cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
REALISTIC CONFINEMENT POTENTIAL FOR A SQUARE-PATTERNED TWO-DIMENSIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR QUANTUM DOT AND ITS APPROXIMATED CIRCULAR COUNTERPART

Two-dimensional semiconductor quantum-dot systems are typical nanoscale structures in which a few number of electrons is confined in a small region of space by applying external electric gate potentials. While the detailed form of the confining potential depends on the specific experimental setup, the parabolic confinement model has commonly been used because of its simplicity. Clearly, on those instances in which the experimental setup involves placement of gate potentials with sharp geometric features, the area depleted of electrons; thus, the quantum-dot region cannot be considered circular. If, for simplicity, we consider the confinement region of the electrons as square in shape, then an accurate calculation of the properties of such square-patterned quantum dot should be made using a realistic confinement potential originating from that particular configuration. We calculated exactly such a confinement potential for a square quantum dot. The particular analytic form of this realistic potential is complicated given its dependence on the two-dimensional position coordinates, rather than simply the distance from the center of the quantum dot. In this work, we choose to substitute the realistic confinement potential for a square-patterned quantum dot with an approximated circular symmetric potential. We assess the quality of this approximation and discuss instances in which one can reliably use the approximated simplified potential instead of the computationally unyielding exact one.
Red Cell Preservation in Citrate‐Phosphate‐Dextrose and in Acid‐Citrate‐Dextrose

In a series of red cell survival experiments, autotransfusions of erythrocytes drawn in CPD solution maintained better viability than those in ACD solution (NIH, Formula A), after 28 days continuous storage at 4 ± 1 C. Augmented erythrocyte preservation in CPD was accompanied by lesser amounts of hemoglobin in the plasma of the donor blood, and in the recipient's plasma at 15 minutes after the transfusion. It was also shown by an appreciably higher 24-hour posttransfusion erythrocyte survival and by a longer half-life beyond the initial 24 hours as estimated by T/2, Cr-51.
Attitude Control with Analytic Disturbance-Rejection Guarantee

Analytic formulas that guarantee a minimum level of disturbance-rejection performance are derived for a class of attitude control problems consisting of linear proportional-derivative quaternion feedback applied to a rigid-body spacecraft plant model. Specifically, a Lyapunov-based disturbance-rejection assessment tool is derived for a general class of perturbed nonlinear systems, and then it is specialized to the linear attitude control class. Although the tool accepts generic Lyapunov function candidates, this paper demonstrates that existing Lyapunov functions (that readily prove asymptotic stability for attitude control systems) are insufficiently parameterized for purposes of estimating disturbance-rejection capability via the proposed tool. In response to this shortcoming, two new Lyapunov functions are proposed, and they are evaluated in the context of two closed-form disturbance-rejection performance assessment algorithms. Both algorithms demonstrate that the magnitude of the allowable disturbance...
In-hospital testing for sleep-disordered breathing in hospitalized patients with decompensated heart failure: report of prevalence and patient characteristics.

Abstract Background Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is present in more than 50% of ambulatory patients with chronic heart failure. The prevalence and type of SDB in hospitalized patients with acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) are not known. Methods and Results In-hospital sleep studies were performed on consecutive patients with ADHF who were not previously tested for SDB. A total of 395 consecutive patients with ADHF underwent successful sleep study recording during hospitalization. A total of 298 patients (75%, 95% CI [71–80%] had SDB; of these, 226 (57%, 95% CI [52–62]) had predominantly obstructive SDB and 72 (18%, 95% CI [14–22]) had predominantly central SDB. Only 25% (95% CI 20–29%) of patients were free of SDB. Validation polysomnography between 6 and 8 weeks after discharge on a subgroup of unselected patients with obstructive SDB revealed a 100 % positive predictive value (95% CI 94–100%) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Conclusions Similar to stable chronic heart failure, ADHF is associated with a high prevalence of SDB. The prevalence of predominantly obstructive SDB exceeded that of predominantly central SDB in ADHF patients. The presence of obstructive SDB during hospitalization predicted a diagnosis of OSA on polysomnography.
Sporulation and Enterotoxin (CPE) Synthesis Are Controlled by the Sporulation-Specific Sigma Factors SigE and SigK in Clostridium perfringens

the forespore. The cell-specific RNA polymerase sigma factors F , E , G , and K coordinate much of the developmental process. The C. perfringens cpe gene, encoding CPE, is transcribed from three promoters, where P1 was proposed to be K dependent, while P2 and P3 were proposed to be E dependent based on consensus promoter recognition sequences. In this study, mutations were introduced into the sigE and sigK genes of C. perfringens. With the sigE and sigK mutants, gusA fusion assays indicated that there was no expression of cpe in either mutant. Results from gusA fusion assays and immunoblotting experiments indicate that E -associated RNA polymerase and K -associated RNA polymerase coregulate each other’s expression. Transcription and translation of the spoIIID gene in C. perfringens were not affected by mutations in sigE and sigK, which differs from B. subtilis, in which spoIIID transcription requires E -associated RNA polymerase. The results presented here show that the regulation of developmental events in the mother cell compartment of C. perfringens is not the same as that in B. subtilis and Clostridium acetobutylicum.
ChimeraScan: A tool for identifying chimeric transcription in sequencing data

Summary: Next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have enabled de novo gene fusion discovery that could reveal candidates with therapeutic significance in cancer. Here we present an opensource software package, ChimeraScan, for the discovery of chimeric transcription between two independent transcripts in highthroughput transcriptome sequencing data. Availability: http://chimerascan.googlecode.com
Do fitness-equalizing tradeoffs lead to neutral communities?

