cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased Fitness of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1 Leucine Auxotrophs in Soil

The annotation process of a newly sequenced bacterial genome is largely based on algorithms derived from databases of previously defined RNA and protein-encoding gene structures. This process generally excludes the possibility that the two strands of a given stretch of DNA can each harbor a gene in an overlapping manner. While the presence of such structures in eukaryotic genomes is considered to be relatively common, their counterparts in prokaryotic genomes are just beginning to be recognized. Application of an in vivo expression technology has previously identified 22 discrete genetic loci in Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1 that were specifically activated in the soil environment, of which 10 were present in an antisense orientation relative to previously annotated genes. This observation led to the hypothesis that the physiological role of overlapping genetic structures may be relevant to growth conditions outside artificial laboratory media. Here, we examined the role of one of the overlapping gene pairs, iiv19 and leuA2, in soil. Although iiv19 was previously demonstrated to be preferentially activated in the soil environment, its absence did not alter the ability of P. fluorescens to colonize or survive in soil. Surprisingly, the absence of the leuA2 gene conferred a fitness advantage in the soil environment when leucine was supplied exogenously. This effect was determined to be independent of the iiv19 gene, and further analyses revealed that amino acid antagonism was the underlying mechanism behind the observed fitness advantage of the bacterium in soil. Our findings provide a potential mechanism for the frequent occurrence of auxotrophic mutants of Pseudomonas spp. in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients.
Richard Nixon as Pinocchio, Richard II, and Santa Claus: The Use of Allusion in Political Satire

Our approach to the uses of metaphor and allusion in political satire is rooted in the interaction view of metaphor offered by the philosopher Max Black. We focus on one central illustration, the assertion that "Richard Nixon is Pinocchio"--contained in a 1970s monologue by the political satirist David Frye. We argue that the meaning attached to this assertion requires us to know about both Richard Nixon and Pinocchio. The more we know of each, the more sophisticated will be our understanding of what makes this allusion both satirical and apt. Also, for an allusion to work, it must not contain elements that appear to contradict the satirist's central thrust, and that central thrust must be comprehensible to the audience even if some of the fine points may be missed. Moreover, some allusions are "richer" and more successful than others, such as that of Nixon as Pinocchio. To demonstrate these points, we contrast two other allusions involving Nixon, one portraying him as Richard II, the other as Santa Claus.
Continuous functional activity monitoring based on wearable tri-axial accelerometer and gyroscope

Given the growing number of elderly people and patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, monitoring functional activities using wearable wireless sensors can be used to promote the Quality of Life and healthier life styles. We propose a novel and practical solution using three small wearable wireless Functional Activity Monitor (FAM) sensors and a smartphone to store, transmit, analyze and update data. Three sensors, each composed of a tri-axial accelerometer and a tri-axial gyroscope, are attached to the chest and both thighs. A computationally efficient signal processing algorithm is designed to accurately measure tilting angles. A continuous activity recognition algorithm is developed using a decision tree based on time series data and spectrum analysis; this algorithm can identify activities of daily life in three general categories: (1) postures such as standing, sitting, and lying; (2) locomotion such as walking; and (3) transitions such as sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit. The results show an accurate angle measurement compared to the motion capture system Optotrak 3020 and a reliable detection of all activities with sensitivity at least 96.2% compared to video recordings.
Solar power forecasting using artificial neural networks

In recent years, the rapid boost of variable energy generations particularly from wind and solar energy resources in the power grid has led to these generations becoming a noteworthy source of uncertainty with load behavior still being the main source of variability. Generation and load balance is required in the economic scheduling of the generating units and in electricity market trades. Energy forecasting can be used to mitigate some of the challenges that arise from the uncertainty in the resource. Solar power forecasting is witnessing a growing attention from the research community. The paper presents an artificial neural network model to produce solar power forecasts. Sensitivity analysis of several input variables for best selection, and comparison of the model performance with multiple linear regression and persistence models are also shown.
The effect of pregnancy on hormone levels and receptors in malignant melanoma.

As previous studies indicate, some cases of malignant melanoma are clearly hormonally dependent as demonstrated by their stimulation by pregnancy and regression following delivery. A case of melanoma initiated during pregnancy and stimulated by a subsequent pregnancy was studied with biochemical receptor studies before and after endocrine manipulation. The negative steriod receptor studies obtained late in the patient's disease at time of endocrine manipulation predicted the lack of response. Results of this study indicate investigations are needed to define the relationship between malignant melanoma and pregnancy.
The effect of maternal body mass index on neonatal outcome in women receiving a single course of antenatal corticosteroids

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effect of maternal body mass index on the incidence of neonatal prematurity morbidities in those who receive corticosteroids. Study Design This was a secondary analysis of a trial of corticosteroids in women at risk for preterm birth. Women receiving a single course of corticosteroids were classified by their prepregnancy body mass index ( Results Of 183 eligible women, 96 (52.5%) had a body mass index of Conclusion Maternal body mass index did not affect neonatal prematurity morbidities in those receiving corticosteroids.
The Historical Development of Neuroscience in Physical Rehabilitation

