cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carbon pools of managed and unmanaged stands of ponderosa and lodgepole pine forests in Wyoming

Forest management practices can have a significant effect on above- and below-ground carbon (C) pools. To better understand the distribution of forest C pools, we evaluated representative forest stands within two dominant Wyoming forest types to assess differences resulting from management practices that have occurred over several decades. Study sites included four ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Lawson & C.Lawson) treatments (100-year-old unmanaged, 46-year-old even-aged, 110-year-old uneven-aged, and 90-year-old intensively harvested) and two lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Engelm. var. latifolia (Engelm. ex Wats.) Critchfield) treatments (145-year-old unmanaged and 45-year-old even-aged). Comparisons of aboveground C pools revealed that distributions of live and dead biomass C pools were different between unmanaged and managed stands; however, belowground soil C pools were similar among stands within the two forest types. Overall, unmanaged stands of both forest types had higher total ecosyst...
A Comparison of Mixing Depths Observed by Ground-Based Wind Profilers and an Airborne Lidar

Abstract The authors compare the mixing depths in the daytime convective boundary layers that were observed remotely by wind profilers and an airborne lidar during the 1995 Southern Oxidants Study. The comparison is used to determine whether the mixing depths deduced from radar reflectivity profiles measured by the wind profilers are the appropriate mixing depths to use in air pollution applications. The profiler mixing depths are based on evidence that the profile of the refractive index structure function parameter exhibits a peak at the boundary layer capping inversion. The lidar mixing depths are determined from the gradient in aerosol backscatter at the top of an aerosol mixing layer. The results of linear regression analysis show that the mixing depths measured by the wind profiler and lidar are in good agreement, particularly in the absence of scattered clouds forming at the top of the convective boundary layer. When significant cumulus convection occurs, the definition of mixing depth from both ex...
Island Universe Problems

We share a common space-time with everything that we interact with in our world. An island universe would be a spatiotemporally interrelated segment of reality that is isolated from the rest of reality; it would be part of our world but something that we cannot interact with. Spatiotemporal interrelatedness plays an important role in a number of metaphysical theories concerning possible worlds. Here I discuss four problems surrounding the possibility of island universes. I contend the most troubling of these problems gives us good reason to think that island universes are possible; metaphysical theories that cannot make sense of the possibility of island universes end up having bizarre implications about alternate possible worlds.
Convergence in feeling, divergence in physiology: How culture influences the consequences of disgust suppression and amplification among European Americans and Asian Americans

Much empirical work documents the downsides of suppressing emotions. Emerging research points to the need for a more sophisticated and culturally informed approach to understanding the consequences of emotion regulation. To that end, we employed behavioral, self-report, and psychophysiological measures to examine the consequences of two types of emotion regulation (suppression and amplification) in a sample of 28 Asian Americans and 31 European Americans. Participants were shown a neutral film and then a series of disgust-eliciting films during which they were asked to regulate their response by suppressing or amplifying their emotional behavior (counterbalanced). Despite self-reporting equal levels of disgust, European Americans showed greater skin conductance reactivity than Asian Americans in both regulation conditions, but not in response to a neutral film. These findings extend work on divergence in the consequences of emotion regulation across different cultural groups, which could help identify optimal emotion regulation strategies for health and well-being.
Niacin Content of Molasses Produced in Different Localities

Abstract Because of the growing importance of molasses as a carbohydrate feed-stuff for livestock and poultry feeding, an investigation was undertaken to study the relationship between the niacin content and the geographical origin of molasses. This report presents the results of this study. Samples of final molasses were obtained from different parts of the world, namely: Cuba, Louisiana (U.S.A.), Dominican Republic, Philippine Republic, Mexico, and Hawaii. Two barrels each from the above countries were obtained. Random samples were pipetted with clean ⅝″ glass tubings from each of four levels in each barrel. The samples were then mixed thoroughly. Five-gram aliquots, replicated twice, were weighed from each sample, extracted with 100 mls. 1N H2SO4, and autoclaved at 15 pounds pressure for 15 minutes. The extracts were cooled, adjusted to pH 6.8, made to volume, and filtered through No. 40 Whatman filter paper. The niacin content was determined microbiologically on aliquots of suitable …
Predicting the highest intensity ion in multiple charging envelopes observed for denatured proteins during electrospray ionization mass spectrometry by inspection of the amino acid sequence.

A simple, manual method for predicting the highest intensity charge states (HICS) of denatured protein ions generated by electrospray ionization based on inspection of the proteins’ amino acid sequence is proposed. The HICS is accurately predicted by identifying groupings of nearby basic amino acids in the positive mode or acidic amino acid residues in the negative mode. The method assumes that the likelihood of having more than one charge per group becomes less likely due to Coulombic repulsion of like charges. It is shown empirically that a spacing of at least three noncharged residues is required between charged amino acids for the charge state with the highest intensity. Verification of this method is presented, and its limitations are identified. It is fast, inexpensive, and provides similar, although less detailed, information as state-of-the-art methods that rely on computational calculations. With a few exceptions, the highest intensity charge states were predicted to an average of one charge stat...
Clinical aspects of Q fever.