Neutral theory in ecology is aimed at describing communities where species coexist due to similarities rather than the classically posited niche differences. It assumes that all individuals, regardless of species identity, are demographically equivalent. However, Hubbell suggested that neutral theory may describe even niche communities because tradeoffs equalize fitness across species which differ in their traits. In fact, tradeoffs can involve stabilization as well as fitness equalization, and stabilization involves different dynamics and can lead to different community patterns than neutral theory. Yet the important question remains if neutral theory provides a robust picture of all fitness-equalized communities, of which communities with demographic equivalence are one special case. Here, I examine Hubbell’s suggestion for a purely fitness-equalizing interspecific birth–death tradeoff, expanding neutral theory to a theory describing this broader class of fitness-equalized communities. In particular, I use a flexible framework allowing examination of the influence of speciation dynamics. I find that the scaling of speciation rates with birth and death rates, which is poorly known, has large impacts on community structure. In most cases, the departure from the predictions of current neutral models is substantial. This work suggests that demographic and speciation complexities present a challenge to the future development and use of neutral theory in ecology as null model. The framework presented here will provide a starting point for meeting that challenge, and may also be useful in the development of stochastic niche models with speciation dynamics.
One direction for improving ecosystem modeling

Simulation modeling of ecological systems has been more heavily emphasized as a part of the U.S. contribution to the International Biological Program, IBP. Research pursued by the biomes, major components of the USIBP effort, has developed some of the strengths and identified some of the weaknesses of simulation modeling as adopted from the physical sciences. This paper describes a new direction for ecosystem simulation which has been suggested by these earlier efforts. The proposed system would organize models in the way ecosystems organize themselves. It would take, as inputs, environmental information and modeling objectives and would produce, as output, a model of the system appropriate to the given objectives. While such a system is years away, intermediate systems will provide direction to the larger task and be useful in themselves.
Physician and Stakeholder Perceptions of Conflict of Interest Policies in Oncology

Purpose The landscape of managing potential conflicts of interest (COIs) has evolved substantially across many disciplines in recent years, but rarely are the issues more intertwined with financial and ethical implications than in the health care setting. Cancer care is a highly technologic arena, with numerous physician-industry interactions. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recognizes the role of a professional organization to facilitate management of these interactions and the need for periodic review of its COI policy (Policy). Methods To gauge the sentiments of ASCO members and nonphysician stakeholders, two surveys were performed. The first asked ASCO members to estimate opinions of the Policy as it relates to presentation of industry-sponsored research. Respondents were classified as consumers or producers of research material based on demographic responses. A similar survey solicited opinions of nonphysician stakeholders, including patients with cancer, survivors, family members, a...
Fuel oxidation in relation to walking speed: influence of gradient and external load.

People intuitively walk at a speed that minimizes energy cost per meter. Therefore, the selective advantages of energetic efficiency are thought to drive individuals’ preferred walking speed (PWS). This presumption disregards fuel partitioning, which may, in fact, be significant due to the disparate sizes of the carbohydrate (CHO) and fat reservoirs, coupled with the necessity of CHO for high intensity exercise. Potentially, PWS may reflect CHO conservation more than energetic efficiency per se. This study was designed to determine if PWS over a variety of conditions conforms to the CHO sparing hypothesis. Six subjects walked on a treadmill at five speeds: their PWS and speeds 0.45 and 0.22 m/s below and above PWS, under loads of 0, 10, and 20% of body weight, as well as at grades of −6.25, 0 and +6.25%. Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and respiratory exchange ratio were measured over each 10 min bout to calculate total energy, CHO and fat usage. The subjects’ mean (±SD) unloaded, level PWS was 1.32 ± 0.11 m/s. PWS was reduced by the 20% load and uphill grade, but not affected by the 10% load or downhill grade. Carbohydrate provided ≥50% of required energy in all conditions. The CHO oxidation rate was related to speed such that the gain was greater at speeds above than below the PWS; however, differences in CHO oxidation between conditions did not correspond to differences in PWS. We conclude that CHO sparing is not the primary determinant of PWS during externally loaded or grade walking.
A 2-D Convolver Architecture For Real-Time Image Processing

