cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Note on a Control Procedure for the Reliability of Systems Based on Component Test Data Alone

The note provides some direct calculations on which to base a control procedure for the reliability of systems that can be built up from various arrangements of series and parallel subsystems. Its application is intended to situations where a fully assembled system can not be tested as such, and where there is available only attribute test data on the components of the system. The reliability of an arbitrary system is often representable as some mathematical function of the form F (p1, p2, ... pn) where the p's denote binomial parameters or success probabilities associated with the components of the system. We take as observables the corresponding p?'s representing attribute test data on the components (we are considering situations in which fully assembled system tests are precluded). We then consider the associated function of random variables F? (p?1, p?2, ... p?n) for certain more or less typical systems, that is, systems built up from various series and parallel arrangements of components. The control procedure is then based on some directly computed statistical properties of F?.
Inferring fish orientation from broadband-acoustic echoes

A new method has been developed for inferring the orientation of fish through the use of broadband-acoustic signals. The method takes advantage of the high range resolution of these signals, once temporally compressed through cross-correlation. The temporal resolution of these compressed signals is inversely proportional to the bandwidth, thus the greater the bandwidth the higher the resolution. This process has been applied to broadband-chirp signals spanning the frequency range 40–95 kHz to obtain a range resolution of approximately 2 cm from the original, unprocessed resolution of about 50 cm. With such high resolution, individual scattering features along the fish have been resolved, especially for angles well off normal incidence. The overall duration of the compressed echo from live, individual alewife, as measured in a laboratory tank, is shown to increase monotonically with orientation angle relative to normal incidence. The increase is due to the greater range separation relative to the transducer between the echoes from the head and tail of the fish. The results of this study show that with a priori knowledge of the length of the fish, the orientation could be estimated from the duration of a single, compressed broadband echo. This method applies to individual, acoustically resolved fish. It has advantages over previous approaches because it derives the orientation from a single ping and it does not use a formal, mathematical scattering model. Design parameters for applications in the ocean are given for a range of conditions and fish size. 2003 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
The Role of Sexual Precedence in Verbal Sexual Coercion

Experiences of verbal sexual coercion are common and have potential for negative consequences, yet are not well understood. This study used qualitative and descriptive statistics to examine verbal sexual coercion experiences among a community sample of 114 women and explored the role of sexual precedence in these experiences. Analyses revealed that sexual precedence plays an important role in determining how these experiences come about and why women acquiesce to unwanted intercourse. Verbal persuasion and persistence were the most commonly reported tactics. The valence of this verbal persuasion differed qualitatively according to precedence status, with those having a history of sexual precedence using negative persuasion (e.g., threats to relationship) and those with no precedence relying on positive messages (e.g., sweet talk). Most women used direct verbal resistance to indicate their unwillingness to have sex, regardless of precedence status. Women's reasons for compliance and consequences differed qualitatively according to sexual precedence status.
Intrabiliary MR imaging: assessment of biliary obstruction with use of an intraluminal MR receiver coil.

PURPOSE The primary aim of this study was to determine whether intrabiliary magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is feasible in a clinical setting and to optimize MR imaging parameters for the technique. In addition, it was attempted to determine the accuracy of intrabiliary MR imaging in the setting of biliary obstruction of unknown cause MATERIALS AND METHODS Intrabiliary MR was performed prospectively in 15 patients with biliary obstruction of unknown cause. A 0.030-inch MR intravascular receiver coil was placed in an existing biliary tube. Intrabiliary MR was performed on a 1.5-T system. T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and single-shot fast spin-echo images were acquired. T1-weighted images were also acquired after the administration of a gadolinium contrast agent. Signal intensity analysis was conducted in the region of the common bile duct. Accuracy of intrabiliary MR, computed tomography (CT), MR, and cholangiography were determined by correlation with surgical pathologic findings RESULTS Intrabiliary MR was successfully performed in 14 of 15 patients. MR examinations were performed in less than 1 hour. The signal-to-noise ratio in the region of the common bile duct with the intrabiliary MR technique was increased by a factor of 9 compared with standard surface-coil MR imaging ( P P = .015) with surgical pathologic findings than CT, MR imaging, or cholangiography CONCLUSIONS Intrabiliary MR was well tolerated in a clinical setting and provided high spatial resolution and excellent contrast between the biliary lumen and adjacent structures. Intrabiliary MR demonstrated an advantage in detecting the presence or absence of biliary malignancies compared with currently available standard imaging techniques. The technique may be useful to evaluate biliary obstruction of unknown cause
Cardiac surgery in a child with sacral and intrasacral haemangioma

A 23-month-old female with giant sacral (S1-S5) and intrasacral (L4-S5) haemangioma, lipomyeloschisis and a tethered cord presented for correction of a sinus venosus atrial septal defect. Angiography revealed a large perisacral hypervascular mass with large veins and an intraspinal extension. The patient had a neurogenic bladder and left extremity weakness due to spinal cord compression. The potential for additional neurological injury secondary to bleeding, venous congestion, ischaemia and steal phenomenon during cardiopulmonary bypass is discussed.
Effects of ethinyl estradiol and tamoxifen on liver DNA turnover and new synthesis and appearance of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase-positive foci in female rats.