Q fever is distributed widely over the world. The disease was originally classified as a rickettsial disease, but certain differences in the organism, mode of transmission, and clinical aspects separate it from this group. Clinically the disease resembles an acute infection with many cases developing atypical pneumonia. Streptomycin, chloramphenicol and aureomycin are of value in treatment.
Effects of Context on Processing (non)-Compositional Expressions

We report a self-paced reading experiment investigating phrasal verbs that are ambiguous between literal/non-literal interpretations (wait on {a bench, a customer}). We tested how/whether contextual biases (towards literal/non-literal interpretations) influence processing ease. Our results suggest an asymmetry in how contextual bias affects processing: When context biases the non-literal interpretation, comprehension proceeds smoothly regardless of whether the verb sequence turns out to be literal or non-literal; when context biases the literal interpretation, processing difficulties arise when the verb sequence turns out to be non-literal. We discuss the implications of our findings for existing models of non-compositional processing.
Benefit of treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in individual patients.

In their recent article, Dobler et al. [1] described a decision aid that estimates a net benefit of treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a low tuberculosis incidence environment. While the aid probably confers some clinical utility as described, its dynamic robustness could be strengthened in some important respects. In a series of previous articles [2–4] using primary longitudinal data from an urban American tuberculosis clinic that would be likely to benefit from use in some form of these authors' decision aid, I showed empirically a number of outcomes relevant to LTBI treatment in a low-incidence, mostly immigrant setting. First, nonadherent patients are likely to experience more adverse and expensive LTBI treatment outcomes (had they completed therapy) [2, 4], and potentially, greater likelihood of TB re-activation [3]; second, a transitional approach to treatment improves the net benefit received over any isoniazid (H) monotherapy (6 months (6H) or 9H) [4]; and third, ethnic heterogeneity in an immigrant clinic population may provide clinicians with guidance on tolerability to isoniazid [4]. LTBI treatment should consider risk of progression and ethnicity in immigrant populations in low-incidence settings
Dry Season Energy Balance of a Coniferous and Broad-leaved Mixed Forest at Dinghushan Mountain, Southern China

Net radiation and heat fluxes in a coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest were monitored by a microclimate monitor system, an eddy covariance (EC) open-path system, and soil heat flux plates during January 9-23, 2003 in Dinghushan Mountain, Southern China. The average net radiation (Rn) above the canopy was 53.14 W m-2. The average latent heat flux (LE) and sensible heat flux (Hs) above the canopy were 57.18 W m-2 and 43.40 W m-2, while the LE and Hs below the forest canopy were 12.61 W m-2 and 7.61 W m-2, respectively. The LE and Hs fluxes estimated by the EC and by the Bowen ratio energy balance method were very similar in daytime, but very different in the rest of the day. The diurnal changes of soil heat flux (Gt) were in an "S" shape. The average Gt was -1.50 W m-2,which suggested that soil was one of the heat sources. The total Gt was only 84.0% of the soil heat flux at 5 cm depth, which indicated that the heat stored by the soil should not be ignored in spite of the thin soil layers. A significant correlation (r = 0.8517) between the amount of heat flux (LE+Hs) and available energy (Rn-Gt) with a slope of 0.9128 suggested that the LE and Hs measured by EC at the research site were within the reasonable range reported in the literature.
Status of tuberculosis cases detected by Non-tuberculosis prevention institutions in Minhang district of Shanghai from 2006-2010

[Objective]To know the detection status of tuberculosis(TB) cases in Minhang District of Shanghai,provide the scientific basis for improving the achievement of TB detection in the future.[Methods]Based on TB control monthly reports in Minhang District and China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention during 2006-2010,the status of TB detection by Non-TB prevention institutions was analyzed.[Results]The majority of detection of TB cases by Non-TB prevention institutions in Minhang District was due to symptoms,and only one tenth of individuals with abnormal pulmonary shadow were diagnosed suspected cases.The arrival rate of suspected TB patients increased from 60.05% in 2006 to 87.06% in 2010.The annual average diagnosis rate was 30%,and there were significant differences in annual arrival rate and diagnosis rate among different years.Most of TB cases were detected by general hospitals among Non-TB prevention institutions.The arrival rate of referral patients in the community hospitals was apparently higher than that in the general hospitals,but the diagnosis rate in the community hospitals was apparently lower than that in the general hospitals.The differences in diagnosis rate of the community hospitals and the general hospital between different years were significant,which was the highest in 2008,while the lowest in 2010.The diagnosis rate of the suspected TB patients reported in other districts was significantly higher than that in Minhang District.[Conclusion]In order to improve the effectiveness of TB detection in Minhang district,it is necessary to cancel the follow-up of abnormal pulmonary shadow,strengthen quality control of chest radiography diagnosis,and enhance the publicity of first diagnosis exemption policies at designated clinics to increase enthusiasm of suspected cases visiting designated clinics.
AMRZone: a runtime AMR data sharing framework for scientific applications