Neuroscience and occupational therapy in physical rehabilitation have developed along parallel tracks. As physicians began to study the neural bases of motor control, they also began to reconsider the sequelae of "hopeless" diagnoses as conditions that they could influence. This change in some physicians' understanding of the neural mechanisms of motor control influenced other clinicians' ideas about patient care. Early work on treatment of patients with cerebral palsy and polio led to improvements in treatment approaches used to facilitate motor skill and functional motor ability in patients with upper motor neuron disorders. From the 1950s to the present, therapists have refined their treatment techniques as knowledge from neuroscience has become available. A few therapists, who are gradually increasing in number, have turned to the laboratory to study basic neuroscience problems that affect clinical treatment. This article describes the development of neuroscience research and neurorehabilitation theories and indicates common themes.
Determination of Borrelia Surface Lipoprotein Anchor Topology by Surface Proteolysis

We used a surface trypsinolysis assay to probe accessibility of the membrane-proximal N-terminal tether peptides of Borrelia surface lipoproteins OspA and Vsp1. Our findings with both wild-type and mutant proteins are only compatible with the anchoring of these surface lipoproteins in the outer leaflet of the outer spirochetal membrane.
10-GHZ, 1.3-PS ERBIUM FIBER LASER EMPLOYING SOLITON PULSE SHORTENING

An actively mode-locked single-polarization erbium fiber laser modulated at 10 GHz utilizes intracavity soliton formation to produce 1.3-ps pulses, well below the Kuizenga–Siegman limit, without passive mode locking. The observed degree of pulse shortening agrees with the predictions of recently developed soliton laser models. The pulse dropout ratio was measured to be less than 10−12, and the rms amplitude and phase jitter are less than 1.1% and 0.16 ps, respectively.
Comparison of driver behavior at highway-railroad crossings in two cities

This paper attempts to answer two questions pertaining to highway-railroad grade crossing (HRGC) safety. First, does unsafe driver behavior differ at HRGCs located in two cities? Second, is there a difference in drivers' response to the same safety treatment at two HRGCs? The two HRGCs investigated are in Waverly and Fremont, Nebraska. Unsafe behaviors investigated at both locations were passing around closing or closed gates and making U-turns while waiting for trains to pass. The safety treatment used at the HRGCs was a barrier installed along the street center leading up to the gates that made it difficult for drivers to engage in unsafe maneuvers. Analysis of the collected data showed that drivers in Waverly engaged in more frequent gate passing compared with drivers in Fremont. Conversely, drivers in Fremont more frequently made U-turns at HRGCs. Installation of the barrier reduced gate passing and U-turns at both locations; the percentage of reductions in gate passing and U-turns at the two locations were comparable. Based on the results, the conclusions are that drivers' unsafe behavior at HRGCs is location-dependent, but the order of magnitude of drivers' response to the same safety treatment at different locations is quite similar.
ANAPC1 and SLCO3A1 are associated with nicotine dependence: meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies.

Abstract Twin and family studies have shown that there is substantial evidence for a genetic component in the vulnerability to nicotine dependence (ND). The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis on two genome-wide association (GWA) data involving 1079 cases of ND and 1341 controls in Caucasian populations. Through meta-analysis we identified 50 SNPs associated with ND with p −4 . The best associated SNP rs7163369 ( p = 3.27 × 10 −6 ) was located at 15q26 within SLCO3A1 gene while the second best SNP was rs9308631 ( p = 9.06 × 10 −6 ) at 2q12.1 near ANAPC1. The third interesting locus rs688011 ( p = 1.08 × 10 −5 ) was at 11q23.2 intergenic between NCAM1 and TCC12. Through meta-analysis, we found two additional ND associated genes ZCCHC14 (the top SNP was rs13334632, p = 1.28 × 10 −5 ) and KANK1 (the top SNP was rs13286166, p = 1.49 × 10 −5 ). The first top SNP rs7163369 within SLCO3A1 in the meta-analysis was replicated in the Australian twin-family study of 778 families ( p = 6.11 × 10 −5 ) while SNP rs9653414 within ANAPC1 ( p = 4.61 × 10 −5 ) in the meta-analysis was replicated in the family sample ( p = 9.31 × 10 −4 ). Furthermore, rs2241617 in ZCCHC14 and rs4742225 in KANK1 showed strong associations with ND ( p = 1.06 × 10 −7 and 4.81 × 10 −7 , respectively) in the replication sample. In addition, several SNPs of these loci (ANAPC1, KANK1, NACM1, TCC12, SLCO3A1 and ZCCHC14) were associated with alcohol dependence. In conclusion, we identified several loci associated with ND through meta-analysis of two GWA studies. These findings offer the potential for new insights into the pathogenesis of ND.
A Contemporary, Sex-Limited Change in Body Size of an Estuarine Turtle in Response to Commercial Fishing