We investigated possible mechanisms associated with promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis by the synthetic estrogens mestranol (M) and ethinyl estradiol (EE). Our first objective was to determine whether chronic EE treatment was associated with hepatotoxicity accompanied by regenerative hyperplasia. Female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were partially hepatectomized and their liver DNA prelabeled with [3H]thymidine. Two weeks later the rats were treated with EE at three doses or M (using timed-release tablets implanted s.c.) or with 0.05% phenobarbital (PB) in the diet. The rats were killed 6 weeks later and the amount of [3H]thymidine remaining in liver DNA determined. The results showed that none of the promoters caused hepatotoxicity as detected by the loss of prelabeled DNA. EE but not M or PB caused a dramatic dose-dependent enlargement of the pituitary. Subsequent experiments were carried out to define the dose-time response of liver DNA synthesis to treatment with EE, M and PB. Female SD rats were treated with these agents and [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA was determined at various times thereafter. The results showed that EE at 2.5 micrograms/day and PB (0.05%) caused a rapid increase in liver DNA synthesis which peaked between 24 and 72 h and remained elevated for at least the next 7 days. Dose-response experiments with EE- and M-treated rats demonstrated that 24 h after beginning treatment, significant increases in liver DNA synthesis could be detected at an EE dose as low as 0.1 microgram/day; DNA synthesis was also significantly increased by M. The anti-estrogen tamoxifen (T), did not cause increased liver DNA synthesis. However, T at 15 micrograms/day did inhibit the induction of DNA synthesis caused by EE and M at 2.5 micrograms/day but not by PB (0.05%). The effect of T on promotion by EE of the appearance of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)-positive foci was determined. Female SD rats were initiated with a single i.p. dose of diethylnitrosamine at 20 mg/kg given 24 h after partial hepatectomy. One week later the rats were treated with EE (5 micrograms/day), T (15 or 50 micrograms/day) or EE plus T at both doses using timed-release tablets. The rats were killed after 4 months and the incidence, number and size of the GGT foci determined. The results revealed that, as expected, EE enhanced the appearance of GGT foci. Unexpectedly, T alone at both doses also enhanced the appearance of the foci.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
MORPHOLOGY OF GAMETE MEMBRANE FUSION AND OF SPERM ENTRY INTO OOCYTES OF THE SEA URCHIN

Sea urchin gametes predominate in molecular studies of fertilization, yet relatively little is known of the subcellular aspects of sperm entry in this group. Accordingly, it seemed desirable to make a detailed examination of sperm entry phenomena in sea urchins with the electron microscope. Gametes of the sea urchins Arbacia punctulata and Lytechinus variegatus were used in this study. Samples of eggs containing 2 to 8 per cent oocytes were selected and fixed with osmium tetroxide in sea water at various intervals after insemination. Fixed specimens were embedded in Epon 812, sectioned, and examined with an electron microscope. An apical vesicle was observed at the anterior end of the acrosome. The presence of this structure, together with other observations, suggested that initiation of the acrosome reaction in sea urchin sperm involves dehiscence of the acrosomal region with the subsequent release of the acrosomal granule. Contact and initial fusion of gamete membranes was observed in mature eggs and oocytes and invariably involved the extended acrosomal tubule of the spermatozoon. Only one spermatozoon normally enters the mature egg. The probability of locating such a sperm in ultrathin sections is exceedingly low. Several sperm do normally enter oocytes. Consequently, observations of sperm entry were primarily restricted to the latter. The manner of sperm entry into oocytes did not resemble phagocytosis. Organelles of the spermatozoon were progressively divested of their plasma membrane as they entered the ground cytoplasm of the oocyte fertilization cone. Initiation of the acrosome reaction, contact and initial fusion of gamete membranes, and sperm entry into oocytes of sea urchins conform to the Hydroides-Saccoglossus pattern of early fertilization events as described by Colwin and Colwin (13).
Structural basis of substrate recognition by a bacterial deubiquitinase important for dynamics of phagosome ubiquitination.

