cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolic syndrome: from epidemiology to systems biology

Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is a group of metabolic conditions that occur together and promote the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified several novel susceptibility genes for MetSyn traits, and studies in rodent models have provided important molecular insights. However, as yet, only a small fraction of the genetic component is known. Systems-based approaches that integrate genomic, molecular and physiological data are complementing traditional genetic and biochemical approaches to more fully address the complexity of MetSyn.
The asymptotic probability that a random biased matrix is invertible

Abstract Let q = pe be a power of a prime. Suppose we are given a probability distribution on GF(q) not concentrated on any proper affine subspace of GF(q) regarded as a vector space over its prime subfield GF(p). Let M be a random n by n matrix whose entries are chosen independently from the given distribution and let An be the probability that M is invertible. We show that lim n →∞ A n = Π i=1 ∞ 1− 1 q i .
Life history strategy in herbaceous perennials: inferring demographic patterns from the aboveground dynamics of a primarily subterranean, myco‐heterotrophic orchid

Myco-heterotrophs are non-photosynthetic plants that parasitize mycorrhizal fungi for their nutritional requirements, especially carbon. Because green plants sprout both to photosynthesize and to reproduce, the lack of photosynthesis in myco-heterotrophs suggests that these plants need only to sprout to reproduce. Further, they may be long-lived, with fitness favoring high, stable survival over frequent reproduction and leading to size-biased reproduction. We hypothesized that sprouting would be rare and would always lead to flowering in a ten-year monitoring study of a myco-heterotrophic plant, the autumn coral root Corallorhiza odontorhiza. We also postulated that these plants would exhibit strong size-based flowering patterns. We tested these hypotheses by parameterizing a variety of mark–recapture models of survival, fecundity, and demographic transitions among two life history stages: flowering and non-sprouting (vegetatively dormant). We further developed and tested novel models estimating the influence of reproduction on demographic transitions one, two, and three years after flowering. Our results suggested that this population is typically subterranean, with only a small proportion of living plants actually sprouting in any given year. Plants typically flowered and fruited when they sprouted (flowering frequency > 0.99), supporting our first hypothesis that sprouting occurs only in concert with reproduction. We also found that reproduction was associated with long-term reproductive demographic impacts – plants that flowered more in the past three years were more likely to continue doing so than those that flowered only once. Our use of ‘memory’ mark–recapture models, in which transitions across years are allowed to vary with demographic events occurring across several previous years, proved a powerful means of testing for their long-term impacts of reproductive events.
Investigation of Filtered Rayleigh Scattering Techniques for Rig Testing Diagnostics

A laboratory investigation of Filtered Rayleigh Scattering (FRS) techniques for high-resolution and high-accuracy temperature measurements in rig tests with high pressures and temperatures and combustion is presented.Imaging techniques based on filtered Rayleigh scattering have the potential for two-dimensional (2D) and near wall measurement of gas velocity and temperature fields among other properties. For gas temperature measurements, laser Rayleigh scattering from gas molecules are typically captured with an ICCD camera and temperature can be inferred from the number density measured from the image intensities. The accuracy challenges associated with property spatial variations, gas composition, and pressure and temperature conditions are investigated for the rig test environments.Representative examples including mixing layer, jet and vortex flows and flame and combustion tests are presented.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Transplant-associated autoimmune mechanisms in human hepatitis C virus infection.

In order to define factors which are important for the development of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and disease in transplant patients, we examined the role of class II MHC antigen restriction in viral antigen presentation to support a hypothesis of the association of this disease with an autoimmune pathogenesis. A greater degree of histocompatibility match between these donors and their HCV-negative recipients was associated with a greater predisposition to recipient HCV liver disease (ALT elevation) posttransplant. The HCV carrier state could be identified with significant amplification of autologous mixed lymphocyte reactivity (AMLR) in both long-term hemodialysis and long-term renal transplant patients, but the AMLR was absent in end-stage liver disease patients with HCV-associated cirrhosis and was insignificantly elevated in these patients with persistent infection in the first 2 years after a new liver was transplanted. There was also a moderate reduction in autologous reactivity as well as serum HCV titers among renal transplant patients who displayed biochemical evidence of chronic liver disease as opposed to those who did not. This appeared later in the course of the disease. HCV RNA could be detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of only a portion of HCV-infected renal transplant patients and these showed significantly higher autologous reactivity. In contrast, despite the fact that observations were earlier after de novo liver transplantation, HCV RNA (i.e., earlier in the course of a new or recurrent disease process) was found in PBMC of all liver transplant recipients tested. The AMLR of noninfected laboratory volunteers could be amplified by preincubating their stimulating cells (APCs) with enriched HCV possibly in immune complex (pHCV-IC). This amplification appeared only with specific combinations of HCV strains with HLA DR serotypes. In addition, HCV-primed T cells could be generated to the virus which displayed accelerated activation kinetics. Liver infiltrating lymphocytes extracted from HCV-positive end-stage diseased livers had significantly higher proliferative and cytotoxic reactivity to autologous (HCV-infected) hepatocytes than the extracted lymphocytes responding to autologous hepatocytes from HCV-negative livers. These findings offer evidence of dynamic autoimmune mechanisms in the spectrum of progression of HCV disease and may help to predict the effect of intervention at various intervals in this progression in organ transplant recipients.
Effects of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase upon surfactant proteins in vitro