Juvenile growth rate and adult body size are important components of life-history strategies because of their direct impact on fitness. The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is a sexually dimorphic, long-lived turtle inhabiting brackish waters throughout the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. In parts of its range, terrapins face anthropogenically imposed mortality: juveniles of both sexes inadvertently enter commercial crab traps and drown. For adult females, the carapace eventually grows large enough that they cannot enter traps, whereas males almost never reach that critical size. We compared age structure, carapace dimensions, growth curves, and indices of sexual dimorphism for a Chesapeake Bay population of terrapins (where mortality of turtles is high due to crab traps) with contemporary terrapins from Long Island Sound and museum specimens from Chesapeake Bay (neither group subject to commercial crab traps). We also calculated the allochronic and synchronic rates of evolutionary change (haldanes) for males and females to measure the rate of trait change in a population or between populations, respectively. We found a dramatic shift to a younger male age structure, a decrease in the length of time to terminal female carapace size, a 15% increase in female carapace width, and an increase in sexual dimorphism in Chesapeake Bay. In a new twist, our results implicate a fishery in the selective increase in size of a reptilian bycatch species. These sex-specific changes in life history and demography have implications for population viability that need to be considered when addressing conservation of this threatened turtle.
Multiple pregnancy: an international perspective.

Abstract This article discusses the following areas of interest related to the obstetric care of multiple pregnancy: 1) methods of diagnosis and ultrasound, 2) pregnancy protection through adequate maternal nutrition, 3) mode of delivery, 4) discordant twins, and 5) assisted reproductive technology. The article also emphasizes the FIGO/WHO concerns regarding safe motherhood and proposes a four point program to reduce perinatal death rates in multiple pregnancy. These elements are: 1) adequate primary health care including access to family planning information and technology, 2) prenatal care with referral of high risk patients to specialized centers, 3) the presence of trained personnel for all women in childbirth, 4) effective access to obstetric care for women who are pregnant, giving birth, or recently delivered.
Contribution of anthocyanins to the antioxidant capacity of juvenile and senescing sugar maple (Acer saccharum) leaves

Foliar anthocyanins are hypothesised to provide an additional source of photoprotection from photooxidative stress to the leaves in which they occur through their ability to scavenge excess free radical species. Although demonstrated to significantly enhance the antioxidant status of red morphs of fully expanded leaves of some species, the contribution of anthocyanins to the antioxidant capacity of the juvenile and senescing leaves in which they frequently occur has not been examined. Antioxidant activity of extracts from anthocyanic and non-anthocyanic juvenile and senescing sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) leaves from similar light environments was assessed using the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH). Anthocyanin content was significantly correlated with antioxidant activity in extracts of anthocyanic juvenile leaves but only weakly correlated in extracts of anthocyanic senescing leaves. In addition, the antioxidant activity of anthocyanic and non-anthocyanic leaves was equal in both juvenile and senescing leaves. Thus, although anthocyanins may contribute to the antioxidant capacity of anthocyanic juvenile and senescing sugar maple leaves, these results are not consistent with the hypothesis that anthocyanins provide an enhancement to the photoprotection available in either leaf type through free radical scavenging. The results suggest anthocyanins may be part of alternative strategies employed by anthocyanic juvenile and senescing maple leaves to achieve similar levels of antioxidant capacity as their non-anthocyanic counterparts to cope with the same set of environmental challenges.
Back to the Future? Diabetes, Hiv, and the Boundaries of Public Health

The control of infectious diseases has traditionally fallen to public health and the clinical care of chronic diseases to private medicine. In New York City, how- ever, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has recently sought to expand its responsibilities in the oversight and management of chronic-disease care. In December 2005, in an effort to control epidemic rates of diabetes, the DOHMH began implementing a bold new plan for increased disease surveillance through elec- tronic, laboratory-based reporting of A1C test results (a robust measure of blood- sugar levels). The controversy A1C reporting produced was relatively contained, but when Dr. Thomas Frieden, New York City health commissioner, called for the state to begin tracking viral loads and drug resistance among patients with HIV, both the medical community and a wider public took notice and have started to grapple with the meaning of expanded surveillance. In the context of the past century of medical surveillance in America, we analyze the current debates, focusing first on diabetes and then HIV. We identify the points of contention that arise from the city's proposed blend of public health surveillance, disease management, and quality improvement and suggest an approach to balancing the measures' perils and promises. The control of infectious diseases has traditionally fallen to public health and the clinical care of chronic diseases to private medicine (Frieden 2004). There has, however, never been a clear, consistent boundary between public health and medicine. Public health has, at times, assumed a duty to meet the needs of populations that have been inadequately served by the existing health care system. Debate about the duties and limits of public health have sporadically roiled the public health and medical communities over the course of the past century (Viseltear 1973). How
Neuromorphic fuzzy variable structure controller