Manipulation of the host’s ubiquitin network is emerging as an important strategy for counteracting and repurposing the posttranslational modification machineries of the host by pathogens. Ubiquitin E3 ligases encoded by infectious agents are well known, as are a variety of viral deubiquitinases (DUBs). Bacterial DUBs have been discovered, but little is known about the structure and mechanism underlying their ubiquitin recognition. In this report, we found that members of the Legionella pneumophila SidE effector family harbor a DUB module important for ubiquitin dynamics on the bacterial phagosome. Structural analysis of this domain alone and in complex with ubiquitin vinyl methyl ester (Ub-VME) reveals unique molecular contacts used in ubiquitin recognition. Instead of relying on the Ile44 patch of ubiquitin, as commonly used in eukaryotic counterparts, the SdeADub module engages Gln40 of ubiquitin. The architecture of the active-site cleft presents an open arrangement with conformational plasticity, permitting deubiquitination of three of the most abundant polyubiquitin chains, with a distinct preference for Lys63 linkages. We have shown that this preference enables efficient removal of Lys63 linkages from the phagosomal surface. Remarkably, the structure reveals by far the most parsimonious use of molecular contacts to achieve deubiquitination, with less than 1,000 A2 of accessible surface area buried upon complex formation with ubiquitin. This type of molecular recognition appears to enable dual specificity toward ubiquitin and the ubiquitin-like modifier NEDD8.
A New Process Combining Micro-Electro-Discharge-Machining Milling and Sinking for Fast Fabrication of Microchannels With Draft Angle

A comparison of the machining performance of micro-electro-discharge machining (EDM) milling and sinking is proposed considering the fabrication of microchannels with controlled sloped walls realized in a hardened steel workpiece. Adopting the fine-finishing machining regime for both micro-EDM techniques, the experimental results show that micro-EDM sinking is about ten times faster than milling in the worst case, though a lack of accuracy in the final microfeatures in the former case is detected due to not compensated tool wear. On the contrary, micro-EDM milling provides a better control of the microchannel dimensions. Finally, a microfilter mold for medical applications is machined in order to show the potential of the combination of both technologies.
Management of fungal keratitis: Topical or Systemic therapy?

Currently, there are no level one evidence-based studies comparing systemic vs topical therapy for the management of fungal keratitis. Information on systemic efficacy alone or in combination with topical use is rare. Selection of the most appropriate antifungal for fungal keratitis remains a challenge, hindered by the diverse clinical presentation in fungal keratitis, delay in clinical and laboratory diagnosis, limited supply of effective antifungals, lack of ocular pharmacological profiles for current antifungals, nonstandard dosing intervals/routes of administrations, expanding list of causative agents, geographic diversity and the emergence of resistance. Efficacy is gleamed from personal observations, clinical experience, literature reviews, or retrospective data from small or single cases studies and or chart reviews. Taken together, the level of existing evidence is insufficient to determine the role of systemic vs topical therapy for fungal keratitis. Topical therapy remains the standard for treatment of fungal keratitis. Adjunctive therapy with oral or intravenous antifungals may be required for severe or recalcitrant ulcers. Well-powered randomized clinical trials involving diverse and common topical vs systemic therapies are needed to address this question.
Factors in the Current Expansion of the Demand for Food

FOOD PRODUCERS and handlers are asking what is likely to happen in the food market in 1942, with several developments under way which individually tend to produce very different results. Thus, during much of I94I: (i) employment was increasing in some lines while (2) unemployment was threatening in other lines because priorities were curtailing necessary raw material supplies; in the meantime (3) wages were increasing in some industries but remaining stationary in others. In 1942, (I) costs of living are bound to increase, (2) priorities will curtail available supplies of many consumer goods and (3) taxation and "forced" savings may weaken any "propensity to consume." We should like to know, first, how much income is going to be available for consumption; second, how the income is likely to be distributed among population groups; and third, what will be the likely food expenditure patterns at the various income levels if priorities reduce the available supplies of semidurable goods which consumers have been buying. Had time and available data permitted, I should like to have carried out some calculations to obtain an answer to the last question in particular. However, time does not permit making even those calculations which the available data would permit. I shall therefore treat the subject qualitatively, using statistical data only to
Development of GPS IIR space vehicle dynamic model

This paper describes the development of the GPS OR space vehicle dynamic model. A mode survey test was conducted for each of the spacecraft and the solar array assemblies to obtain a test derived dynamic model. In the spacecraft mode survey, the attachment clampband was found not rigid enough to produce fixed-base normal modes. An analytical technique was developed to remove the effects of the clampband flexibility from the measured spacecraft modes. The test derived spacecraft and solar array assembly models were coupled using the component modal synthesis method to form the system dynamic model.
Global Attitude Measurement: An Assessment of the World Values Survey Postmaterialism Scale

The World Values Survey is the product of an unprecedented collaboration of investigators from five continents. Using this survey, an international postmaterialism scale was developed. This scale shows a worldwide trend away from concerns with material well-being toward a postmaterialist value system that emphasizes the free expression of ideas, greater democratization, and the development of more humane societies. The author tests the assumption that a single latent trait of postmaterialism accounts for the observed response patterns to items that make up the scale. Applying a log-linear Rasch model, he tests the assumption that the scale is a consistent cross-national measuring device and find that the scale is not unidimensional. Item bias is identified after controlling for the common stratification variables of gender, education, age, and country
First-Principles Analysis of Structure Sensitivity in NO Oxidation on Pt