Abstract Recent evidence has suggested that elastase is released by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) recruited from the pulmonary microcirculation into the alveoli during acute lung injury. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that elastase from PMN (PMN elastase) damages or degrades one or more of the surfactant proteins (SP-A, SP-B and SP-C) of the lung, and thereby alters its function. We attempted to use amounts of PMN elastase and quantities of surfactant that would be plausible in the lungs of patients with ARDS. Surfactant from normal dog lungs (2 mg phospholipid, 200 μg protein), and purified SP-A (20 μg), SP-B (10 μg and SP-C (10 μg) from the surfactant (identified by SDS-PAGE and N-terminal amino acid sequences) were incubated for 4–8 h at 37°C with various amounts (0.25–1.0 U) of human PMN elastase purified by affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE and amino acid composition analysis of the surfactant as well as of the purified SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C showed that degradation of these proteins progressed with incubation time and with the amount of PMN elastase, and was accompanied by decreases in isopycnic density (g/cm3) and surface adsorption, and increase of surface tension of the surfactant. No effects were observed with heat inactivated PMN elastase (95°C, 30 min) or with PMN elastase in the presence of human α-1 protease inhibitor (2 μg/μg elastase). Phospholipid compositions of the surfactant after exposure to PMN elastase were not significantly different from those of the controls, suggesting that SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C play a major role in altering the surfactant properties. SP-A was also degraded by elastase and trypsin from pancreas whereas SP-B and SP-C remained intact, providing a natural surfactant without SP-A. Surface adsorption rate of the SP-A deficient surfactant was lower than that of the control, but was much higher than that of the surfactant with completely degraded SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C, suggesting that hydrophobic SP-B and SP-C are the essential components in enhancing adsorption. We conclude that proteolytic degradation of SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C causes the decrease of surfactant isopycnic density, and is responsible for retarding adsorption resulting in surfactant dysfunction.
Can molecular dynamics and QM/MM solve the penicillin binding protein protonation puzzle?

Benzylpenicillin, a member of the β-lactam antibiotic class, has been widely used to combat bacterial infections since 1947. The general mechanism is well-known: a serine protease enzyme (i.e., DD-...
Contributions of extracellular matrix signaling and tissue architecture to nuclear mechanisms and spatial organization of gene expression control

Post-translational modification of histones, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, and DNA methylation are interconnected nuclear mechanisms that ultimately lead to the changes in chromatin structure necessary to carry out epigenetic gene expression control. Tissue differentiation is characterized by a specific gene expression profile in association with the acquisition of a defined tissue architecture and function. Elements critical for tissue differentiation, like extracellular stimuli, adhesion and cell shape properties, and transcription factors all contribute to the modulation of gene expression and thus, are likely to impinge on the nuclear mechanisms of epigenetic gene expression control. In this review, we analyze how these elements modify chromatin structure in a hierarchical manner by acting on the nuclear machinery. We discuss how mechanotransduction via the structural continuum of the cell and biochemical signaling to the cell nucleus integrate to provide a comprehensive control of gene expression. The role of nuclear organization in this control is highlighted, with a presentation of differentiation-induced nuclear structure and the concept of nuclear organization as a modulator of the response to incoming signals.
Destruction and Delight World War II Combat Photography and the Aesthetic Inscription of Masculine Identity

During World War II, the American public was inundated with photographs of war. This article examines the iconography of war as revealed in photographs from the Pacific arena, identifying four primary motifs: the transformation of boys into warrior men, the fetishization of weaponry, the spectacle of death, and the quest to penetrate and dominate nature. War is a territorial game played by men to enact dominance, a social performance that inscribes gender identities on human bodies. War, like masculinity, is predicated on the subjugation of the feminine, which is encoded in the body and territory of the enemy, an inscription even more extreme when the enemy is of another race. These photographs enact the play of domination and subjugation through the imagery of impenetrability and rapability, thus contributing to the propagandistic construction of the enemy and extending the voyeuristic pleasures of domination to those not able to experience it firsthand.
The future of decision support: an examination of managers' information needs