The application of a fuzzy logic control (FLC) approach to the design of variable structure systems (VSS) is presented. Rule-based controllers which utilize fuzzy set theory have the advantage of not needing a mathematical description of the plant. This feature of FLC is combined with such properties of sliding motion in VSSs as control independence and reduced computational burden. Simulation results demonstrate the performance of fuzzy VSSs with different degrees of uncertainty. The neural variable structure controller is considered for DC electrical motors. >
Incidence of pediatric traumatic brain injury and associated hospital resource utilization in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to examine the influence of sociodemographic characteristics and health care system factors on the utilization of hospital resources by US children Language: en
On multi-arm manipulation planning

This paper considers the automatic generation of motion paths for several cooperating robot arms to manipulate a movable object between two configurations among obstacles. To avoid collisions the robots may have to change their grasp of the object, for example, by passing it from one arm to another. The case where the movable object can only be moved by two arms acting simultaneously is also considered. An approach for solving this planning problem is described and illustrated with a robot system made of three arms moving in a 3D environment. Experiments with a planner implementing this approach show that it is not only fast, but also reliable in finding collision-free paths. >
Wittgenstein and Spengler

In 1931, writing in a personal journal, Wittgenstein enumerated the names of those thinkers whom he deemed to have been his most important intellectual influences. He makes the strong claim that these are thinkers whose seminal ideas he has taken over, further elaborated and incorporated into his own work. Here are the names he lists in their order of appearance: Boltzmann, Hertz, Schopenhauer, Frege, Russell, Kraus, Loos, Weininger, Spengler, Sraffa. At the time of the first publication of this list in Culture and Value, those familiar primarily with the most widely read and influential writings on Wittgenstein and his philosophical influences, Norman Malcolm's Memoir (including Von Wright's introduction) and Toulmin and Janik's Wittgenstein's Vienna, would most likely have been surprised by the inclusion of Spengler's name. His is the only one on the list that does not appear in either book. Every other thinker named is not only mentioned as an influence on Wittgenstein in one or the other work, but some of the purported details of that influence are offered. And the appearance of Spengler's name is doubly surprising, given the relatively low esteem in which his work is generally held. Of the others listed, perhaps only Weininger fails to emerge as a respected figure.
Robust composite adaptive fuzzy identification and control for a class of MIMO nonlinear systems

A robust adaptive fuzzy identification and trajectory tracking control approach is developed for a class of multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) nonlinear systems in the presense of unmodeled uncertainties, parametric uncertainties, and external disturbances. A sliding mode-based fuzzy model identification/observer method is used to provide additional feedback of the unknown system dynamics. The model identification error is used along with the tracking error as a composite adaptive update law for a fuzzy logic based feeedforward term. The fuzzy logic feedforward term is used in conjunction with a recently developed robust integral of the sign of the error (RISE) feedback method to yield a continuous controller that achieves semi-global asymptotic trajectory tracking.
How Does Concrete Affect Evaporation of Cryogenic Liquids: Evaluating Liquefied Natural Gas Plant Safety

With the impending natural gas boom in the United States, many companies are pursuing Department of Energy (DOE) approval for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is a cryogenic liquid. The next decade also promises to demonstrate growth in LNG-fueled fleets of vehicles and marine vessels, as well as growth in other natural gas uses. The future expansion in the LNG infrastructure will lead to an increased focus on managing the risks associated with spills of LNG. Risk analysis involving LNG spill scenarios and their consequences requires determining the size of resulting ignitable flammable vapor clouds. This in turn depends strongly on the rate of evaporation of the spilled LNG. The evaporation of a cryogenic LNG spill (and thus the flammable vapor cloud hazard) can be quite a complex process, and it is primarily controlled by the rate of spreading of the pool and by the transient conductive heat transfer from the ground to the spilled liquid. Radiative and convective heat transfer are also prese...
In situ synthesis and characterization of uranium carbide using high temperature neutron diffraction

Abstract We investigated the formation of UCx from UO2+x and graphite in situ using neutron diffraction at high temperatures with particular focus on resolving the conflicting reports on the crystal structure of non-quenchable cubic UC2. The agents were UO2 nanopowder, which closely imitates nano grains observed in spent reactor fuels, and graphite powder. In situ neutron diffraction revealed the onset of the UO2 + 2C → UC + CO2 reaction at 1440 °C, with its completion at 1500 °C. Upon further heating, carbon diffuses into the uranium carbide forming C2 groups at the octahedral sites. This resulting high temperature cubic UC2 phase is similar to the NaCl-type structure as proposed by Bowman et al. Our novel experimental data provide insights into the mechanism and kinetics of formation of UC as well as characteristics of the high temperature cubic UC2 phase which agree with proposed rotational rehybridization found from simulations by Wen et al.
Acute Alcohol-Induced Decrease in Muscle Protein Synthesis in Female Mice Is REDD-1 and mTOR-Independent.