Frameworks that facilitate runtime data sharing across multiple applications are of great importance for scientific data analytics. Although existing frameworks work well over uniform mesh data, they can not effectively handle adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) data. Among the challenges to construct an AMR-capable framework include: (1) designing an architecture that facilitates online AMR data management; (2) achieving a load-balanced AMR data distribution for the data staging space at runtime; and (3) building an effective online index to support the unique spatial data retrieval requirements for AMR data. Towards addressing these challenges to support runtime AMR data sharing across scientific applications, we present the AMRZone framework. Experiments over real-world AMR datasets demonstrate AMRZone's effectiveness at achieving a balanced workload distribution, reading/writing large-scale datasets with thousands of parallel processes, and satisfying queries with spatial constraints. Moreover, AMRZone's performance and scalability are even comparable with existing state-of-the-art work when tested over uniform mesh data with up to 16384 cores; in the best case, our framework achieves a 46% performance improvement.
PSMA ADC for progressive glioblastoma: Phase II Brown University Oncology Research Group Study.

2065Background: Antiangiogenic agents targeting new blood vessel formation are approved to treat progressive glioblastoma (GBM), but limited data are available on the activity of vascular disrupting agents targeting established blood vessels in these tumors. Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane peptidase upregulated on endothelial cells of solid tumors including GBM, making it a potential therapeutic target. A PSMA-targeted monoclonal antibody conjugated with microtubule disrupting agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) is undergoing evaluation in advanced prostate cancer (PSMA ADC, Progenics Pharmaceuticals). Unconjugated MMAE has demonstrated activity against GBM cell lines. Methods: We investigated the activity of PSMA ADC in a single arm Phase II study in progressive GBM patients following prior treatment with radiation, temozolomide and bevacizumab. 2.5 mg/kg PSMA ADC was administered intravenously every 3 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or removal from st...
High Temperature Stable Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) Inscribed Through Polyimide Coating of Optical Fibers Using a Phase Mask

High temperature stable FBGs are observed after 800°C-annealing of Type I gratings that were written through the polyimide coating of H2-loaded high Ge-doped silica fibers with a fs-IR laser and a phase mask.
Feeder Cattle Health Management: Effects on Morbidity Rates, Feedlot Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Beef Palatability1,2

Abstract The effects of morbidity, defined as hospital visits per calf during the feeding period, on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and beef palatability traits were determined using 273 steer calves originating from one of two preconditioning programs or auction barns. Cattle treated more than once at the feedyard had a 12% lower ADG through reimplant (67 d; P 0.05) were noted in the effects of hospital visits or preconditioning treatments on beef tenderness and palatability measures. Overall, morbidity resulted in economic losses as a result of mortality and increased costs associated with hospital treatment. Morbidity also decreased (P
Hybrid Composite Coatings for Durable and Efficient Solar Hydrogen Generation under Diverse Operating Conditions

Safe and practical solar-driven hydrogen generators must be capable of efficient and stable operation under diurnal cycling with full separation of gaseous H2 and O2 products. In this study, a novel architecture that fulfills all of these requirements is presented. The approach is inherently scalable and provides versatility for operation under diverse electrolyte and lighting conditions. The concept is validated using a 1 cm2 triple-junction photovoltaic cell with its illuminated photocathode protected by a composite coating comprising an organic encapsulant with an embedded catalytic support. The device is compatible with operation under conditions ranging from 1 m H2SO4 to 1 m KOH, enabling flexibility in selection of semiconductor, electrolyte, membrane, and catalyst. Stable operation at a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of >10% is demonstrated under continuous operation, as well as under diurnal light cycling for at least 4 d, with simulated sunlight. Operational characteristics are validated by extended time outdoor testing. A membrane ensures products are separated, with nonexplosive gas streams generated for both alkaline and acidic systems. Analysis of operational characteristics under different lighting conditions is enabled by comparison of a device model to experimental data.
Design & Modeling of a Segmented Reflector Test-bed