Relationships between managerial needs for information and current and proposed technologies thought to meet those needs are investigated. The result of this appraisal is an infrastructure for designing systems based on what is known about managers instead of what is known about technology. Some of the studies summarized demonstrate the usefulness of novel information technologies such as electronic mail and group decision support systems relative to their manual counterparts. The demand for quick access to high-quality information underscores the advantages information technology has to offer. Recognition of the need for sophisticated scanning and monitoring activities provide the impetus for designing multimedia, document-based DSS and intelligent communication systems. >
Integration of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Untreated Infection Occurs Preferentially within Genes

Previous analyses of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integration sites generated in infections in vitro or in patients in whom viral replication was repressed by antiviral therapy have demonstrated a preference for integration within protein-coding genes. We analyzed integration sites in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), spleen, lymph node, and cerebral cortex from patients with untreated HIV-1 infections. The great majority of integration sites in each tissue were within genes. Statistical analyses of the frequencies of integration in genes in PBMCs and lymph tissue demonstrated a strong preference for integration within genes. Although the sample size for brain tissue was too small to demonstrate a clear statistical preference for integration in genes, four of the five integration sites identified in brain were within genes. Taken together, our data indicate that HIV-1 preferentially integrates within genes during untreated infection.
Biochemical and Biological Functions of the N-Terminal, Noncatalytic Domain of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 2

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2 are important components in signal transduction pathways involved in many cellular processes, including cell differentiation and proliferation. These proteins consist of a central kinase domain flanked by short N- and C-terminal noncatalytic domains. While the regulation of ERK2 by sequences within the kinase domain has been extensively studied, little is known about the small regions outside of the kinase domain. We performed mutational analysis on the N-terminal, noncatalytic domain of ERK2 in an attempt to determine its role in ERK2 function and regulation. Deleting or mutating amino acids 19 to 25 (ERK2-Δ19-25) created an ERK2 molecule that could be phosphorylated in response to growth factor and serum stimulation in a MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase or ERK kinase)-dependent manner but had little kinase activity and was unable to bind to MEK in vivo. Since MEK acts as a cytoplasmic anchor for the ERKs, the lack of a MEK interaction resulted in the aberrant nuclear localization of ERK2-Δ19-25 mutants in serum-starved cells. Assaying these mutants for their ability to affect ERK signaling revealed that ERK2-Δ19-25 mutants acted in a dominant-negative manner to inhibit transcriptional signaling through endogenous ERKs to an Elk1-responsive promoter in transfected COS-1 cells. However, ERK2-Δ19-25 had no effect on the phosphorylation of RSK2, an ERK2 cytoplasmic substrate, whereas a nonactivatable ERK (T183A) that retained these sequences could inhibit RSK2 phosphorylation. These results suggest that the N-terminal domain of ERK2 profoundly affects ERK2 localization, MEK binding, kinase activity, and signaling and identify a novel dominant-negative mutant of ERK2 that can dissociate at least some transcriptional responses from cytoplasmic responses.
Liability Means Never being Able to Say You're Sorry: Corporate Guilt, Legal Constraints, and Defensiveness in Corporate Communication

Crisis communication theorists need to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the ways in which concerns about liability constrain corporate executives from apologizing for crises for which ...
The Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s Disease: The Role of Estrogen in Reducing Risk

Dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease is among the most feared accompaniments of aging. There is a strong biological rationale for the use of estrogen replacement after the menopause to help reduce a woman’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Women with this disorder are less likely to use estrogens than control subjects and, among women with Alzheimer’s disease, those who use estrogen perform better on cognitive tasks than those who do not. The strongest data on Alzheimer’s prevention are based on case-control and cohort studies in which information on estrogen use was collected prospectively, before the onset of dementia symptoms. Studies from the Leisure World retirement community in southern California, New York City, Baltimore, and Rochester, Minnesota, imply that estrogen replacement therapy is associated with Alzheimer’s risk reductions of about one-third to one-half. In several studies, a dose-response relationship has been observed, such that women who have greater estrogen exposures (higher doses or longer durations of therapy) also have lower risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease. An association between Alzheimer’s disease and estrogen has not been discerned in all studies, however. In the future, the role of estrogen will best be determined from results of properly designed randomized, placebo-controlled, primary prevention trials of estrogen.
Curation, provocation, and digital identity: risks and motivations for sharing provocative images online

Among the billions of photos that have been contributed to online photo-sharing sites, there are many that are provocative, controversial, and deeply personal. Previous research has examined motivations for sharing images online and has identified several key motivations for doing so: expression, curation of identity, maintaining social connections, and recording experiences. However, few studies have focused on the perceived risks of posting photos online and even fewer have examined the risks associated with provocative, controversial, or deeply personal images. In our work, we used photo-elicitation interviews to explore the motivations for posting these types of images and the perceived risks of doing so. In this paper, we describe our findings from those interviews.
Integral diodes in lateral DI power devices