Aims To determine the causative role of the REDD (regulated in development and DNA damage)-1 protein, a known negative regulator of mTOR kinase, in changes in muscle protein synthesis induced by acute alcohol administration. Methods Adult female REDD1−/− or wild-type (WT) mice were injected IP with ethanol (alcohol; 3 g/kg BW) or saline and the skeletal muscle was removed 1 h later. In vivo protein synthesis was assessed as were selected endpoints related to the activation of mTOR and protein degradation. Results Acute alcohol decreased muscle protein synthesis similarly in WT and REDD1−/− mice. In contrast, mTORC1 signaling was largely unaffected by either EtOH or genotype as evidenced by the lack of change in the phosphorylation of its downstream targets, S6K1 T389 and 4E-BP1 S65. Although alcohol decreased p62 and ULK1 S757 protein in muscle from WT and REDD1−/− mice, there was no change in LC3B lipidation, or beclin1, Atg7 and Atg12 protein suggesting no change in autophagy. MuRF1 and atrogin-1 mRNAs were elevated in alcohol-treated REDD1−/− mice compared with WT mice suggesting activation of the ubiquitin proteasome activity. While there was no genotype or alcohol effect on plasma corticosterone, REDD1−/− mice failed to demonstrate the alcohol-induced hyperinsulinemia seen in WT mice. Conclusion REDD1 does not appear to play a role in the acute alcohol-mediated decrease in protein synthesis or mTOR activity, but may contribute to the regulation of ubiquitin-proteasome mediated protein breakdown.
Cohort Analysis of Retirement Preparation, 1974–1981

Extending Easterlin's (1987) thesis regarding cohort size and personal welfare, this study was designed to examine cohort differences and changes in preparation for retirement. The data on which the study is based came from two cross-sectional surveys commissioned by the National Council on the Aging and conducted in 1974 and 1981. Major research questions included: (a) Which cohorts are most active in taking steps to prepare for retirement? and (b) Did Americans increase their retirement preparation activities during the time period studied? Results indicate that retirement preparation is influenced by cohort effects, especially among the more recent cohorts, and that earlier cohorts generally prepare more. Most respondents, especially the earlier cohorts, experienced a decrease in retirement preparation between 1974 and 1981 (i.e., a period effect). Analysis of the separate indicators of a retirement preparation index show that most activities, for instance, savings, decreased during this time while others either increased (will preparation) or remained stable (home ownership). The findings suggest that retirement preparation is influenced by economic climate and provide partial support for this application of Easterlin's thesis. Retirement preparation is also strongly related to education and race.
Small Mammal Community Structure in North American Grasslands

The structure of small mammal communities in nine North American grassland types is examined quantitatively utilizing data collected during a 4-year period. Small mammals in each grassland type are divided into groups according to species, size, reproductive strategy, life form, seasonality of activity, and diet. Observed spatio-temporal patterns of faunal composition are related to differences in structure of the different grassland ecosystems. The structural differences identified as being most important are primarily those related to latitudinal and moisture gradients. Temporal variability of small mammal community composition is characteristic of all grassland types. The degree of temporal variability is not easily related to structural differences of the grasslands studied.
The development of a tool for measuring graduate students' topic specific pedagogical content knowledge of thin layer chromatography

Graduate students play a critical role in undergraduate education at doctorate granting institutions; but generally have minimal opportunity to develop teaching expertise. Furthermore, little is known about how graduate students develop teaching expertise in this context. We investigated the development of topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge among chemistry graduate student teaching assistants (GTAs). Thin layer chromatography was selected as the topic of investigation because undergraduate students encounter it throughout organic chemistry lab and it is connected to several foundational chemistry topics. An instrument was developed to measure both content knowledge (CK) and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of thin layer chromatography for GTAs with a range of teaching experience. Data from the test instrument were transformed using the Rasch model and statistically analysed. Our analysis showed that graduate students at all levels of experience performed well on content knowledge questions, but even experienced GTAs demonstrated low levels of pedagogical content knowledge. Importantly, experienced GTAs demonstrated a greater proficiency than novice GTAs, which suggests that pedagogical content knowledge is developed over time.
Analysis on implementation effect of new tuberculosis control model of designated hospital