The kinetics of Pt-catalyzed NO oxidation on both Pt(111) and Pt(321) are quantified from first-principles using a coverage-aware “reaction site” kinetic model. Density functional theory (DFT)-parametrized cluster expansions are used to predict oxygen coverages and availability of O2 dissociation sites as a function of reaction conditions. DFT calculations are used to parametrize a Bronsted–Evans–Polanyi relationship for O2 dissociation on Pt(321). Ensemble averaging over available sites and their corresponding rates yields total reaction rates. Predicted apparent activation energies and rate orders are consistent with the experimental observations on single crystal catalysts and are most strongly determined by the coverage dependence of O adsorption rather than the statistical availability of O2 dissociation sites. Rates and rate derivatives are similar on the two surfaces over the range of experimental observation and are predicted to differ more significantly outside this range.
Active Multiple Winglets for Improved UAV Performance

The addition of a winglet to a flight vehicle is known t o enhance cruise performance. The addition of multiple, active winglets to an existing un manned aerial vehicle (UAV) is studied to determine the potential of these devices to augmen t both cruise and maneuvering performance. Passive and active multiple winglets are sh own to increase range and endurance, providing the potential for increased payload. Active multiple winglets are shown to be a viable replacement for ailerons and to pr ovide gust alleviation for improved handling qualities and sensor performance. Two methods of predicting winglet performance enhancements are applied and compared to the U.S. Marine Corps Dragon Eye UAV configuration.
Metabolic reprogramming of pyruvate dehydrogenase is essential for the proliferation of glioma cells expressing mutant IDH1.

Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) characterize most adult low-grade gliomas. Mutant IDH1 catalyzes production of the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). We recently discovered that the IDH1 mutation also reprograms pyruvate metabolism in a 2-HG-dependent manner, and that reprogramming of pyruvate metabolism is essential for cell proliferation in glioma cells with mutant IDH1.
Yoga reduces perceived stress and exhaustion levels in healthy elderly individuals.

Abstract This study investigated whether a 7-week yoga intervention could improve physical function, perceived stress, and mental/emotional wellness in elderly participants. Methods 8 participants (66.5 ± 0.3 years) attended 2 60-min Hatha yoga sessions/week for 7 weeks, and performed pre- and post-intervention assessments. Balance was assessed using a 5-test battery. Flexibility was measured by sit-and-reach and shoulder flexibility tests. Functional mobility tests included 8-ft up-and-go, 5 chair stands, and 4-m walk. Participants completed SF-12, exhaustion level, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) questionnaires. Results SF-12 Mental Component Summary scores, exhaustion levels, and PSS scores improved post-intervention. No differences were found for physical function measures. Conclusions Yoga participation can improve mental/emotional wellness, exhaustion levels, and stress levels in elderly individuals, even without measurable improvements in physical function. Clinicians and health practitioners who work with the elderly should consider yoga as a potential therapeutic modality for improving important aspects of quality of life in this population.
Gas and Liquid Phase Diffusivities of Isomeric Metal Complexes Derived from Multifold Ring-Closing Metatheses: Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Trumps DOSY NMR

Isomeric octahedral osmium and rhenium complexes of formulas M(CO)y(X)z(P((CH2)n)3P) and M(CO)y(X)z(P(CH2)n−1CH2)((CH2)n)(P(CH2)n−1CH2) (n/M/y/z/X = 14/Os/2/2/Cl, 14/Os/2/2/Br, 14/Re/3/1/Cl, 18/Os/2/2/Br), in which the phosphorus donor atoms occupy trans positions, are examined by the title techniques. The former gyroscope-like complexes are spherical or ovoid in shape, whereas the latter have phosphacycle “flaps” that increase the volume. Both types diffuse at identical rates in C6D6 as assayed by DOSY NMR, but ions derived from the latter exhibit up to 10% slower drift times in the gas phase by ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMMS). Thus, IMMS, which is seldom applied to isomeric organometallic or coordination compounds, provides superior differentiation.
Undiagnosed Sjögren's Syndrome Presenting as Mesenteric Panniculitis

Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare inflammatory and fibrotic process that affects the small intestine mesentery. It may occur following abdominal surgery or in association with a variety of conditions, including malignancy, infection, and certain autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Herein, an unusual case of mesenteric panniculitis in a patient with primary Sjogren's syndrome will be presented. The patient presented with abdominal pain, weight loss, sicca symptoms, fatigue, and arthralgia. An abdominal CT revealed mesenteric fat stranding and prominent lymph nodes of the small intestine mesentery. She was found on laboratory workup to have positive antinuclear and anti-SSa antibodies. Minor salivary gland lip biopsy revealed focal lymphocytic sialadenitis. The patient's symptoms and CT findings improved with corticosteroids. This case suggests that Sjogren's syndrome should be considered as an underlying disease process in the evaluation of patients with mesenteric panniculitis.
Gender-related imaging issues in assessment of coronary artery disease by nuclear techniques.