This paper presents a novel architecture for two VLSI ICs, an 8-bit and 12-bit version, which execute real-time 3x3 kernel image convolutions at rates exceeding 10 ms per 512x512 pixel frame (at a 30 MHz external clock rate). The ICs are capable of performing "on-the-fly" convolutions of images without any need for external input image buffers. Both symmetric and asymmetric coefficient kernels are supported, with coefficient precision up to 12 bits. Nine on-chip multiplier-accumulators maintain double-precision accuracy for maximum precision of the results and minimum roundoff noise. In addition, an on-chip ALU can be switched into the pixel datapath to perform simultaneous pixel-point operations on the incoming data. Thus, operations such as thresholding, inversion, shifts, and double frame arithmetic can be performed on the pixels with no extra speed penalty. Flexible internal datapaths of the processors provide easy means for cascadability of several devices if larger image arrays need to be processed. Moreover, larger convolution kernels, such as 6x6, can easily be supported with no speed penalty by employing two or more convolvers. On-chip delay buffers can be programmed to any desired raster line width up to 1024 pixels. The delay buffers may also be bypassed when direct "Sum-Of-Products" operation of the multipliers is required; such as when external frame buffer address sequencing is desired. These features make the convolvers suitable for applications such as affine and bilinear interpolation, one-dimensional convolution (FIR filtration), and matrix operations. Several examples of applications illustrating stand-alone and cascade mode operation of the ICs will be discussed
A compound mirror incorporating a fast-light medium for gravitational wave detection with high sensitivity, broadband signal recycling

We describe the concept of a compound mirror for incorporating the white light cavity effect into the existing design for the Advanced LIGO interferometer for gravitational wave detection, resulting in much higher sensitivity and bandwidth.
Translational Investigations of Liver Tumors: Sampling Strategies and Banking

Further progress in cancer diagnosis and therapy will be only possible with ongoing translational research. Accordingly, it has become extremely important to collect prospectively tumor samples along with the clinical information in a systematic manner to distribute it to dedicated research groups. Pediatric liver tumors are rare entities and the availability of large series of high-quality tumor samples and their associated clinical data is crucial for biomedical research to thrive in these childhood malignancies. The SIOPEL Liver Tumour Storage Programme includes the centralized collection and storage of tissues under controlled and standardized conditions, a comprehensive inventory, a process to distribute specimens to investigators, and policies to define responsible research.
Formation of massive Population III galaxies through photoionization feedback: a possible explanation for CR 7

We explore the formation of massive high-redshift Population III (Pop III) galaxies through photoionization feedback. We consider dark matter halos formed from progenitors that have undergone no star formation as a result of early reionizatio n and photoevaporation caused by a nearby galaxy. Once such a halo reaches� 10 9 M⊙, corresponding to the Jeans mass of the photoheated intergalactic medium (IGM) atz � 7, pristine gas is able to collapse into the halo, potentially producing a massive Pop III starburst. We suggest that this scenario may explain the recent observation of strong He II 1640 A line emission in CR7, which is consistent with � 10 7 M⊙ of young Pop III stars. Such a large mass of Pop III stars is unlikely without the photoionization feedback scenario, because star formation is expected to inject metals into halos above the atomic cooling threshold (� 10 8 M⊙ at z � 7). We use merger trees to analytically estimate the abundance of observable Pop III galaxies formed through this channel, and find a number density of � 10 −7 Mpc −3 at z = 6.6 (the redshift of CR7). This is approximately a factor of ten lower than the density of Lyα emitters as bright as CR7.
Lipase-catalyzed production of optically active acids via asymmetric hydrolysis of esters

It has been found that lipase fromCandida cylindracea hydrolyzes octyl R(+)- but not S(-)-2-chloropropionate. At the same time, the enzyme exhibits no appreciable stereoselectivity in the hydrolysis of the methyl ester of the same acid. Solubility determination experiments showed that at the concentrations used, methyl 2-chloropropionate was completely dissolved in water, whereas the octyl ester existed as an emulsion in water. It is therefore speculated that in order to express its stereoselectivity the lipase needs to adsorb on the substrate—water interface. R,S-2-chloropropionic acid was preparatively resolved via yeast lipase-catalyzed asymmetric hydrolysis of its octyl ester. Gram quantities of R(+)-chloropropionic acid and octyl S(-)-2-chloropropionate of high optical purity were readily prepared.
Anxiety and sleep as potential mechanisms underlying heightened sympathetic tone in patients with refractory hypertension

(p1⁄40.003). Adolescents with HABP showed significant higher values than normotensives in the AASI, these values were: 0.483 0.3 vs. 0.390 0.2 (p<0.0.04). Spearman Correlation shows a statistically significant correlation between HABP and AASI (r1⁄40.2197, P<0.02) In conclusion, there is a very high prevalence of HABP in adolescent population. In this age group, the AASI is associated with the presence of high ambulatory BP. This condition, associated with arterial stiffness, should be assessed in adolescents with high values of ambulatory blood pressure, because they should be in high cardiovascular risk.
Observations on the Biology of Protortonia Primitiva (CoccidÆ).