Objective To analyze the implementation effect of new tuberculosis(TB)control model of designated hospital in Jiangsu province,and to provide scientific evidence for TB control and prevention strategy development.Methods Ten counties which conducted TB control by designated hospitals(Designated Hospital Model) and 10 counties which conducted TB control by county centers for disease control and prevention(CDC)(CDC Model) were selected.Data of diagnosis delay,referral and tracing,systematic management,treatment outcome and data quality of 10 578 TB cases registered from January 2012 to December 2012 were collected.SPSS 17.0 was used for data analysis to evaluate the effects of two models.Results The registration rates were 55.60/100 000(4768/8 575 823) and 55.93/100 000(5810/10 388 634)respectively(χ2=0.091,P=0.763),the overall arrival rates were 99.1%(4939/4985)and 99.2%(6064/6111)respectively(χ2=0.780,P=0.3771),durations from diagnosis to registration were(0.021±0.009)day and(0.025±0.010)day respectively(t=0.419,P0.05),systematic management rates were 99.0%(5048/5097)and 98.7%(5645/5719)respectively(χ2=2.65,P=0.103),and treatment completion rates of smear negative TB cases were 96.6%(3182/3295)and 97.4%(3661/3760)respectively(χ2= 3.82,P0.05)for Designated Hospital Model and CDC Model,which were no statistical significance.The average duration from getting sick to TB diagnosis was(11.117±6.109)day for Designated Hospital Model,less than(15.399±6.866)day for CDC Model(t=12.42,P0.001).The consulting rates with symptoms and signs were 52.0%(2479/4768)and 33.8%(1966/5810)respectively(χ2=352.468,P0.0001),referral rates were 99.1%(4941/4985)and 98.5%(6017/6111)respectively(χ2=9.606,P=0.0019),tracing arrival rates were 99.6%(1320/1325)and 97.9%(1559/1593)respectively(χ2=16.993,P=0.000 04)for Designated Hospital Model and CDC Model,which were all higher in Designated Hospital Model than CDC Model.The cure rates of new smear positive cases were 89.8%(1172/1305)and 94.7%(1293/1366)respectively(χ2=22.03,P0.0001),cure rates of retreated smear positive cases were 80.8%(274/339)and 88.9%(335/377)respectively(χ2=9.06,P0.01),timely rates of information entry were 98.9%(23 571/23 840)and 99.0%(28 773/29 050)respectively(χ2= 4.088,P=0.043),and completion rates of information entry were 98.8%(28 272/28 608)and 99.4%(34 646/34 860) respectively(χ2=60.113,P0.0001)for Designated Hospital Model and CDC Model,which were all lower in Designated Hospital Model than CDC Model,while the rates still meet the requirements of national TB control.Conclusion The implementation of Designated Hospital Model at county level in Jiangsu province has achieved great effect.Designated Hospital Model of TB control is the inexorable trend which accords with the demands of the medical institutions reform,and can adapt to the needs of TB control and be implemented according to the local conditions.
IFC BIM-Based Facility Management Approach to Optimize Data Collection for Corrective Maintenance

AbstractFacility managers are required to collect high-quality data to achieve corrective maintenance actions. Current facility management (FM) information systems are complex and provide high-quality data. However, they lack interoperability and visualization capabilities. The goal of this study is to improve the quality of data collected that is required for corrective maintenance by utilizing visualization and interoperability capabilities of building information modeling (BIM). To achieve that, an approach that implements industry foundation classes (IFC) BIM to link and present alarms reported by FM systems, such as building energy management systems (BEMS) and building automation systems (BAS), with related data from computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) was developed and validated on a typical university building. The results showed an efficiency increase in high-quality maintenance data collection. The proposed approach supplements the existing body of knowledge in the FM domain by pr...
Shape-dependent cellular behaviors and relaxivity of iron oxide-based T1 MRI contrast agents

Recent research efforts about iron oxide nanoparticles has focused on the development of iron oxide-based T1 contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), such as ultrasmall iron oxide nanospheres (USNPs <4 nm) and ultrathin nanowires (NW, diameter <4 nm). In this paper, we report the cellular uptake behaviors of these two types of ultrasmall scale nanostructures on HepG2 cells. Both these two nanostructures were functionalized with tannic acid and their physical and chemical properties were carefully analyzed before cellular tests. Both USNPs and NWs exhibited strong paramagnetic signals, a property suitable for T1 MRI contrast agents. The distinct shapes also caused much difference in their cellular uptake behaviors. Specifically, the uptake of USNPs was five times higher than that of NWs after 72 hours incubation. The shape-dependent cellular uptake can potentially lead to different blood circulation times, and subsequently different applications of these two types of ultrasmall nanostructures.
Rediscovering Papa Franz: Teaching Anthropology and modern life

When confronted with the task of choosing texts for an undergraduate four-field course in a joint sociology/anthropology department, I elected to teach with Franz Boas’ 1928 text, Anthropology and modern life . Six years in, I have become enamored of the text for teaching undergraduates. This essay examines the question of how an early twentieth-century textbook applies to the questions of the twenty-first century and how Boas continues to play an active role in how anthropological work is presented to the public in sites like the Field Museum of Chicago. Considering Boas’ work on race, nationalism, eugenics, and education enables students and others to see themselves in dialogue with a long four-field tradition in anthropology, and revisiting his legacy as professional anthropologists offers us space to be joyful in our own often-troubled history.
Complementary oxide memristor technology facilitating both inhibitory and excitatory synapses for potential neuromorphic computing applications

