Bland-Altman plots. Results Absolute percent error did not differ between persons with and without DS across speeds. Error decreased with increased speed (p −1 . Pedometers underestimated steps at 0.5 and 0.75 m s −1 , but were highly accurate at the preferred walking speed and at speeds ≥1.0 m s −1 . Conclusions A piezoelectric pedometer with a tri-axial accelerometer mechanism measures steps with high accuracy at the preferred walking speed and at speeds ≥1.0 m s −1 in persons with and without DS. Accuracy, however, is compromised at slower speeds. Across speeds, pedometer error is similar between persons with and without DS.