Heart disease is a major threat to women's health. However, noninvasive evaluation of women for the presence of significant heart disease is often problematic. Cardiovascular nuclear tests interrogate different consequences of physiologically significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Myocardial perfusion imaging supplies information about regional myocardial blood flow. Radionuclide angiocardiography provides information about ejection fraction and regional wall motion. Infarct and metabolic imaging yield information about myocardial viability. This article briefly discusses the concepts and radionuclides involved in cardiovascular nuclear testing and reviews published studies as they relate to assessment of coronary artery disease in women. Myocardial perfusion imaging is a reasonable test for detection of coronary artery disease in women, especially when attenuation artifacts from breast tissue are taken into account. Intravenous dipyridamole stress provides comparable overall accuracy in women and men although women reportedly have a higher incidence of side effects ; gender-specific data have not been reported for adenosine. Sufficient gender-specific data are also not currently available for either 99m Tc or positron-emitting perfusion tracers. Exercise radionuclide angiography can help determine the probability of significant left main or severe three vessel disease but provides only limited prognostic information in women with CAD. Thus in women, although choice of testing using nuclear techniques depends in part on local experience and expertise, myocardial perfusion imaging appears preferable to radionuclide angiocardiography for detection of significant CAD. To determine the most accurate methods to evaluate women for the presence of significant CAD, all current and future studies of diagnostic testing for CAD should analyze data separately for women and men.
Cul-de-sac fluid in women with endometriosis: fluid volume and prostanoid concentration during the proliferative phase of the cycle—days 8 to 12

Cul-de-sac fluid from women with histologically confirmed endometriosis ( n = 45) or with no evidence of endometriosis ( n = 17) was removed during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle (days 8 to 12) and analyzed for prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), prostaglandin F 2 α (PGF 2 α ), 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F 2 α (PGFM), and thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2 ). The fluid volume was recorded. Peripheral blood was also obtained to determine the concentration of PGFM. Prostanoid concentrations (PGE 2 , PGF 2 α , PGFM, TXB 2 ) in women with endometriosis were not significantly different from a comparable group of disease-free women. Furthermore, a meaningful elevation of prostanoid with increasing severity of disease could not be demonstrated. Plasma PGFM was not significantly different from controls. There was, however, an elevation of PGFM with severity of disease, although this increase was not statistically significant ( P = 0.11). An increase in fluid volume was not demonstrated in women with endometriosis, as compared with controls.
An Empirical Study of Clustering Behavior of Spammers and Group-based Anti-Spam Strategies.

We conducted an empirical study of the clustering behavior of spammers and explored the group-based anti-spam strategies. We propose to block spammers as groups instead of dealing with each spam individually. We empirically observe that, with a certain grouping criteria such as having the same URL in the spam mail, the relationship among the spammers has demonstrated highly clustering structures. By examining the spam mails gathered in a seven-day period, we found that if a spammer is associated with multiple groups, it has a higher probability of sending more spam mails in the near future. We also observed that the spam mails from the same group of spammers often arrive in burst and a very small fraction of the active spammers actually accounted for a large portion of the total spam mails.
The Incidence and Economic Burden of In-Hospital Venous Thromboembolism in the United States.

Abstract Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potentially preventable and costly complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The in-hospital incidence and economic burden of VTE following total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in the United States is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine this issue. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to estimate the total number of THA, TKA, and VTE events using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision procedure codes from years 2002 to 2011. The rate of in-hospital deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), associated length of hospitalization, and current and projected in-hospital charges were obtained. Results Revision arthroplasties had higher rates of in-hospital VTE compared to primary TJAs (2.5% vs 1.6%, P P Conclusion Based on the analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, the rate of in-hospital DVT following TJA appears to have declined over the last decade while the incidence of PE has remained constant. This may indicate that the current recommendations by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons for VTE prophylaxis are adequate for preventing DVT without increasing the rate of PE or that institutional screening and reporting of DVT has been reduced because DVTs became a "never" event.
Frontiers in Precision Medicine: Exploring Science and Policy Boundaries