The performance of integral diodes of DI LDMOSFETs and collector shorted (CS)-LIGBTs is compared to the LPiN diode. The integral diodes of the LDMOSFETs and CS-LIGBTs were found to have on state voltage drops comparable to the LPiN diode because of their lower operating current densities. Simulations indicated reduced stored charge for the integral diodes compared to the LPiN diode. Measurements showed superior reverse recovery characteristics for the integral diodes compared to the LPiN diode. However, parasitic bipolar turnon was observed in the integral diodes when operated at large current densities. Considerable improvement in the reverse recovery characteristics was observed for all the three cases with reduction in drift region thickness, at the expense of an increase in the forward voltage drop. The results of this study allow the conclusion that the integral diodes provide superior performance when compared with a separate LPiN diode, allowing substantial savings in chip area.
Making the EMU: The Politics of Budgetary Surveillance and the Enforcement of Maastricht

Making the EMU: The Politics of Budgetary Surveillance and the Enforcement of Maastricht. By James D. Savage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. 239p. $85.00.As all students of contemporary European politics know, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 specified a series of criteria that member states of the European Union had to fulfill in order to join the single currency that would be launched in 1998–99. Most importantly, public debt had to be less than 60% of the GDP and government deficits were not to exceed 3% of GDP. When decisions on initial membership of the Eurozone were taken in 1998, the debt criterion was relaxed, but the deficit criterion was strictly enforced, and as result, Greek membership was postponed for several years. The Stability and Growth Pact adopted by the European Council in 1997, in turn, introduced a procedure whereby the European Commission would monitor the fiscal policies of Eurozone members and would be required to propose sanctions against states with persistent government deficits in excess of 3% of GDP. During 2002–4, the European Commission found Portugal, France, and Germany in violation of the Stability and Growth Pact, but the Council of Ministers declined to impose sanctions on any of these countries.
VISUALIZING COMPUTATIONAL SIMULATION RESULTS USING VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY

The visualization of computational simulations of complex physical problems using virtual reality technology is demonstrated in this study. A general-purpose computational steering system (POSSE) which can be coupled to any C/C++ simulation code, has been developed and tested with a 3-D parallel Navier-Stokes flow solver (PUMA2) [1]. In addition, the visualizations can be displayed using virtual reality facilities (such as CAVEs and RAVEs) to better understand the 3-D nature of the flowfields. The simulations can be run on parallel computers such as Beowulf clusters, while the visualization is performed on other computers, through a client-server approach. A key advantage of our system is its scalability. Visualization primitives are generated on the parallel computer. This is essential for large-scale simulations, since it is often not possible to post-process the entire flowfield on a single computer due to memory and speed constraints. Example applications of time-dependent and three-dimensional computational flow simulations performed at Penn-State are presented to show the usefulness of POSSE and virtual reality systems. The examples include CFD predictions for unsteady simulations of a helicopter rotor, unsteady ship airwake simulations, helicopter tail fan-in-fin flow simulations and simulations of time-accurate flow and noise due to a landing gear.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Isolation and Quantitation of Plasma Lysophosphatidic Acids by Solid-Phase Extraction and Capillary Electrophoresis

In this study, a simple and rapid method was developed for isolation and quantitation of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) molecular species in human plasma. LPA-spiked human plasma (no detectable LPAs) was first isolated and concentrated by Dual-ZoneTM C8 solid-phase extraction cartridge. The extracts were then determined by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with indirect UV detection using adenosine monophosphate (AMP) as the UV-absorbing electrolyte. The separation of LPAs molecular species (myristoyl-, palmitoyl-, stearoyl-, and oleoyl-) was achieved within 13 min. With LPA(D) as internal standard in plasma, the method had linear calibration ranges for LPAs from 0.68 μM to 66 μM, and the correlation coefficients were greater than 0.998. This method also had absolute recoveries of LPAs≥83% and reproducibilities of area ratios LPA/I.S. (%CV)≤7% for plasma samples.
In Defense against Pathogens. Both Plant Sentinels and Foot Soldiers Need to Know the Enemy

Plants are major targets of microbes seeking a source of nutrition. A complex array of interactions between plants and microbes has evolved that reflects both the nutrient acquisition strategies of microbes and defense strategies of plants. Part of plant defense strategy includes an active offense
Extremely scaled fully depleted SOI CMOS

There is new interest in FD/SOI CMOS because of its potential superior scalability relative to bulk-Si CMOS. Indeed, recent experimental device studies have implied that short-channel effects (SCEs) can be controlled in FD/SOI MOSFETs scaled to L/sub gate/ < 50nm by thinning the SOI-film thickness (t/sub Si/). While series resistance in such scaled devices has been stressed as a significant issue, simultaneous threshold-voltage (V/sub t/) control in both CMOS devices, dependent on gate work functions as well as t/sub Si/ and Si-channel doping density (N/sub CH/), on carrier-energy quantization in thin Si films, and on the SCEs, has not been addressed comprehensively. In this paper, we use numerical device simulations and process-based device circuit simulations to examine this issue, giving insights on FD/SOI CMOS scalability and performance.
Residence Differences in Formal and Informal Long-Term Care.