Abstract Because of the weight and volume constraints of space-borne astronomical instruments, segmented reflectors have become the only practical choice for future astrophysical missions. While a monolithic reflector depends on the mechanical properties of its material to provide the dimensional stability required for good optical performance, a segmented reflector requires an active segment-alignment control system in order to make the reflecting surface have the optical performance of a monolithic unit. This paper describes an experimental test-bed that is being developed at the Control and Structures Research Laboratory (CSRL) at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). The CSRL test-bed is a 2.4 m focal length Cassegrain optical configuration consisting of a 2.66 m actively controlled segmented primary and an active secondary. The primary consists of six hexagonal panels surrounding a fixed central panel and supported by a light-weight flexible truss structure. The project has been funded by NASA to study the complex dynamic behavior of large segmented optical systems.
Abstract 2354: Identification of CDK1 as an aspirin and salicylic acid binding protein: a potential role in chemoprevention

Data emerging from the past 10 years have consolidated the rationale for investigating the use of aspirin for chemoprevention; however, the mechanisms leading to its anti-cancer effects are still being elucidated. We hypothesized that aspirin’s ability to exert chemopreventive effects may involve altering the levels and activity of cell cycle regulatory proteins. In the present study, using HT-29 colon cancer cells and other cancer cells, we demonstrated that both aspirin and its primary metabolite, salicylic acid, downregulated the protein and mRNA levels of cyclin B1 and cyclin dependent kinase-1 (CDK1). Lactacystin, a 26S proteosomal inhibitor, prevented aspirin and salicylic acid mediated degradation of cyclin B1, but not CDK1. Decrease in protein levels of cyclin B1/CDK1 was correlated with a corresponding decrease in CDK1 kinase activity. Molecular docking studies showed that aspirin and salicylic acid independently can dock on CDK1 through interactions with Leucine 83. Incubation of recombinant CDK1 with aspirin resulted in acetylation at lysine residues, this was also observed in cell culture experiments. Pre-incubation of CDK1 with salicylic acid dose dependently prevented aspirin’s ability to acetylate CDK1 in purified preparations confirming the data obtained from molecular docking studies. Our results show that CDK1 is a salicylic acid binding protein (SABP) and the chemopreventive actions of aspirin may involve modulation of levels and activity of cyclin B1 and CDK1. Citation Format: Jayarama B. Gunaje, D.Ramesh Kumar, Siddharth Kesharwani, Eduardo Callegari, Hemachand Tummala, Rakesh Dachineni. Identification of CDK1 as an aspirin and salicylic acid binding protein: a potential role in chemoprevention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2354. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2354
The response of a simulated mesoscale convective system to increased aerosol pollution: Part I: Precipitation intensity, distribution, and efficiency

Abstract Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) are important contributors to rainfall in the High Plains of the United States and elsewhere in the world. It is therefore of interest to understand how different aerosols serving as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) may impact the total amount, rates and spatial distribution of precipitation produced by MCSs. In this study, different aerosol concentrations and their effects on precipitation produced by an MCS are examined by simulating the 8 May 2009 “Super-Derecho” MCS using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS), a cloud-resolving model (CRM) with sophisticated aerosol and microphysical parameterizations. Three simulations were conducted that differed only in the initial concentration, spatial distribution, and chemical composition of aerosols. Aerosol fields were derived from the output of GEOS-Chem, a 3D chemical transport numerical model. Results from the RAMS simulations show that the total domain precipitation was not significantly affected by variations in aerosol concentrations, however, the pollution aerosols altered the precipitation characteristics. The more polluted simulations exhibited higher precipitation rates, higher bulk precipitation efficiency, a larger area with heavier precipitation, and a smaller area with lighter precipitation. These differences arose as a result of aerosols enhancing precipitation in the convective region of the MCS while suppressing precipitation from the MCS's stratiform-anvil. In the convective region, several processes likely contributed to an increase of precipitation. First, owing to the very humid environment of this storm, the enhanced amount of cloud water available to be collected overwhelmed the reduction in precipitation efficiency associated with the aerosol-induced production of smaller droplets which led to a net increase in the conversion of cloud droplets to precipitation. Second, higher aerosol concentrations led to invigoration of convective updrafts which enhanced precipitation in accordance to the convective invigoration hypothesis. The reduction in stratiform precipitation in the more polluted simulations was found to be attributed to the presence of greater aerosol number concentrations that reduced both collision-coalescence and riming. Analysis of back trajeocty flow showed that the air feeding the stratiform-anvil originated within the free troposphere, by mesoscale ascent. Therefore, increased aerosol pollution at higher elevations impacted the stratiform precipitation formation within the simulated MCS. As a consequence, the more polluted simulations produced the smallest precipitation from the MCS stratiform-anvil region. In Part II the impact of aerosols on the severe winds produced by this storm is examined.
Clio’s Arsenal

The twelve-year Truce in the Dutch Revolt occasioned the clash between a liberal Reformed faction, known as Remonstrants, and the orthodox, known as Counter-Remonstrants. After the Synod of Dordt sealed the orthodox victory, the polemic between the two sides on doctrine and the limits of tolerance, first conducted in a pamphlet war, found its culmination in three major church histories: the Remonstrant Uytenbogaert produced the first vernacular church history which anchored the Remonstrant position firmly in the past; he was refuted almost page-by-page by the orthodox Trigland; and finally Brandt published his irenic four-volume History of the Reformation . This study analyzes this marshalling of Clio 1 for their cause by the Remonstrants, and the counterarguments used by the orthodox.
Maternal Use of Weight Loss Products and the Risk of Neural Tube Defects in Offspring: A Systematic Literature Review.