Precision medicine is being developed today within a complex landscape of public policy, science, economics, law, and regulation. Important features of this landscape include health care financing, patent protection for new innovations, regulatory approvals of tests and therapies, patient consent and access, and protection of privacy. In these and other policy areas, the goal of developing individually-tailored therapies poses novel challenges for health care research, delivery and policy. In December 2015, the University of Utah School of Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute and S.J. Quinney College of Law convened a two-day symposium at which national experts in genetics, medicine, bioinformatics, intellectual property, regulatory science, health economics and bioethics discussed and debated many of the pressing questions raised by precision medicine. The key arguments, conclusions and unresolved issues that emerged from the symposium are summarized in these proceedings.
Biomarkers in Clinical Trials for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a complex systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized by chronic inflammatory polyarthritis, extra-articular features, and autoantibody formation. Although a targeted therapeutic approach using disease-modifying rheumatic drugs has markedly improved overall patient outcomes, there remain significant delays in accomplishing low disease activity in many patients. Reducing the numbers of patients needed for clinical trials is essential to the future of rheumatoid arthritis medical product development programs. Integration of biomarkers into clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis may be helpful for early disease detection, patient stratification, and treatment response assessment. This goal has not yet been realized but can be achievable with good basic and applied research, systematic data collection, and data systems that can be used to integrate and share data. Herein, we explore what is currently known regarding biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis and discuss issues to be addressed as biomarkers are sought for future development programs.
CO removal at ambient conditions: Catalyst screening and impact of operating conditions

Abstract CO oxidation at ambient temperature depends on the type of catalyst formulation as well as the operating conditions such as relative humidity, CO concentration and operating history of the catalyst. A number of catalyst formulations were screened for CO oxidation at ambient conditions and the impact of operating conditions on some of the best performing catalysts was investigated in detail. Commercial gold based catalysts (AUROlite® and NanAuCat®) and transition metal catalysts (Carulite®) were highly active at high CO concentration (>2000 ppm) in dry conditions (0% RH) and their activity decreased with increased moisture content (>25% RH) or decreased CO concentration. Novel promoted Pt catalysts developed during this study (Pt-SnO2/SiO2, Pt-CeO2/SiO2) showed significant activity in humid conditions (10–95% RH) over a wide range of CO concentration (100–10,000 ppm of CO in air); however, these Pt based catalysts were inactive in dry conditions. Further, the hysteresis effect of CO concentration, temperature, water content and CO flux on the catalytic activity was also investigated. The data and performance regime classification described in this study would be highly useful to investigators and technologists interested in developing articles for various CO removal applications.
Combined Heart and Other Organ Transplant

The development of novel immunosuppressives, as mentioned in Chap. 10, has been at the forefront of significant advances and improvements in the care of transplant patients. Inevitably, accompanying this improvement, the last 30 years have seen increased numbers of combined organ transplants. The most common combination involving cardiac transplantation is the heart-lung transplantation [1]; however, heart-kidney, heart-liver, and even heart-lung-liver or heart-lung-kidney combinations are increasing in occurrence. This chapter intends to cover the additional clinical aspects involved in these transplantations from a cardiologist’s perspective; because heart-lung transplantation is by far the most frequent of these combinations, the majority of the chapter will focus on this particular combination as compared to the heart-kidney and heart-liver combinations.
Land disturbance effects of roads in runoff and sediment production on dry-tropical settings

Abstract Accelerated soil loss due to human land use is still one the most critical environmental problems as it can degrade both soils and downstream resources. Major gaps still exist in our knowledge of erosion, particularly in the dry tropics that make up about a fourth of the world's tropical landmass. The Insular Caribbean presents a particular need because erosion here has deleterious effects on soils, nearshore coral reefs, and their associated myriad of ecosystem services. Through plot-scale monitoring of runoff and sediment production over an eleven-month period, this study quantified the impacts of land disturbance on runoff development and sediment production relative to background rates on disturbed surfaces (i.e., roads) in a dry tropical area of Puerto Rico. Results demonstrate that unpaved road surfaces have the potential to generate runoff two to three-and-a-half times more frequently than under natural conditions and that they can produce sediment at rates that are between six to two-hundred times greater than background. These results suggest that land development in small dry-tropical coastal watersheds can potentially induce an increase in the frequency of runoff and sediment delivery into coastal waters even when a relatively small percentage of the land is disturbed. Soil formation simply cannot keep up with accelerated erosion, which implies a net exhaustion of the soil mantle and a decay of the ecological services it provides. Offsetting these soil losses will require implementing proven conservation practices to protect soils and coral reef ecosystems in this and other dry tropical settings.
Asthma prevalence trends by weight status among US children aged 2–19 years, 1988–2014

SummaryBackground Obesity is a risk factor for asthma. However, it is unclear if increased obesity prevalence contributed to rising childhood asthma prevalence. Objective To assess if population-level changes in weight status impacted asthma prevalence over time. Methods Using nationally representative 1988–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data for 40 644 children aged 2–19 years, we analyzed asthma trends by weight status (body mass index age-specific percentiles determined using measured weight and height). Logistic regression and population attributable fraction were used to assess the association between obesity and asthma prevalence. Results Although obesity was a risk factor for asthma throughout the period, asthma prevalence increased only among children with normal weight; there was no interaction between weight status and time. The population attributable fraction for overweight/obesity rose from 8.5% in 1988–1994 to 11.9% in 2011–2014, but this increase was not significant (P = 0.44). Conclusions Together, these data do not support a contribution of obesity trends to asthma prevalence trends.
Accounting Information Technology in Small Businesses: An Inquiry