The problem of the interrelationship of the various forms of Coccidae still presents so many questions that any generalization on the broader aspects of their phylogeny still rests on a very insecure basis. It is true that in recent years the taxonomy of the group has been attacked with a fresh vigor, but most of the work of the systematists has naturally been concerned only with the external morphology. So far as such studies admit, there seems to be common agreement that the most generalized of the Coccidae, and those perhaps closest to an ancestral type, are represented by the Monophlebinae (or more comprehensively the Margarodidae of Morrison, '28). Any further light thrown on that family especially is therefore of interest and it is with that justification that the present study of the life cycle of one member of the group is given.[*][1] [1]: #fn-1
Glucagonlike Peptide-1 Receptor Expression in the Thyroid Gland: A Case of "Hide-And-Seek"?

Submitted for publication November 17, 2011 Accepted for publication November 17, 2011 From the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts. Address correspondence to Dr. Elliot Sternthal, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Boston Medical Center, 88 East Newton Street, Evans 201, Boston, MA 02118. E-mail: Elliot.sternthal@bmc.org. Copyright © 2011 AACE. Abbreviations: DPP-4 = dipeptidyl-peptidase-4; GIP = glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide; GLP-1 = glucagonlike peptide-1
Completion of the Entire Hepatitis C Virus Life Cycle in Vero Cells Derived from Monkey Kidney

ABSTRACT A hepatitis C virus (HCV) cell culture system incorporating the JFH-1 strain and the human hepatoma cell line HuH-7 enabled the production of infectious HCV particles. Several host factors were identified as essential for HCV replication. Supplementation of these factors in nonhepatic human cell lines enabled HCV replication and particle production. Vero cells established from monkey kidney are commonly used for the production of vaccines against a variety of viruses. In this study, we aimed to establish a novel Vero cell line to reconstruct the HCV life cycle. Unmodified Vero cells did not allow HCV infection or replication. The expression of microRNA 122 (miR-122), an essential factor for HCV replication, is notably low in Vero cells. Therefore, we supplemented Vero cells with miR-122 and found that HCV replication was enhanced. However, Vero cells that expressed miR-122 still did not allow HCV infection. We supplemented HCV receptor molecules and found that scavenger receptor class B type I (SRBI) was essential for HCV infection in Vero cells. The supplementation of apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a host factor important for virus production, enabled the production of infectious virus in Vero cells. Finally, we created a Vero cell line that expressed the essential factors miR-122, SRBI, and ApoE; the entire HCV life cycle, including infection, replication, and infectious virus production, was completed in these cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that miR-122, SRBI, and ApoE were necessary and sufficient for the completion of the entire HCV life cycle in nonhuman, nonhepatic Vero cells. IMPORTANCE HCV is a major cause of chronic liver diseases worldwide, and an effective prophylactic HCV vaccine is needed. For safety reasons, the current HCV cell culture system using HuH-7 cells, which was established from a hepatocellular carcinoma, is not suitable for the production of a vaccine against HCV. A robust HCV production system using non-cancer-derived cells is indispensable for this purpose. In this study, we wanted to establish a novel HCV cell culture system using Vero cells, which are widely used in the production of vaccines against different viruses. We identified the minimum essential host factors for the completion of the entire HCV life cycle in Vero cells to develop a novel HCV cell culture system. A cell culture system that uses Vero cells will be useful not only for HCV vaccine production but also for the further elucidation of the mechanisms of various HCV-host interactions.
Relationship Factors Associated with Sexual Risk Behavior and High-Risk Alcohol Consumption Among Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men: Challenges and Opportunities to Intervene on HIV Risk

The HIV epidemic continues to be a major public health concern, affecting communities with varying prevention and treatment needs. In the U.S., Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) bear a disproportionate burden of HIV incidence. While recent studies have highlighted the relevance of relationship factors for HIV transmission among MSM generally, the unique needs and experiences of Latino MSM have received relatively little attention. Consequently, associations between relationship factors and HIV risk among Latino MSM remain unknown. This mixed-method study examined relationship status and dynamics and potential HIV-related risk behaviors among Latino MSM. Quantitative analyses with 240 Latino MSM investigated associations between relationship status and engagement in condomless anal intercourse (CAI). Focus groups with 20 Latino male couples and 10 health service providers explored the impact of relationship dynamics on sexual behaviors, as well as opportunities to intervene on HIV risk. The majority of participants were predominantly Spanish speaking, most screened positive for high-risk alcohol consumption in the past month, more than half engaged in CAI in the past 3 months, and a majority reported multiple sexual partners in this period. Among participants in same-sex relationships (n = 175), approximately half reported multiple partners in the previous 3 months and more than two-thirds reported CAI in this time period. Being in a same-sex relationship was positively associated with high-risk alcohol consumption and being age 30 or older and negatively associated with having multiple partners. Moreover, being in a same-sex relationship significantly increased the likelihood that participants would report engaging in CAI. Qualitative analyses identified themes related to relationship dynamics and sexual behavior, as well as opportunities to intervene on HIV risk. Despite the challenges encountered by Latino male couples, most participants expressed commitment to and support for their partners. As such, prevention efforts involving Latino male couples must address relationship dynamics and the role they play in sexual health, including safer sex practices.
Managing Waste in India with Foresight