This study, using a large, nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized disabled older persons, found that urban residents were much more likely than rural residents to receive formal assistance in every ADL and IADL considered. Rural residents were more likely to receive informal assistance and to receive two-thirds more person days of informal assistance per week. No residence differences in unmet need for care were identified.
Assessing the utility of a mutational assay for B-RAF as an adjunct to conventional fine needle aspiration of the thyroid gland.

Thyroid carcinoma is the most common endocrine malignancy; it is typified by a number of classical genomic insults, which tend to cluster with the discrete histologic subtypes. The most common of these is a mutation in B-RAF, which is present in approximately 44% (29% to 83%) of cases. In this revie
Metabolomic Imaging for Cancer Detection

The field of metabolomics for cancer diagnosis and characterization is relatively new, and especially the application of metabolomics for in-vivo cancer imaging is still in its infancy. Cancer metabolomics involves the study of global variations of metabolites, with which malignancy conditions can be evaluated by profiling the entire measurable metabolome, instead of focusing only on certain metabolites or isolated metabolic pathways. At present, the study of cancer metabolomics is mainly accomplished utilizing magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and mass spectrometry (MS). These studies aim to uncover disease-specific metabolomic profiles in order to better understand variations in the involved pathways of cancer metabolism, and to utilize these profiles to establish metabolomic criteria for cancer detection, characterization, and patient prognostication and monitoring. The ultimate goal for cancer metabolomics is its implementation in the clinic to improve clinical abilities for cancer diagnosis and characterization, and through the development of in-vivo metabolomic imaging these clinical goals can be achieved noninvasively. Keywords: cancer; metabolomics; metabolomic imaging; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; mass spectrometry
ACE2 gene transfer attenuates hypertension-linked pathophysiological changes in the SHR.

Recently discovered, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) is an important therapeutic target in the control of cardiovascular diseases as a result of its proposed central role in the control of a...
Validation of Low-Acuity Emergency Medical Services Dispatch Codes

Background. Computer-aided dispatch systems are used to assess the severity of a 9-1-1 caller's complaint andthen assign an appropriate level of emergency medical services (EMS) response. Objective...
Family routines and rituals: a context for occupational therapy interventions.

PURPOSE. This paper explores the importance of family daily routines and rituals for the family’s functioning and sense of identity. METHODS. The findings of this paper are derived from an analysis of the morning routines of 40 families with children with disabilities in the United States and Canada. The participants lived in urban and rural areas. Forty of the 49 participants were mothers and the majority of the families were of European descent. Between one and four interviews were conducted with each participant. Topics included the family’s story, daily routines, and particular occupations. Data on the morning routines of the families were analyzed for order and affective and symbolic meaning using a narrative approach. FINDINGS. The findings are presented as narratives of morning activities in five families. These narratives are examples for rituals, routines, and the absence of a routine. Rituals are discussed in terms of their affective and symbolic qualities, routines are discussed in terms of the order they give to family life, whereas the lack of family routine is discussed in terms of lack of order in the family. CONCLUSIONS. Family routines and rituals are organizational and meaning systems that may affect family’s ability to adapt them.
LPS pretreatment of mouse peritoneal macrophages differentially modulates TNFα and iNOS expression

Many studies have established that pretreatment of mouse macrophages with LPS will alter subsequent responsiveness of these cells to stimulation either with LPS or other stimuli. Incubation of C3Heb/FeJ mouse macrophages with low sub-stimulatory (e.g. 0.10 ng/ml) LPS for 6 h, followed by activation with 100 ng/ml of LPS results in up-regulation of LPS-dependent TNFα production and suppression of the ability of these cells to secrete nitric oxide (NO). To assess whether these two responses might be co-ordinately regulated, immunocytochemical analyses of LPS-pretreated macrophages were carried out using anti-TNFα and anti-iNOS antibodies, both with and without a period of LPS pretreatment. As anticipated, the detection of individual iNOS-expressing macrophages in LPS-stimulated cultures accurately reflected threshold doses of LPS required for detection of NO in culture supernatants in terms of frequency of percentage of the total population positive for expression of iNOS protein. Pretreatment with sub-stim...
Physical Carrier Sensing and Spatial Reuse in Multirate and Multihop Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Physical carrier sensing is an effective mechanism of medium access control (MAC) protocols to reduce collisions in wireless networks, and the size of the carrier sensing range has a great impact on the system performance. Previous studies have shown that the MAC layer overhead plays an important role in determining the optimal carrier sensing range. However, variable transmission ranges and receiver sensitivities for different channel rates and the impact of multihop forwarding have been ignored. In this paper, we investigate the impacts of these factors as well as several other important factors, such as SINR (signal to interference plus noise ratio), node topology, hidden/exposed terminal problems and bidirectional handshakes, on determining the optimum carrier sensing range to maximize the throughput through both analysis and simulations. The results show that if any one of these factors is not addressed properly, the system performance may suffer a significant degradation. Furthermore, considering both multirate capability and carrier sensing ranges, we propose to use bandwidth distance product as a routing metric, which improves end-to-end throughput by up to 27% in the simulated scenario.
An architectural space exploration tool for domain specific reconfigurable computing