ABSTRACT This inquiry addresses the prevalence of computerized accounting information technology in the U.S. small business environment. Academic and practitioner literature gives the impression th...
Ecophenotypic variability during times of evolutionary stasis in Middle Devonian Actinopteria (Bivalvia, Pterioidea) from New York—CORRIGENDUM

We examine the morphological variation of a Paleozoic pterineid during a time of relative ecological and taxonomic stability in the Middle Devonian Appalachian Basin in central and eastern New York. We discuss the taxonomic status of the Middle Devonian bivalve Actinopteria boydi (Conrad, 1842) and quantify the variability of its shell disk as well as the width and angle of the auricles and sulci of this otherwise character-poor bivalve species using geometric morphometric techniques employing Cartesian landmarks. We compare variants from three stratigraphic levels (Skaneateles, Ludlowville, and Moscow formations) and from different habitats characterized by lithofacies.The phenotypic variation observed in our data does not amount to an overall directional shift in morphology, i.e., they constitute reversible changes of morphology in a single variable taxon. Our study finds small-scale variation in morphology that represents evidence for ecophenotypic variation through ~3–4 Myr. Differences in substrate coupled with water energy seem to impact this taxon’s morphology. Although no clearly separated groups can be observed, material from muddy facies develops variants with, on average, rounder and broader shell disks than are found in material from silty facies. This morphology could have increased the flow rate of water channeled over the posterior shell portion thereby improving filtration rate, which is especially beneficial in environments with low water energy.
Mechanical Characterization of Polymer Nanocomposites Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been extensively used for strengthening concrete structures. To manufacture FRPs or bond them to concrete structures, usually thermoset polymers are used. The mechanical properties and integrity of these adhesives significantly affect the performance of FRP-strengthened structures. Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are carbon-based functional fillers that possess large surface area and high aspect ratio. They are easy to be processed in the host matrix and have excellent material properties at a relatively low cost. This study investigates the tensile behavior of GNP-reinforced nanocomposites. Two different epoxy matrices, one ductile and another brittle, are considered. First, the effect of ultrasonication duration in dispersion of GNPs is studied. Then, specimens with different GNP concentration levels are prepared to assess the effect of GNP content on the developed nanocomposites. Monotonic uniaxial tensile tests are conducted to study the effect of GNP addition to tensile strength and tensile modulus of two different epoxy resins. Morphology of GNPs and the fracture surface of the developed nanocomposites are also observed using SEM to assess the dispersion of GNPs. Results shows that both tensile strength and tensile modulus of ductile epoxy increase with increasing GNP content up to 1 wt. %, while for brittle epoxy a significant increase in tensile modulus is observed with 2 wt. % GNP concentration together with a slight decrease in tensile strength.
Effect of crystalline orientation on native oxide thickness measured by XPS

The thickness of the native oxide on Si wafers as measured by XPS was shown to be a strong function of the crystalline orientation. The angular dependent curves for photoelectron intensity from the crystalline Si wafer had large peaks and valleys for different crystalline planes on which the take-off angles were scanned, while the angular dependent curve for photoemission from the amorphous oxide layer did not. This difference was concluded to account for the angular dependence of the thickness for the oxide layer measured by XPS. The strong dependence of photoemission from the crystal was attributed either to a phenomenon known as the photoelectron forward scattering or to photoelectron diffraction.
Who’s Afraid of a Little Risk? New Evidence for General Risk Aversion

Triggered by the seminal work of Ward Edwards in the 1950s, the assumption of rationality in decision making as defined in the rational expectations model embraced by economics and other social sciences has come under scrutiny over the last fourty years. Closer inspection has frequently found it lacking in descriptive accuracy. As Edwards pointed out as early as 1954, “it is easy for a psychologist to [show] that an economic man… is very unlike a real man” (p. 382). The general public tends to agree and has not been surprised by the failure of this type of rationality to explain behavior. Thus the novelist Smiley (1995) has one of her characters describe a microeconomics lecture on the topic as “rollicking tales about an entirely alien planet, the Bizarro Planet, home of Bizarro Superman” (p. 141).
Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer or Lynch Syndrome: Gastrointestinal Features

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is a genetic condition in which mutations result in defects in DNA mismatch repair (MMR). It portends a higher risk for colon cancer with approximately an 80 % lifetime risk and is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Approximately 2–7 % of all colorectal cancer in the United States is caused by these mutations with an average age of diagnosis of 44 years old.
The State is Captured Before It Exists: Observations on Power, Resources, and Trust Networks in the Balkans

Analysts of “State Capture” too often treat the phenomenon as an outside-in process. They identify firms or rent-seeking political entrepreneurs that take over, subvert, or otherwise bend political structures to serve their parochial interests. The key to solving the perceived problem is supposed to lie in better governance, strengthened judicial systems, civic education, and transparency in political and civic activities. This essay will suggest this construct involves a misunderstanding of the relationship between patronage networks and supposedly “legitimate” legal and constitutional institutions enshrined in a teleology of Democracy and Rule-of-Law performances. Patronage politics in the Balkans produces pragmatic social management patterns, not just theft by greedy firms and selfish individuals. This argument builds on Charles Tilly’s observation of the inverse relationship between Democracy and trust to explain why externally imposed programs of civic education and political reform designed to free a state from its perceived capture fail to do much more than recruit a thin sliver of local civic activists, scold “captured” populations, and undermine the credibility of international overseers.
Utilization of chest CT for injured patients during visits to U.S. emergency departments: 2012-2015.