Background Several studies have assessed potential associations between use of weight loss products in the periconceptional period and neural tube defects (NTDs). However, the individual studies are inconclusive and there has not been a systematic review of this literature. Methods We conducted a systematic search, using Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed, to identify studies that evaluated the association between products used for weight loss and the risk of NTDs. Because many studies of birth defects only evaluate a composite birth defect outcome, we evaluated studies that defined the outcome as “any major birth defect” or as NTDs. We abstracted data on study design, exposure definition, outcome definition, covariates and effect size estimates from each article that met our inclusion criteria. For studies that evaluated a composite birth defect outcome, we also abstracted the number of NTD cases included in the composite outcome. We used a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess the quality of each article. Results We screened 865 citations and identified nine articles that met our inclusion criteria. The majority of studies reported positive associations between maternal use of weight loss products and birth defects (overall and NTDs). However, there were few significant associations and there was considerable heterogeneity in the specific exposures assessed across the nine studies. Conclusion Our systematic review of weight loss products and NTDs indicates that the literature on this topic is sparse. Because several studies reported modest, positive associations between risk and use of weight loss products, additional studies are warranted. Birth Defects Research, 2017.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Predicting ion mobility collision cross sections directly from standard quantum chemistry software

A method is proposed to predict ions' collision cross-sectional area from properties that are already evaluated in standard quantum chemistry software. Computed molecular isodensity surface areas recover the predictions of existing projection approximations. Computed solvent cavity areas give comparable accuracy. This provides a simplified workflow for assigning ion-mobility mass spectra.
Enzymic Oxidation of Indole-3-Ethanol

The current level of interest in pathways of auxin biosynthesis is indicated by the substantial number of papers on this topic in this symposium volume and its predecessor (Wightman and Setterfield, 1968). One topic of concern is the placement of certain intermediates, such as indole-3-ethanol, in the pathway. Here we shall direct our attention to the metabolism of indole-3-ethanol (IEt).
The Murine Chediak-Higashi Mutation and Other Murine Pigmentation Mutations

Human Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare, recessively inherited disease with multiple clinical symptoms including increased susceptibility to infection, diluted pigmentation, and giant lysosomes in many tissues (Blume and Wolff, 1972). Other defects, including decreased fusion of lysosomes with phagosomes (Root et al., 1972; Stossel et al., 1912), decreased bactericidal capacity (Root et al, 1972), decreased chemotaxis (Clark and Kimball, 1971), platelet storage disease (Buchanan and Handin, 1976; G. J. Boxer et al., 1977), and defective natural killer cell function (Roder, 1979; Roder and Duwe, 1979; Roder et al., 1979), have more recently been described. Homozygous carriers of the disease suffer from repeated attacks by infectious organisms, often enter an advanced lymphoproliferative phase, and as a result rarely survive their teen years.
1.25 Polymer Films Using LbL Self-Assembly

Biomaterials interact with biological tissue through their surfaces. Therefore, the chemical composition and structure of biomaterial surfaces are of paramount importance to biomedical and tissue-engineering research and applications. The use of polymers to modify biomaterial surfaces offers the advantages of controlling interface architecture and introducing versatile chemical functionalities. Among several techniques of surface modification such as chemical grafting and self-assembled monolayers of organic molecules, layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly emerges as the most versatile technique of surface modification. The technique is most adaptive to the choice of substrate surface chemistry and allows incorporation of a wide variety of chemical functionalities into coatings. Importantly, recent demonstration of postassembly derivatization of LbL films into soft, hydrogel-like films, as well as in situ cross-linking of polymers during deposition using a click chemistry approach significantly increases the appeal of using LbL assembly for surface modification of biomaterials. In this chapter, we discuss fundamentals of LbL deposition of macromolecules at surfaces, structure of fabricated surface films, a wide range of mechanical properties of LbL surface coatings, as well as focus on synthesis and properties of LbL-derived surface hydrogels as a promising candidate for surface modification of biomaterial surfaces.
Possible Synthesis of Element 110 and the Future Prospects for Superheavy Elements

An experiment to synthesize element 110 by the 59Co + 209Bi reaction has been performed. One event with many of the characteristics of a successful synthesis of 267110 was observed. The best reactions for the synthesis of the superheavy elements are discussed.
An entropy based approach for sense-through foliage target detection using UWB radar