With rising prosperity and urbanisation in emerging and developing economies there has been a rapid expansion of waste generation. India, with an urban population of 377 million that is expected to reach 590 million by 2030, is also facing an unprecedented challenge of waste management. Significant uncertainties about the future trajectories of waste management exist, including the concept of waste as a resource and the role of the informal sector. This article describes an analytical framework that combines foresight and political economy methods used in a multi-stakeholder workshop setting to develop future scenarios for the sector. The process provides insights to increase participation in waste management policymaking in India by opening up the process beyond expert committees. The use of foresight tools with political economy analysis has the potential to democratise the policymaking process of waste management in India for the inclusion of all stakeholders and particular the informal sector.
Pulsed dosing of erlotinib for central nervous system (CNS) progression in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

8116 Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of CNS metastases. Options for CNS progression are limited, particularly with leptomeningeal metastases (LM). High dose EGFR-TKIs have been use...
Splicing Factor Mutations in Myelodysplasias: Insights from Spliceosome Structures

Somatic mutations of pre-mRNA splicing factors recur among patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and related malignancies. Although these MDS-relevant mutations alter the splicing of a subset of transcripts, the mechanisms by which these single amino acid substitutions change gene expression remain controversial. New structures of spliceosome intermediates and associated protein complexes shed light on the molecular interactions mediated by 'hotspots' of the SF3B1 and U2AF1 pre-mRNA splicing factors. The frequently mutated SF3B1 residues contact the pre-mRNA splice site. Based on structural homology with other spliceosome subunits, and recent findings of altered RNA binding by mutant U2AF1 proteins, we suggest that affected U2AF1 residues also contact pre-mRNA. Altered pre-mRNA recognition emerges as a molecular theme among MDS-relevant mutations of pre-mRNA splicing factors.
Interview Mit Eva Menasse Café Ansari, Wien, Juli 2012, und schriftliche Korrespondenz, September 2015

“Family” is repeatedly featured in Eva Menasse’s oeuvre, from her first novel Vienna (2007) to her latest novel, Quasikristalle (2013). As she explains in the following interview, families are secretive and mysterious, and often connected to a specific place. For Menasse, this place is Vienna, a city full of secrets, the place where she was born. Where Menasse’s first novel is set in Vienna and inspired by her own family story, her most recent novel Quasikristalle takes place in Berlin, the city where she has lived for the past fifteen years. In Quasikristalle, Menasse borrows the Nobel Laureate chemist Dan Shechtman’s theory 1 to tell the life story of Xane (Roxane) Molin, who is presented in a kaleidoscopic multiplicity of perspectives via family members, friends and acquaintances. Menasse’s portrayal of Xane’s unpredictable, complicated, and contradictory life story is imparted through the perspective of her son, and features Xane’s early life in Vienna, her marriage to a German intellectual and her life in Berlin, her attempts to become pregnant with the help of fertilization specialists, her problems with being a stepmother, her life as an old woman, and finally her decision to return to Vienna.
Who’s Who in That Picture? The Association between Profile Picture Content and Social Well-Being

Despite significant interest in social well-being and its association with Facebook use, research on profile picture content has been overlooked. The current study asked participants (n = 158) to log into their Facebook account, access their profile pictures, and categorize the content of their profile pictures. Participants then completed an online personality survey at a later date. The results confirmed hypotheses that a high amount of pictures of oneself with close others will be associated with higher levels of social well-being, and a high amount of pictures involving the self only, strangers (celebrities and fantasy) and distant others (deceased, pet) will be associated with lower levels of social well-being. The study also showed important differences between men and women in the association between social well-being and the use of distant others and strangers as profile pictures.
The Ramp Test: An Arthroscopic Technique for Confirming Intra-articular Subluxation and Instability of the Long Head of the Biceps Tendon Within the Shoulder.