In this paper, we describe a design space exploration (DSE) tool for domain specific reconfigurable computing where the needs of the applications drive the construction of the device architecture. The tool has been developed to automate the design space case studies which allows application developers to explore architectural tradeoffs efficiently and reach solutions quickly. We selected some of the core signal processing benchmarks from the MediaBench benchmark suite and some of the edge-detection benchmarks from the image processing domain for our case studies. We compare the energy consumption of the architecture selected from manual design space case studies with the architectural solution selected by the design space exploration tool. The architecture selected by the DSE tool consumes approximately 9% less energy on an average as compared to the best candidate from the manual design space case studies. The fabric architecture selected from the manual design case studies and the one selected by the tool were synthesized on 130 nm cell-based ASIC fabrication process from IBM. We compare the energy of the benchmarks implemented onto the fabric with other hardware and software implementations. Both fabric architectures (manual and tool) yield energy within 3X of a direct ASIC implementation, 330X better than a Virtex-II Pro FPGA and 2016X better than an Intel XScale processor.
Activation of murine polymorphonuclear neutrophils for fungicidal activity by recombinant gamma interferon.

Recombinant murine gamma-interferon (IFN) was tested for its ability to enhance murine polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) fungicidal activity in vitro. PMNs, elicited by intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate 4 hr prior to collection, were treated with 0.00003-300,000 units of IFN per milliliter for 1 hr prior to challenge with yeast form Blastomyces dermatitidis. These PMNs were not fungicidal for Blastomyces in the absence of IFN; significant enhancement of PMN fungicidal activity by IFN treatment occurred in a dose-dependent manner with maximal enhancement observed at 30,000 U/ml (21% killing). Pretreatment of IFN with rabbit anti-IFN antiserum before addition to PMNs eliminated the enhancement of fungicidal activity by effective doses of IFN. PMN fungicidal activity against phagocytizable Candida albicans was significantly (P less than .001) higher (71.3 +/- 17.4%) than against B. dermatitidis. Candidacidal activity was not significantly enhanced by IFN treatment of PMNs. Exogenously added lipopolysaccharide, at levels corresponding to those found in this preparation of IFN, did not activate PMNs for enhanced fungicidal capacity. These data indicate a stimulatory role for IFN in the killing of B. dermatitidis by PMNs, suggesting that IFN is an active component of the communication between T lymphocytes and PMNs with respect to antimicrobial resistance. They suggest a natural role for IFN in host defense against blastomycosis and other fungal infections, and a possible therapeutic use for exogenous IFN in fungal disease.
The Hormonal Control of Development of Imaginal Disks

Until recently the endocrine control of imaginal disk development had escaped detailed attention. Insect endocrinologists have largely bypassed the imaginal disks by focusing on external changes in hemimetabolous insects, and on the pupal-adult transformation in holometabolous insects. While we have learned a great deal about the control of molting and metamorphosis by ecdysonc and juvenile hormone, we know little about how these hormones control the life of an imaginal disk. In the absence of juvenile hormone, ecdysone causes metamorphosis, and hence the differentiation of the imaginal disks. It need not follow that the disks are direct targets of ecdysone. Nor is it at all apparent how the proliferation of young larval disks is controlled. Our understanding of how juvenile hormone prevents the differentiation of such disks is exceedingly meager. However, progress is being made, particularly with in vitro studies.
Genome-Wide Transcriptional Regulation Mediated by Biochemically Distinct SWI/SNF Complexes