In this paper, we study, sense-through foliage target detection using ultra wide-band (UWB) radars. Target detection through foliage is an ongoing research interest due to the complexity of the environment. Foliage is a time varying and rich scattering environment due to the presence of unwanted echoes and movement of the branches of trees. After analyzing the characteristics of different echoes (with and without target), we found more random phenomenon in the targeted region. This leads us to propose a target detection algorithm, an entropy based approach. Entropy is an established method for detecting randomness and capable of handling high amount of data with minimal processing time. When echoes are in good quality, the detection of target can be achieved by applying our method. This is a novel approach based on information theory. We also analyzed the theoretical method of threshold detection by maximum entropy method (MEM). The performance of the algorithm was evaluated, based on real world data.
Falsely elevated serum salicylate concentration secondary to hyperlipidemia

Dear Editor,We report a case of falsely elevated salicylate concentration similar to the case reported by Biary et al. [1] published earlier this year.A 46-year-old male presented to the emergency ...
Practical guide for implementing hybrid PET/MR clinical service: lessons learned from our experience

Positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging, until recently, have been performed on separate PET and MR systems with varying temporal delay between the two acquisitions. The interpretation of these two separately acquired studies requires cognitive fusion by radiologists/nuclear medicine physicians or dedicated and challenging post-processing. Recent advances in hardware and software with introduction of hybrid PET/MR systems have made it possible to acquire the PET and MR images simultaneously or near simultaneously. This review article serves as a road-map for clinical implementation of hybrid PET/MR systems and briefly discusses hardware systems, the personnel needs, safety and quality issues, and reimbursement topics based on experience at NYU Langone Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic.
Changing Delay Discounting and Impulsive Choice: Implications for Addictions, Prevention, and Human Health.

Delay discounting describes the tendency to devalue delayed consequences or future prospects. The degree to which an individual discounts delayed events appears trait-like in that it is stable over time and across functionally similar situations. Steeply discounting delayed rewards is correlated with most substance-use disorders, the severity of these disorders, rates of relapse to drug use, and a host of other maladaptive decisions affecting human health. Longitudinal data suggest steep delay discounting and high levels of impulsive choice are predictive of subsequent drug taking, which suggests (though does not establish) that reducing delay discounting could have a preventive health-promoting effect. Experimental manipulations that produce momentary or long-lasting reductions in delay discounting or impulsive choice are reviewed, and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie these effects are discussed. Shortcomings of each manipulation technique are discussed and areas for future research are identified. Although much work remains, it is clear that impulsive decision making can be reduced, despite its otherwise trait-like qualities. Such findings invite technique refinement, translational research, and hope.
Understanding the Risks and Benefits of Delivery Room CPAP for Term Infants

* Abbreviations: CPAP — : continuous positive airway pressure DR — : delivery room FRC — : functional residual capacity NRP — : Neonatal Resuscitation Program Neonatal resuscitation is dependent on the successful transition from in utero circulation and placental respiration to reliance on pulmonary circulation. This focus on ventilation has been a hallmark of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) since its inception >30 years ago.1 Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was incorporated as a consideration into the algorithm of the NRP in the sixth edition of the program.2 In this month’s issue of Pediatrics , Smithhart et al3 evaluated >200 000 births from a single center and found an increase in pneumothorax in the late preterm and term population that received CPAP in the delivery room (DR) after the implementation of those guidelines. The risk of pneumothorax in this population was particularly increased in those infants receiving CPAP with 21% oxygen.3 This study raises the question of the safety of CPAP in the term and late preterm populations. Newborn transitional physiology is key to understanding why the results in the Smithhart et al3 study might be anticipated. Establishment … Address correspondence to Marya L. Strand, MD, MS, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, 1465 S Grand Blvd, St Louis, MO 63104. E-mail: marya.strand{at}health.slu.edu
Spontaneous curvature, differential stress, and bending modulus of asymmetric lipid membranes

Lipid bilayers can exhibit asymmetric states, in which the physical characteristics of one leaflet differ from those of the other. This most visibly manifests in a different lipid composition, but it can also involve opposing lateral stresses in each leaflet that combine to an overall vanishing membrane tension. Here, we use theoretical modeling and coarse-grained simulation to explore the interplay between a compositional asymmetry and a nonvanishing differential stress. Minimizing the total elastic energy leads to a preferred spontaneous curvature that balances torques due to both bending moments and differential stress, with sometimes unexpected consequences. For instance, asymmetric flat bilayers, whose specific areas in each leaflet are matched to those of corresponding tensionless symmetric flat membranes, still exhibit a residual differential stress because the conditions of vanishing area strain and vanishing bending moment differ. We also measure the curvature rigidity of asymmetric bilayers and find that a sufficiently strong differential stress, but not compositional asymmetry alone, can increase the bending modulus. The likely cause is a stiffening of the compressed leaflet, which appears to be related to its gel transition but not identical with it. We finally show that the impact of cholesterol on differential stress depends on the relative strength of elastic and thermodynamic driving forces: if cholesterol solvates equally well in both leaflets, it will redistribute to cancel both leaflet tensions almost completely, but if its partitioning free energy prefers one leaflet over the other, the resulting distribution bias may even create differential stress. Because cells keep most of their lipid bilayers in an asymmetric nonequilibrium steady state, our findings suggest that biomembranes are elastically more complex than previously thought: besides a spontaneous curvature, they might also exhibit significant differential stress, which could strongly affect their curvature energetics.
Lattice Representation Learning