A new family of crystalline oxides is identified that provide a method of producing complementary memristance (both n and p-type having been demonstrated) with unusually large demonstrated memristance behavior. To the best of our knowledge, these are the only devices having a large enough memristance to have measureable memristance at the macroscopic (10's to 100's of um device size) scale. Additionally, the oxides are highly conducting (low loss) with resistivities for both n and p-type variants in the ~5E-4 ohm-cm range. Complementary Oxide Memristors (both n-type and p-type) have been demonstrated in the same material contrasting all other known memristor technologies which are unipolar. Such behavior could be useful in future neuromorphic computing since n-type material exhibits inhibitory synaptic response (increasing resistance with time/voltage) while p-type material exhibits excitatory synaptic response (decreasing resistance with time/voltage). In principle (not yet demonstrated) this core complementary technology can fully implement neuron/synapse brain function without the need for traditional CMOS.
Tuning the physical properties of amorphous In–Zn–Sn–O thin films using combinatorial sputtering

Transparent conductive oxides and amorphous oxide semiconductors are important materials for many modern technologies. Here, we explore the ternary indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO) using combinatorial synthesis and spatially resolved characterization. The electrical conductivity, work function, absorption onset, mechanical hardness, and elastic modulus of the optically transparent (>85%) amorphous IZTO thin films were found to be in the range of 10-2415 S/cm, 4.6-5.3 eV, 3.20-3.34 eV, 9.0-10.8 GPa, and 111-132 GPa, respectively, depending on the cation composition and the deposition conditions. This study enables control of IZTO performance over a broad range of cation compositions.
Lack of association between the pancreatitis risk allele CEL-HYB and pancreatic cancer

CEL-HYB is a hybrid allele that arose from a crossover between the 3' end of the Carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) gene and the nearby CEL pseudogene (CELP) and was recently identified as a risk factor for chronic pancreatitis. Since chronic pancreatitis is a risk factor for the development of pancreatic cancer, we compared the prevalence of the CEL-HYB allele in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to spousal controls and disease controls. The CEL-HYB allele was detected using Sanger and next generation sequencing. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the CEL-HYB allele between cases with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma compared to controls; 2.6% (22/850) vs. 1.8% (18/976) (p=0.35). CEL-HYB carriers were not more likely to report a history of pancreatitis. Patients with pancreatic cancer are not more likely than controls to be carriers of the CEL-HYB allele.
Simultaneously estimating the task-related and stimulus-evoked components of hemodynamic imaging measurements.

Task-related hemodynamic responses contribute prominently to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) recordings. They reflect behaviorally important brain states, such as arousal and attention, and can dominate stimulus-evoked responses, yet they remain poorly understood. To help characterize these responses, we present a method for parametrically estimating both stimulus-evoked and task-related components of hemodynamic responses from subjects engaged in temporally predictable tasks. The stimulus-evoked component is modeled by convolving a hemodynamic response function (HRF) kernel with spiking. The task-related component is modeled by convolving a Fourier-series task-related function (TRF) kernel with task timing. We fit this model with simultaneous electrode recordings and intrinsic-signal optical imaging from the primary visual cortex of alert, task-engaged monkeys. With high R2, the model returns HRFs that are consistent across experiments and recording sites for a given animal and TRFs that entrain to task timing independent of stimulation or local spiking. When the task schedule conflicts with that of stimulation, the TRF remains locked to the task emphasizing its behavioral origins. The current approach is strikingly more robust to fluctuations than earlier ones and gives consistently, if modestly, better fits. This approach could help parse the distinct components of fMRI recordings made in the context of a task.
Reconstructing the past climate at Gale crater, Mars, from hydrological modeling of late-stage lakes

The sedimentary deposits in Gale crater may preserve one of the best records of the early Martian climate during the Late Noachian and Early Hesperian. Surface and orbital observations support the presence of two periods of lake stability in Gale crater – prior to the formation of the sedimentary mound during the Late Noachian, and after the formation and erosion of the mound to its present state in the Early Hesperian. Here we use hydrological models and late-stage lake levels at Gale, to reconstruct the climate of Mars after mound formation and erosion to its present state. Using Earth analog climates, we show that the late-stage lakes require wetter interludes characterized by semi-arid climates after the transition to arid conditions in the Hesperian. These climates are much wetter than is thought to characterize much of the Hesperian, and are more similar to estimates of the Late Noachian climate.
What Is a Host? Attributes of Individual Susceptibility

ABSTRACT In every epidemic some individuals become sick and some may die, whereas others recover from illness and still others show no signs or symptoms of disease. These differences highlight a fundamental question of microbial pathogenesis: why are some individuals susceptible to infectious diseases while others who acquire the same microbe remain well? For most of human history, the answer assumed the hand of providence. With the advent of the germ theory of disease, the focus on disease causality became the microbe, but this did not explain how there can be different outcomes of infection in different individuals with the same microbe. Here we examine the attributes of susceptibility in the context of the “damage-response framework” of microbial pathogenesis. We identify 11 attributes that, although not independent, are sufficiently distinct to be considered separately: microbiome, inoculum, sex, temperature, environment, age, chance, history, immunity, nutrition, and genetics. We use the first letter of each to create the mnemonic MISTEACHING, underscoring the need for caution in accepting dogma and attributing disease causality to any single factor. For both populations and individuals, variations in the attributes that assemble into MISTEACHING can create an enormity of combinations that can in turn translate into different outcomes of host-microbe encounters. Combinatorial diversity among the 11 attributes makes identifying “signatures” of susceptibility possible. However, with their inevitable uncertainties and propensity to change, there may still be a low likelihood for prediction with regard to individual host-microbe interactions, although probabilistic prediction may be possible.
Volterra-Fredholm Integro-Differential Equations