Multiple positions within the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex can be filled by mutually exclusive subunits. Inclusion or exclusion of these proteins defines many unique forms of SWI/SNF and has profound functional consequences. Often this complex is studied as a single entity within a particular cell type and we understand little about the functional relationship between these biochemically distinct forms of the remodeling complex. Here we examine the functional relationships among three complex-specific ARID (AT-Rich Interacting Domain) subunits using genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation, transcriptome analysis, and transcription factor binding maps. We find widespread overlap in transcriptional regulation and the genomic binding of distinct SWI/SNF complexes. ARID1B and ARID2 participate in wide-spread cooperation to repress hundreds of genes. Additionally, we find numerous examples of competition between ARID1A and another ARID, and validate that gene expression changes following loss of one ARID are dependent on the function of an alternative ARID. These distinct regulatory modalities are correlated with differential occupancy by transcription factors. Together, these data suggest that distinct SWI/SNF complexes dictate gene-specific transcription through functional interactions between the different forms of the SWI/SNF complex and associated co-factors. Most genes regulated by SWI/SNF are controlled by multiple biochemically distinct forms of the complex, and the overall expression of a gene is the product of the interaction between these different SWI/SNF complexes. The three mutually exclusive ARID family members are among the most frequently mutated chromatin regulators in cancer, and understanding the functional interactions and their role in transcriptional regulation provides an important foundation to understand their role in cancer.
Capabilities and Characteristics of Digital Measurement Feedback Systems: Results from a Comprehensive Review

Measurement feedback systems (MFS) are a class of health information technology (HIT) that function as an implementation support strategy for integrating measurement based care or routine outcome monitoring into clinical practice. Although many MFS have been developed, little is known about their functions. This paper reports findings from an application of health information technology-academic and commercial evaluation (HIT-ACE), a systematic and consolidated evaluation method, to MFS designed for use in behavioral healthcare settings. Forty-nine MFS were identified and subjected to systematic characteristic and capability coding. Results are presented with respect to the representation of characteristics and capabilities across MFS.
Pressure-Driven Nanoparticle Transport across Glass Membranes Containing a Conical-Shaped Nanopore

Experimental, theoretical, and finite-element simulation investigations of the pressure-driven translocation of nanoparticles across a conical-shaped glass nanopore membrane (GNM) are presented. The translocation of the particles is experimentally analyzed by measuring the shape of transient pulses when current flowing between two Ag/AgCl electrodes, located on opposite sides of the GNM, is momentarily interrupted as a particle passes through the nanopore. Asymmetric triangular-shaped resistive pulses are observed for the translocation of 120 nm radius particles through a 210 nm radius GNM at a transmembrane pressure between −2 and −160 mmHg. A linear dependence is observed between the particle translocation frequency and the applied pressure. Analytical theory and finite-element simulation for pressure-driven flow through a conical-shaped pore were developed to compute the volumetric flow rate, the position-dependent particle velocity, and the particle translocation frequency. The translocation frequenci...
Sublingual tacrolimus as an alternative to oral administration for solid organ transplant recipients

Purpose Available data regarding sublingual tacrolimus were analyzed to provide recommendations for solid organ transplant recipients. Summary Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive agent with a narrow therapeutic range that is commonly used in solid organ transplantation. Achieving and maintaining appropriate tacrolimus exposure are critical for preventing rejection and minimizing toxicity. A variety of clinical situations requiring nonoral medication delivery arise, presenting the need for reliable alternative routes of tacrolimus administration. A review of the currently available literature revealed nine reports of sublingual tacrolimus use in human subjects. Seven reported that sublingual administration could achieve comparable tacrolimus trough concentrations to oral administration, but none investigated the correlation between tacrolimus trough concentration and exposure. One study of lung transplant recipients found that approximately 50% of the oral dose was needed to obtain therapeutic trough concentrations when converted to sublingual administration. Another study of patients with end-stage renal disease identified a similar sublingual:oral dosing ratio of 1:2. When converted from oral tacrolimus in combination with clotrimazole to sublingual administration, the sublingual:oral dosing ratio was 1:1. Conclusion In addition to enteral tube and i.v. tacrolimus dosing, sublingual administration may be considered for short-term use in patients who are unable to receive medications orally. Based on the available data, it is reasonable to initiate sublingual tacrolimus at 50% of the current or anticipated oral dose in the absence of interacting medications. Dosing must be individualized, taking into consideration concomitant interacting medications, and adjusted to target levels based on therapeutic drug monitoring.
Ignorerade band. Politik och ofullständiga ontologier i forskning om Sverigedemokraterna