In this article we introduce theory and algorithms for learning discrete representations that take on a lattice that is embedded in an Euclidean space. Lattice representations possess an interesting combination of properties: a) they can be computed explicitly using lattice quantization, yet they can be learned efficiently using the ideas we introduce in this paper, b) they are highly related to Gaussian Variational Autoencoders, allowing designers familiar with the latter to easily produce discrete representations from their models and c) since lattices satisfy the axioms of a group, their adoption can lead into a way of learning simple algebras for modeling binary operations between objects through symbolic formalisms, yet learn these structures also formally using differentiation techniques. This article will focus on laying the groundwork for exploring and exploiting the first two properties, including a new mathematical result linking expressions used during training and inference time and experimental validation on two popular datasets.
Design method toward creating a three-dimensional asymmetric compound parabolic concentrator

Ideal three-dimensional concentration has been sought for decades in the solar and optical worlds. Nonimaging optics has been able to achieve this thermodynamic maximum concentration limit with certain symmetrical designs, but three-dimensional concentration in which acceptance angles are not symmetric has been a challenge for researchers. Our study outlines a new design approach that hopes to move toward the development of an ideal 3D asymmetric concentrator based on the current asymmetric compound parabolic concentrator (ACPC) design principles. A geometric scheme to revolve a variable ACPC curve about a central axis is presented. The 3D ACPC is compared with a standard compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) in a tilted and angular truncated case. Each design was characterized for performance by examining the angular acceptance/illumination region in angular direction cosine space. Ideal performance was demonstrated for the 3D ACPC design for an off axis circular Lambertian acceptance region in direction cosine plots, whereas the CPC designs failed to maintain a circular Lambertian distribution. High-aperture tilt angles demonstrated an interesting “flaring” of the aperture, which caused a decline in ideal performance. Despite design deformations at high-aperture angles, the 3D ACPC design method presented here is a step toward ideal 3D asymmetric concentration.
F-signature and Hilbert–Kunz multiplicity : a combined approach and comparison

We present a unified approach to the study of F -signature, Hilbert–Kunz multiplicity, and related limits governed by Frobenius and Cartier linear actions in positive characteristic commutative algebra. We introduce general techniques that give vastly simplified proofs of existence, semicontinuity, and positivity. Furthermore, we give an affirmative answer to a question of Watanabe and Yoshida allowing the F -signature to be viewed as the infimum of relative differences in the Hilbert–Kunz multiplicities of the cofinite ideals in a local ring.
Characterization and oncolytic virus targeting of FAP-expressing tumor-associated pericytes in glioblastoma

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are activated fibroblasts constituting the major stromal components in many types of cancer. CAFs contribute to hallmarks of cancer such as proliferation, invasion and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and are associated with poor prognosis of patients with cancer. However, in glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive primary malignant brain tumor, our knowledge about CAFs or CAF-like stromal cells is limited. Here, using commonly accepted CAF markers, we characterized CAF-like cell populations in clinical glioma specimens and datasets along with mouse models of GBM. We found that tumor-associated pericytes marked by co-expression of fibroblast activation protein α (FAP) and PDGFRβ represent major stromal cell subsets in both human GBM and mouse GBM models, while a fraction of mesenchymal neoplastic cells also express FAP in patient tumors. Since oncolytic viruses can kill cancer cells and simultaneously modulate the tumor microenvironment by impacting non-neoplastic populations such as immune cells and tumor vasculature, we further investigated the ability of oncolytic viruses to target GBM-associated stromal cells. An oncolytic adenovirus, ICOVIR15, carrying ∆24-E1A and an RGD-fiber, infects and depletes FAP+ pericytes as well as GBM cells in murine GBM. Our study thus identifies FAP+/PDGFRβ+ pericytes as a major CAF-like stromal cell population in GBM, and highlights the unique property of this oncolytic adenovirus to target both GBM cells and GBM-associated stromal FAP+ cells.
A Religious Profile of American Entrepreneurs