Abstract Shoulder arthroscopy in expert hands is now a tool for diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic shoulder arthroscopy begins with a systematic review of the shoulder. This review should include the ramp test for confirming normal superior glenohumeral ligament (SGHL) integrity and function. The ramp test uses manipulation of the biceps tendon to achieve this. A negative ramp test finding means that the SGHL is intact and the biceps tendon moves freely down in a V-type pattern. A positive ramp test finding results when the biceps tendon subluxates through a failed SGHL and therefore presents with a U-shaped pattern indicating pathology. Intra-articular biceps tendon instability occurs due to SGHL tearing, which can lead to upper subscapularis rotator cuff partial tears or complete tears either acutely or over time.
Sucrose metabolism alters Lactobacillus plantarum survival and interactions with the microbiota in the digestive tract

We investigated whether sucrose metabolism by probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum influences the intestinal survival and microbial responses to this organism when administered to mice fed a sucrose-rich, Western diet. A L. plantarum mutant unable to metabolize sucrose was constructed by deleting scrB, coding for beta-fructofuranosidase, in a rifampicin-resistant strain of L. plantarum NCIMB8826. The ScrB deficient mutant survived in 8-fold higher numbers compared to the wild-type strain when measured 24 h after administration on two consecutive days. According to 16S rRNA marker gene sequencing, proportions of Faecalibacterium and Streptococcus were elevated in mice fed the L. plantarum ΔscrB mutant. Metagenome predictions also indicated those mice contained a higher abundance of lactate dehydrogenases. This was further supported by a trend in elevated fecal lactate concentrations among mice fed the ΔscrB mutant. L. plantarum also caused other changes to the fecal metabolomes including higher concentrations of glycerol in mice fed the ΔscrB mutant and increased uracil, acetate and propionate levels among mice fed the wild-type strain. Taken together, these results suggest that sucrose metabolism alters the properties of L. plantarum in the digestive tract and that probiotics can differentially influence intestinal metabolomes via their carbohydrate consumption capabilities.
Selection of donor platelets for alloimmunized patients using a platelet-associated IgG assay

A quantitative immunofluorescence platelet-associated immunoglobulins (PA-IgG) assay was used to detect alloimmunity to platelets in 8/12 multitransfused patients and to perform platelet crossmatching in the 8 alloimmunized patients. The correct separation of multitransfused patients into alloimmune and nonalloimmune groups was substantiated with chromium-51-labeled platelet survival studies. For 5 alloimmunized patients, compatible and incompatible donor platelets were demonstrated by PA-IgG crossmatching and were confirmed by platelet survival studies. With the other 3 alloimmunized patients, only studies with 5 of these incompatible donor platelets showed markedly reduced survival times on 4 occasions. PA-Igg compatible donor platelets survived 3.5- 8.7 days, while PA-IgG incompatible platelets showed survival times of 0.1–2.4 days. Overall, PA-IgG testing correctly indicated survival results on 15/17 occasions (88%), whereas platelet aggregation, serotonin release, and lymphocytotoxicity testing showed correct predictions for only 41%-59% of the survival studies. PA-IgG testing predicted which times, thus indication patients with platelet-specific alloantibodies. the PA-IgG assay provides a sensitive method to detect platelet alloantibodies and to perform platelet crossmatching, which can complement HLA typing in the selection of donor platelets for alloimmunized patients.
The GOP Approach in Bilevel Linear and Quadratic Problems

This chapter presents the primal-relaxed dual decomposition based global optimization approach GOP for bilevel linear and quadratic programming problems as developed by Visweswaran et al. (1996). In section 5.1, the reader is briefly introduced to the bilevel programming literature work. In section 5.2, the bilevel linear problem is formulated followed by the theoretical analysis based on the principles of the GOP algorithm. Section 5.3 presents the modified-GOP approach along with computational studies for bilevel linear programming problems. Finally, section 5.4 presents the theoretical and computational studies for bilevel quadratic programming models based on the GOP principles.
Diagnosing the Problem

Companies fail or seriously under perform their peers because owners, executives and managers don’t or won’t recognize the early warning signs of trouble. Common reasons companies fail, early warning signs and ratios that throw a company’s problems into bold relief can be used as a spur to action.
Reflections on Mathematical Sociology

As a participant in the development of mathematical sociology over the past several decades, the author undertakes a personal and historical review of the field. A special effort is made to link early innovations and interests to recent developments. The paper deals successively with (a) the origins of mathematical sociology and its early achievements, (b) the cognitive interests and values of mathematical sociologists in relation to ideas associated with the founders of sociology, (c) the scope of mathematical contributions in terms of the general components of human action and society, and (d) the problematic specialty status of mathematical sociology. The paper concludes with some thoughts on the future of mathematical sociology.
Presurgical MMPI-2 Cluster Profiles Predict 1-Year Low-Back Surgery Outcomes

The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether empirically derived cluster profiles based on scores from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) predicted outcomes of surgery at 1 year for patients with low-back pain. On the basis of hierarchical cluster analysis of presurgery MMPI-2 scores for 60 patients, three interpretable and significant subgroups were formed. These consisted of a pathological/neurotic type, a double V-code type, and a normal type. The patents in the normal type were significantly more likely to report beneficial outcomes of surgery in terms of disability and pain than those in the other 2 types. These findings extend previous research and suggest (1) low-back surgery candidates are heterogeneous in their psychological profiles, and (2) MMPI-2 profiles are predictive of low-back surgery outcome. Future research should focus on identifying physiological substrates for these distinct profiles and investigating the effectiveness of presurgical psychological interventions based on profile type.
Social conversation skill improvements associated with the Social Tools And Rules for Teens program for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: Results of a randomized controlled trial.