Abstract Introduction Increased use of computed tomography (CT) during injury-related Emergency Department (ED) visits has been reported, despite increased awareness of CT radiation exposure risks. We investigated national trends in the use of chest CT during injury-related ED visits between 2012 and 2015. Methods Analyzing injury-related ED visits from the 2012–2015 United States (U.S.) National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), we determined the percentage of visits that had a chest CT and the diagnostic yield of these chest CTs for clinically-significant findings. We used survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression to determine which patient and visit characteristics were associated with chest CT use. Results Injury-related visits accounted for 30% of the 135 million yearly ED visits represented in NHAMCS. Of these visits, 817,480 (2%) received a chest CT over the study period. The diagnostic yield was 3.88%. Chest CT utilization did not change significantly from a rate of 1.73% in 2012 to a rate of 2.31% in 2015 (p = 0.14). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated increased odds of chest CT for patients seen by residents versus by attendings (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41–3.08). Patients aged 18–59 and 60+ had higher AORs (5.75, CI 3.44–9.61 and 9.81, CI 5.90–16.33, respectively) than those Conclusions Overall chest CT utilization showed an increased trend from 2012 to 2015, but the results were not statistically significant.
RAMOSA1 ENHANCER LOCUS2-Mediated Transcriptional Repression Regulates Vegetative and Reproductive Architecture

Transcriptional repression in multicellular organisms orchestrates dynamic and precise gene expression changes that enable complex developmental patterns. Here, we present phenotypic and molecular characterization of the maize (Zea mays) transcriptional corepressor RAMOSA1 ENHANCER LOCUS2 (REL2), a unique member of the highly conserved TOPLESS (TPL) family. Analysis of single recessive mutations in rel2 revealed an array of vegetative and reproductive phenotypes, many related to defects in meristem initiation and maintenance. To better understand how REL2-mediated transcriptional complexes relate to rel2 phenotypes, we performed protein interaction assays and transcriptional profiling of mutant inflorescences, leading to the identification of different maize transcription factors and regulatory pathways that employ REL2 repression to control traits directly impacting maize yields. In addition, we used our REL2 interaction data to catalog conserved repression motifs present on REL2 interactors and showed that two of these, RLFGV- and DLN-type motifs, interact with the C-terminal WD40 domain of REL2 rather than the N terminus, which is known to bind LxLxL EAR motifs. These findings establish that the WD40 domain of TPL family proteins is an independent protein interaction surface that may work together with the N-terminal domain to allow the formation of large macromolecular complexes of functionally related transcription factors.
Secondary cardiac risk stratifying tests after coronary computed tomography angiography in emergency department patients.

Abstract Background Several large trials demonstrated that coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) in a triage strategy could lead to increased secondary cardiac risk stratifying testing (SCRST). Whether this is true for routine clinical care remains unclear. We measured SCRSTs after coronary CTA was implemented in our emergency department (ED) practice by CTA result, and if locally existing management recommendations for a structured post CTA diagnostic strategy were followed. Methods This single site retrospective cohort study included all our ED patients who received coronary CTA between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2016. SCRST's included functional cardiac tests and invasive coronary angiography (ICA), performed during the ED coronary CTA visit or related admission. Results A total of 1916 subjects were included with a mean age of 52.9 ± 10.8 years. Of their coronary CTAs, 179 were positive (severe stenosis, occlusion or ventricular wall motion abnormalities; 9.3%), 105 intermediate (moderate stenosis; 5.5%), 1611 negative (no to mild obstructive CAD; 84.1%) and 21 non-diagnostic (1.1%). SCRSTs were performed in 237 (overall 12.4%, noninvasive in 5.6%, ICA in 6.7%). After positive coronary CTA, 73.7% of subjects received SCRSTs. For intermediate, negative and non-diagnostic CTAs this was 72.4%, 1.1% and 47.6% respectively. Management conformed to local management recommendations in 96.2% of cases. Conclusion In spite of previous trials, rates of secondary cardiac risk stratifying tests after routine clinical ED coronary CTA are low, especially in patients with negative coronary CTA. Structured management guidelines for post coronary CTA, and adherence to these guidelines, appear essential.