[Ignored ties. Politics and incomplete ontologies in the study of the Sweden Democrats] In this article Benjamin R. Teitelbaum questions the prevailing approaches to the study of the political party Sverigedemokraterna (the Sweden Democrats, SD). He argues that political agendas motivate academic and journalistic commentators to adopt a limited definition of the party in their analyses. Specifically, while SD constitutes a political, ideological, social, and cultural movement, party members are often studied as only political and ideological actors. Teitelbaum illustrates this point by examining a recurring question in studies of the party, namely, to what extent it can be linked to openly race ideological and other right-wing extremist forces in Swedish society. He shows that while ideological connections between the party and other radical nationalists are weak, sociocultural connections are strong. Concluding that scholars overlook these connections because they are less politically incriminating, the article calls for a paradigm shift in the study of Sverigedemokraterna, one that addresses the party as the dynamic movement it is. Publication history: Published original. (Published 18 April 2016) Citation: Teitelbaum, Benjamin R. (2016) “Ignorerade band. Politik och ofullstandiga ontologier i forskning om Sverigedemokraterna”, in Det vita faltet III. Samtida forskning om hogerextremism , special issue of Arkiv. Tidskrift for samhallsanalys , issue 5, pp. 93–110. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.13068/2000-6217.5.4
Set up an Oil Safety Prevention System

To enlarge and improve the energy base to the best is one for the primary tasks for Chinese industry in 21st century. How to make good use of oil resource is prominent, and that oil prices vary abruptly is not avail of the development of a country. The paper deals with the oil advantage allocation of China, and makes a conclusion that China has the power to set up an oil safety prevention system, and it also provides some suggestions and measures.
Digital Image Correlation Techniques for Prestressed Concrete Tie Quality Control

Qualification of prestressed concrete railroad ties is currently performed through testing at the design level following established AREMA guidelines, while important parameters, such as the strand transfer length, are typically not identified. Conventional testing practices are time demanding, expensive and labor intensive. Consequently, implementation of highly reliable, yet cost effective, quality control procedures at the tie production stage is highly appropriate and desired.In this work, the authors developed a stereo-vision system for both laboratory and industrial environments to measure the 3-D strain fields on the surfaces of prestressed concrete railroad ties. The proposed measurement system is based on the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) techniques developed in University of South Carolina (USC) laboratories over the past three decades. It is a non-destructive, non-contacting technique that has been successfully applied to obtain full-field measurements for a wide range of materials, loading types and temperature conditions. Known as 3D-DIC or Stereo-DIC, the method employs a stereo-vision system to successfully perform quality assessment of concrete ties in relation to the determination of: (i) the transfer length in both laboratory and production facility environments and (ii) full strain fields during product qualification tests to identify product defects. The proposed procedure is introduced and verified through application in a laboratory environment. The implementation of the method is presented and the cost effectiveness, accuracy, and versatility are discussed.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
The Social Tasks of Friendship: Do Boys and Girls Excel in Different Tasks?

Research documents the strengths of girls’ friendships compared to boys’ friendships leading to the inference that boys are not very skilled as friends. In this article, we use a friendship tasks framework to propose that this inference is premature and should be reconciled with evidence that boys are as satisfied as girls with their friendships and that their friendships are as stable over time. We also propose that the inference arises partly because the friendship tasks that girls handle well have been studied extensively, whereas certain friendship tasks boys handle as well as or more successfully than girls are understudied. These tasks include being a fun and enjoyable companion, coping when a friend violates a core expectation of friendship, and sustaining friendships in the broader social context of a friend having other friends. Finally, we suggest that girls and boys who develop skills to respond to a range of friendship tasks will benefit in the long term.
Navigating the Spanish Lake: The Pacific in the Iberian World, 1521–1898. By Rainer F. Buschmann, Edward R. Slack Jr., and James B. Tueller. (Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press, 2014. Pp. xii, 182. $47.00.)

Scholars and other readers hoping to learn more about the Spanish presence in the Pacific, especially in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which probably is the period least familiar to most...
Slanting Trademark Choices in the Right Direction

Simon Tam is the promoter of the Asian rock band THE SLANTS. He applied to the US Patent and Trademark Office to register THE SLANTS as a trademark, but his application was denied under Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act –– which prohibits the US Patent and Trademark Office from registering trademarks that disparage any person or group –– on the grounds that it would likely be perceived as disparaging Asians. Tam appealed arguing –– as most commentators and legal academics have for years –– that Section 2(a) violated the First Amendment. In December 2015, the en banc Federal Circuit agreed, overruling longstanding precedent when it ruled that Section 2(a) was a facially unconstitutional content and viewpoint based restriction on speech. Specifically, applying the doctrine of unconstitutional conditions, it held that Section 2(a) impermissibly conditioned the benefits of federal trademark registration on a trademarks message This note argues that the Federal Circuit erred and critiques several aspects of its reasoning, particularly its application of the unconstitutional conditions doctrine. First, the court incorrectly focused on whether Section 2(a) was content and viewpoint-based and on the type of speech it affected instead of focusing of the key question in any unconstitutional conditions case: whether a given condition is reasonably related to the government program at issue. Second, the court erred in its conclusion that Section 2(a) affected the expressive and not commercial aspects of Tam’s mark. Finally, this note argues that Section 2(a) arguably does further the goals of federal trademark law by incentivizing the selection of better trademarks.