There has been a significant increase in the development of interventions to improve the social competence and success of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The current investigation used direct observation and coding of social conversations as a rigorous method to further assess the efficacy of the Social Tools And Rules for Teens socialization intervention for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in the context of a randomized controlled trial. A total of 35 adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder were randomized to either a treatment or waitlist control group. The 20-week group intervention took place once a week for 90 min per session. Brief video-recorded conversations between participants and unfamiliar, untrained peers were recorded at pre- and post-time points and coded for selected social behaviors (i.e. questions asked, positive facial expressions, and mutual engagement). Results revealed a significant Group × Time treatment effect for both questions asked and positive facial expressions. The findings support that the Social Tools And Rules for Teens intervention can positively impact specific, observable social behaviors through systematic coding of live social conversations within the context of a randomized controlled trial. This investigation is one of the first randomized controlled trials of a group socialization intervention to use systematic coding of live social conversations to assess social competence improvements.
Management and Surveillance of Frontal Sinus Violation following Craniotomy.

Objectives In the setting of craniotomy, complications after traversing the frontal sinus can lead to mucocele formation and frontal sinusitis. We review the etiology of frontal sinus violation, timeline to mucocele development, intraoperative management of the violated sinus, and treatment of frontal mucoceles. Design Case series in conjunction with a literature review. Participants A total of 35 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Nine of these patients were treated at a tertiary academic medical center between 2005 and 2014. The remaining patients were identified through a literature review for which 2,763 articles were identified, of which 4 articles met inclusion criteria. Main Outcomes Measures Etiology of frontal violation, timeline to mucocele development, and method of management. Results The overall interval from initial frontal sinus violation until mucocele identification was 14.5 years, with a range of 3 months to 36 years. The most common cause of mucocele formation was obstruction of the frontal recess with incomplete removal of the frontal sinus mucosa. The majority of patients were successfully managed with an endoscopic endonasal approach. Conclusions Violation of the frontal sinus during craniotomy can result in mucocele formation as an early or late sequela. Image guidance may help avoid unnecessary frontal sinus violation. Mucoceles may develop decades after the initial frontal sinus violation, and long-term follow-up with imaging is recommended. While the endoscopic endonasal approach is usually the preferred method to treat these lesions, it may be necessary to perform obliteration or cranialization in unique situations.
New kinship and FST estimates reveal higher levels of differentiation in the global human population

Kinship coefficients and FST, which measure genetic relatedness and the overall population structure, respectively, have important biomedical applications. However, existing estimators are only accurate under restrictive conditions that most natural population structures do not satisfy. We recently derived new kinship and FST estimators for arbitrary population structures [1, 2]. Our estimates on human datasets reveal a complex population structure driven by founder effects due to dispersal from Africa and admixture. Notably, our new approach estimates larger FST values of 26% for native worldwide human populations and 23% for admixed Hispanic individuals, whereas the existing approach estimates 9.8% and 2.6%, respectively. While previous work correctly measured FST between subpopulation pairs, our generalized FST measures genetic distances among all individuals and their most recent common ancestor (MRCA) population, revealing that genetic differentiation is greater than previously appreciated. This analysis demonstrates that estimating kinship and FST under more realistic assumptions is important for modern population genetic analysis.
REM sleep muscle activity in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder predicts phenoconversion

Objective To determine whether REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) during polysomnography (PSG) predicts phenoconversion in patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), a prodromal feature of a neurodegenerative disease. Methods We analyzed RSWA in 60 patients with iRBD, including manual phasic, tonic, and any muscle activity in the submentalis and anterior tibialis muscles and the automated REM atonia index in the submentals. We identified patients who developed parkinsonism or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) during at least 3 years of follow-up after PSG. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed and receiver operator curves were calculated to determine RSWA cutoffs predicting faster phenoconversion. Results Twenty-six (43%) patients developed parkinsonism (n = 17) or MCI (n = 9). Phenoconverters were older at iRBD diagnosis (p = 0.02). Median time to phenoconversion was 3.9 ± 2.5 years. iRBD phenoconverters had significantly more RSWA at diagnosis. Phenoconversion risk from iRBD diagnosis was 20% and 35% at 3 and 5 years, respectively, with greater risk in patients with iRBD with >46.4% any combined RSWA, which increased further to 30% and 55% at 3 and 5 years for patients >65 years of age at diagnosis. Conclusions Patients with iRBD with higher amounts of polysomnographic RSWA had a greater risk of developing Parkinson disease or MCI. Patients with older age and higher RSWA amounts had more rapid phenoconversion than younger patients with RBD. Our study suggests that RSWA is a potential biomarker for risk stratification of iRBD phenoconversion that could facilitate prognostication for patients with iRBD. Classification of evidence This study provides Class II evidence that for patients with iRBD, increased RSWA correlates with increased risk for developing parkinsonism or MCI.
Flux Ropes Are Born in Pairs: An Outcome of Interlinked, Reconnecting Flux Tubes