The entrepreneur is a celebrated figure in American society. These innovative risk-takers hold an influential place in the economy and in popular culture. Substantial research has gone into identifying characteristics associated with these individuals, but research on entrepreneurs and religion is surprisingly sparse and inconsistent. Using national survey data, we examine religious affiliation, belief, and behavior for Americans who have started or are trying to start a business. American entrepreneurs appear no different than nonentrepreneurs in religious affiliation, belief in God, or religious service attendance. They do tend to see God as more personal, pray more frequently, and are more likely to attend a place of worship that encourages business activity. A discussion of implications concludes the research note.
The Impact of Nurse Experience and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment on Nurses’ Workflow in an Intensive Care Unit:

The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of Nurse Experience (NE) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) on nurses’ workflow and process time in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). I...
Boundary cells in the representation of episodes in the human hippocampus

The representation of episodes is a fundamental requirement for forming episodic memories, but the specific electrophysiological mechanisms supporting episode construction in the human hippocampus remain unknown. Experiments in rodent models indicate that a population of neurons sensitive to edges of an environment, termed border or boundary neurons in spatial navigation, fulfills a role analogous to episode demarcation. We hypothesized that such boundary neurons could be identified in the human mesial temporal lobe, with firing rates sensitive specifically to the beginning and end of mnemonically-relevant episodes in the free recall task. Using a generalized linear model to control for factors such as encoding success and item onset times along with other variables, we found 44 Boundary neurons out of a total 736 single neurons recorded across 27 subjects. We distinguish boundary neurons from a separate population of ramping neurons, which are time-sensitive neurons whose activity provides complementary but distinct information during episodic representation. We also describe evidence that the firing of boundary neurons within the preferred windows (at the beginning and end of episodes) is organized by hippocampal theta oscillations, using spike-field coherence metrics.
Effects of community policing upon fear of crime: Understanding the causal linkage

Purpose – To identify intervening factors between perceptions of community policing and reduction of crime fear among citizen, which can provide a better understanding of the causal linkage between these two variables.Design/methodology/approach – The present study employs the research data from the 1998 study “Criminal Victimization and Perception of Community Safety in 12 United States Cities,” which was conducted as a supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). This study used only the personal data, which included information on respondents' demographic characteristics, personal crime and victimization experiences, perceptions of neighborhood crime, and experience and satisfaction with local police.Findings – The finding reveals that while vulnerability variables (indirect victimization model) do not affect the relationship between community policing and fear of crime, the perception of incivilities (perceived disorder model) and the dissatisfaction with life‐quality (community conce...
Historical Demography and Demographic History in Africa: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations*

The authors examine the nature of African historical demography with respect to the objectives of demography and the reasons for studying African demography in particular. The variety of available data sources and the methods for African historical demography are reviewed (SUMMARY IN FRE) (ANNOTATION)
Energization of Glucose Transport by Pseudomonas fluorescens

We have measured the capacity of Pseudomonas fluorescens to transport the glucose analog 2-deoxy-d-glucose and the amino acids l-alanine and α-aminoisobutyric acid under conditions in which the cells could generate (i) both a membrane proton motive force and high-energy phosphate compounds, (ii) a proton motive force but not high-energy phosphate compounds, and (iii) neither a proton motive force nor high-energy phosphate compounds. This was done by depleting cells of adenosine triphosphate stores by treatment with sodium arsenate and then suspending them in a phosphate-free medium, where they could generate a proton motive force but not phosphate bond energy, or in a phosphate-containing medium, where they could generate both a proton motive force and phosphate bond energy. Inclusion of the proton-conducting ionophore carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone under either condition precluded the generation of both a proton motive force and phosphate bond energy. The amino acids l-alanine and α-aminoisobutyric acid were transported independently of phosphate bond energy and required only a proton motive force. 2-Deoxy-d-glucose was transported only under conditions in which phosphate bond energy could be generated. These results are consistent with the findings of others that Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces an inducible shock-sensitive glucose-binding protein and conform to the generalization that binding protein-associated transport systems are energized by phosphate bond energy.
Influence Function Learning in Information Diffusion Networks

Can we learn the influence of a set of people in a social network from cascades of information diffusion? This question is often addressed by a two-stage approach: first learn a diffusion model, and then calculate the influence based on the learned model. Thus, the success of this approach relies heavily on the correctness of the diffusion model which is hard to verify for real world data. In this paper, we exploit the insight that the influence functions in many diffusion models are coverage functions, and propose a novel parameterization of such functions using a convex combination of random basis functions. Moreover, we propose an efficient maximum likelihood based algorithm to learn such functions directly from cascade data, and hence bypass the need to specify a particular diffusion model in advance. We provide both theoretical and empirical analysis for our approach, showing that the proposed approach can provably learn the influence function with low sample complexity, be robust to the unknown diffusion models, and significantly outperform existing approaches in both synthetic and real world data.