The Volterra-Fredholm integro-differential equations [1–4] appear in two types, namely: $${u^{\left( k \right)}}\left( x \right) = f\left( x \right) + {\lambda _1}\int_a^x {{K_1}\left( {x,t} \right)u\left( t \right)dt + {\lambda _2}\int_a^b {{K_2}\left( {x,t} \right)u\left( t \right)dt} ,} $$ (9.1) and the mixed form $${u^{\left( k \right)}}\left( x \right) = f\left( x \right) + \lambda \int_0^x {\int_a^b {K\left( {r,t} \right)u\left( t \right)dtdr} ,} $$ (9.2) where \({u^{\left( k \right)}}\left( x \right) = \frac{{{d^k}u\left( x \right)}}{{d{x^k}}}\). The first type contains disjoint integrals and the second type contains mixed integrals such that the Fredholm integral is the interior one, and Volterra is the exterior integral.
Regulation of Morphogenesis by Bacterial Auxin and Cytokinin Biosynthesis Transgenes

Many physiological studies have shown that the plant growth regulators, auxin and cytokinin, have fundamental roles as modulators of plant growth and development. Virtually every aspect of development appears to be affected by these hormones based on observations gathered from hormone applications to cells, tissues or organs. Propagation of plant cells in tissue culture requires both auxin and cytokinin, and in many cases, organogenesis is regulated by the overall ratio of cytokinin-to auxin ; a higher ratio induces shoots and a lower ratio, roots. Limitations of exogenously applied hormones for deciphering the mechanisms of hormone action have recently been supplemented by molecular genetic approaches. The use of hormone mutants and the expression of bacterial genes involved in auxin and cytokinin biosynthesis in transgenic plants have enlarged our understanding of hormone biology and biochemistry.
Leishmania braziliensis (Vianna 1911)

Members of the Leishmania braziliensis complex cause both a cutaneous and mucocutaneous form of leishmaniasis. Its vectors are sandflies of the genus Lutzomyia. The infection is widely distributed throughout Central and South America. The major members of this complex include L. braziliensis (Brazil and Venezuela), L. guyanensis (northern Amazon Basin, including Guyana, Surinam, French Guyana, and parts of Brazil), L. panamensis (Panama and neighboring parts of Costa Rica and Colombia), and L. peruviana (Andean countries).1 There are no data about its prevalence, but it appears to be less frequent than the cutaneous form of the infection. L. braziliensis infection is a zoonosis; wild reservoir hosts include sloths, anteaters, opossum, and rodents.
Decreased erythrocyte survival in hemoglobin H disease as a result of the abnormal properties of hemoglobin H: the benefit of splenectomy.

Two of three siblings with hemoglobin H disease were splenectomized. Both were benefited as judged by improved feeling of well-being, exercise tolerance and improvement in hemoglobin level and in erythrocyte mean lifespan . However, they were still susceptible to hemolytic crises, and their erythrocyte mean lifespan was below the normal range. Erythrocyte survival studies by the Cr51 method indicated a finite lifespan of 40-45 days before splenectomy, which increased to normal following splenectomy. In addition, there was random destruction of the erythrocytes, which was slightly reduced following splenectomy. The erythrocyte survival of a member of this family who had the hereditary leptocytosis trait, but no hemoglobin H, was normal. Evidence is presented indicating that hemoglobin H denatures and precipitates irreversibly at a cell age of 40-45 days, forming intraerythrocytic inclusions which lead to shortening of the erythrocyte finite lifespan due to rapid removal of such erythrocytes by the spleen. In addition, hemoglobin H has a lower solubility in the deoxygenated state and precipitates reversibly, regardless of cell age, in the capillary bed, causing random erythrocyte destruction. Splenectomy is beneficial because of survival of erythrocytes with inclusions whose hemoglobin A presumably retains its function in oxygen transport. Methemoglobin-forming chemicals such as amyl nitrite and drugs such as sulfisoxazole were found to denature hemoglobin H and produce in vitro inclusions in every erythrocyte of these patients but not of normal subjects. It is suggested that the shortening of the erythrocyte survival and the degree of postsplenectomy improvement is greater the higher the amount of hemoglobin H present in the erythrocytes. The apparent aging of the hemoglobin H molecule which leads to shortened erythroctye finite lifespan is discussed, and a concept of aging proteins determining the lifespan and/or the function of cells is advanced.
Long-Term Memory

It is clear that analogy cannot work effectively without recourse to an effective method of storing patterns. However, I suggest that an even stronger statement holds: the nature of analogy actually dictates a particular type of memory structure. The only way analogy can work effectively is if it is coupled with a memory that is specifically structured so as to support analogical reasoning.