Flux transfer events are transient magnetized plasma structures that are self-balancing, rope-like phenomena that can appear at the Earth's magnetopause when the interplanetary magnetic field is so...
Inaccuracies in Media Coverage of the 1996 and 2000 Presidential Debates

This study compared data from content analysis of the 1996 and 2000 presidential debates with news coverage of those debates. Debates and news coverage were content analyzed for functions (acclaims...
Effect of FR Purchases of Government Securities on M1

This chapter statistically examines the relationship of Federal Reserve security purchases to M1 growth and finds a strong relationship, but not much correlation between the growth of M1 and the growth of GDP.
Low-Thrust Maneuverability Using Bilinear Tangent Guidance near Small Bodies

This paper examines the ability of a bilinear tangent guidance law to perform continuous-thrust, single-burn orbital maneuvers in the small-body orbital environment (solar radiation pressure, etc.)...
Reconciling Personal Information in the United States and European Union

Copyright © 2014 California Law Review, Inc.U.S. and EU privacy law diverge greatly. At the foundational level, they differ in their underlying philosophy: In the United States, privacy law focuses on redressing consumer harm and balancing privacy with efficient commercial transactions. In the European Union, privacy is hailed as a fundamental right that can trump other interests. Even at the threshold level-determining what information is covered by the regulation-the United States and European Union differ significantly. The existence of personal information- commonly referred to as personally identifiable information (PII)-triggers the application of privacy law. The U.S. and the European Union define this essential term of privacy law quite differently. The U.S. approach involves multiple and inconsistent definitions of PII that are often particularly narrow. The EU approach defines PII to encompass all information identifiable to a person, a definition that can be quite broad and vague. This divergence is so basic that it threatens the stability of existing policy mechanisms for permitting international data flows.In this Essay, we propose a way to bridge these differences regarding PII. We contend that a tiered approach to the concept of PII (which we call PII 2.0 ) represents a superior way of defining PII compared to the current approaches in the United States and European Union. We also argue that PII 2.0 is consistent with the different underlying philosophies of the U.S. and EU privacy law regimes. Under PII 2.0, all of the Fair Information Practices (FIPs) should apply when data refers to an identified person or when there is a significant risk of the data being identified. Only some of the FIPs should apply when data is merely identifiable, and no FIPs should apply when there is a minimal risk that the data is identifiable. We demonstrate how PII 2.0 furthers the goals of both U.S. and EU privacy law and how PII 2.0 is consistent with their different underlying philosophies. PII 2.0 thus advances the process of bridging the current gap between U.S. and EU privacy law.
JAVA-Based Agent Platform Evaluation

The paper presents a comparison of available JAVA-based agent development tools (platforms) with respect to the specific requirements of agent-based manufacturing control solutions. We discuss the use of agents, as high-level decision-making entities, in combination with the low-level real-time control based on IEC 1131-3 or IEC 61499 standards. The need to run agents, written in JAVA language, as well as the agent platform runtime environment inside existing PLC-based automation controllers is stressed. From this viewpoint, we identify particular attributes which the agent platform should fulfill, like FIPA interoperability, small memory footprint, cost, and security. For selected agent platforms – JADE, FIPA-OS, ZEUS and JACK – we present the results of benchmarking aimed at the speed of the message sending among agents, which might be a crucial property in real-time applications.
Nuns and the effects of catholic schools. Evidence from Vatican II

This paper examines the causal effects of Catholic school attendance on educational attainment. Using a novel instrumental-variable approach that exploits an exogenous shock to the US Catholic school system, we show that the positive correlation between Catholic school attendance and student outcomes is explained by selection bias. Spearheaded by the universal call to holiness, the reforms that occurred at the Second Vatican Council produced a dramatic exogenous change in the cost/benefit ratio of religious life in the Catholic Church. Using the abrupt decline in the number of Catholic sisters as an instrument for Catholic school attendance, we find no evidence of positive effects on student outcomes.
Chapter 4 – Vitamin Deficiency

Freedom from clinical diseases caused by insufficient vitamin nutriture has generally been used as the main criterion by which vitamin requirements have been defined. The term “vitamin deficiency,” therefore, simply refers to the condition of hypovitaminosis, which can be caused by inadequate supply, malabsorption, or impaired metabolism of the vitamin. Hypovitaminosis underlies the various biochemical changes, physiological and/or functional impairments, or other overt disease signs by which the need for a vitamin is defined. The clinical signs of a vitamin deficiency are actually the end result of a chain of events that starts with the diminution in cells and tissues of the metabolically active form of the vitamin and progresses through metabolic perturbations that lead to cellular and, ultimately, organ dysfunction.