cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Substrate dependence of the mechanism of EcoRI endonuclease

Abstract The mechanism of EcoRI endonuclease is substrate dependent. At 37 degrees dissociation of the enzyme-Form II DNA intermediates of ColE1 DNA and bacteriophage G4 RFI DNA is negligible. Therefore, both DNA strands with in the EcoRI sequence are cleaved during a single binding event. However, double strand cleavage of SV40 DNA occurs without dissociation of the enzyme in only 75% of the catalytic events. This mechanistic difference presumably reflects sequence differences about the EcoRI sites of these DNA's.
Direct sampled I/Q beamforming for compact and very low-cost ultrasound imaging

A wide variety of beamforming approaches are applied in modern ultrasound scanners, ranging from optimal time domain beamforming strategies at one end to rudimentary narrowband schemes at the other. Although significant research has been devoted to improving image quality, usually at the expense of beamformer complexity, we are interested in investigating strategies that sacrifice some image quality in exchange for reduced cost and ease in implementation. This paper describes the direct sampled in-phase/quadrature (DSIQ) beamformer, which is one such low-cost, extremely simple, and compact approach. DSIQ beamforming relies on phase rotation of I/Q data to implement focusing. The I/Q data are generated by directly sampling the received radio frequency (RF) signal, rather than through conventional demodulation. We describe an efficient hardware implementation of the beam-former, which results in significant reductions in beam-former size and cost. We present the results of simulations and experiments that compare the DSIQ beamformer to more conventional approaches, namely, time delay beamforming and traditional complex demodulated I/Q beam-forming. Results that show the effect of an error in the direct sampling process, as well as dependence on signal bandwidth and system f number (f#) are also presented. These results indicate that the image quality and robustness of the DSIQ beamformer are adequate for low end scanners. We also describe implementation of the DSIQ beamformer in an inexpensive hand-held ultrasound system being developed in our laboratory.
Correlated alternative side chain conformations in the RNA-recognition motif of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1

The RNA-recognition motif (RRM) is a common and evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding module. Crystallographic and solution structural studies have shown that RRMs adopt a compact α/β structure, in which four antiparallel β-strands form the major RNA-binding surface. Conserved aromatic residues in the RRM are located on the surface of the β-sheet and are important for RNA binding. To further our understanding of the structural basis of RRM-nucleic acid interaction, we carried out a high resolution analysis of UP1, the N-terminal, two-RRM domain of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1), whose structure was previously solved at 1.75–1.9 A resolution. The two RRMs of hnRNP A1 are closely related but have distinct functions in regulating alternative pre-mRNA splice site selection. Our present 1.1 A resolution crystal structure reveals that two conserved solvent-exposed phenylalanines in the first RRM have alternative side chain conformations. These conformations are spatially correlated, as the individual amino acids cannot adopt each of the observed conformations independently. These phenylalanines are critical for nucleic acid binding and the observed alternative side chain conformations may serve as a mechanism for regulating nucleic acid binding by RRM-containing proteins.
The origin of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and their role in the sedimentation of particulate matter

Seasonal changes in the concentration of suspended transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and flux rates of TEP and other particles at 500m were measured at 2-week intervals at a station in the Santa Barbara Channel between May 1995 and June 1997 in order to investigate the hypothesis that the presence of TEP is necessary for the aggregation and subsequent sedimentation of particles from the pelagic zone. During the 2-year period phytoplankton appeared to be the most significant source of TEP. However, in association with phytoplankton, the concentration of TEP was also positively aected by bacteria abundance. Possibly bacteria enhance the production of TEP by phytoplankton. The presence of TEP was necessary for the sedimentation of diatoms. However, only 67% of the peaks in particulate organic carbon flux corresponded to peaks in TEP flux. Lithogenic silica sedimented only when scavenged by marine snow; either by TEP-rich diatom aggregates or by zooplankton-derived snow (larvacean houses). TEP were not involved in the sedimentation of foraminifera. Although sedimentation was the dominant loss processes of TEP out of the euphotic zone, other loss process must have been important at greater depth, as only a small fraction of the standing stock of TEP arrived at 500m. # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Advances in SiC MOS Technology

Silicon carbide (SiC) is the only compound semiconductor whose native oxide is SiO 2 . This places SiC in a unique position to compete with silicon in applications involving high power, high voltages, or high temperatures. SiC MOS technology has made substantial progress in recent years. This article aims to summarize the present status of this field, including MOS analysis techniques, oxidation procedures, experimental results, reliability considerations, alternative insulators, and remaining questions. In addition, we hope to convince the reader of the following: 1. Great care must be exercized in interpreting MOS data on wide bandgap semiconductors. This is due to the extremely long response times for interface states deep in the bandgap. 2. Recent results do not support the argument that interface quality on p-type SiC is inferior to that of n-type.
A Cross-layer Optimized Distributed Scheduling Algorithm for Peer-to-Peer Video Streaming over Multi-hop Wireless Mesh Networks

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) video streaming services on the Internet have gained increasing popularity during the past few years. However, many problems still need to be addressed before it can be widely deployed in the wireless environment. The existing P2P overlay network architecture hides the underlying network topology, assuming channel quality is always in perfect condition. This works well for the Internet-based services, but hardly meets the user-perceived video quality requirement in wireless environments due to the time-varying nature of wireless channels. Inspired by the tightly-coupled relationship between P2P overlay networks and the underlying networks, we propose a novel scheduling algorithm on the basis of a quality-driven cross-layer design framework to jointly optimize the parameters of different network layers to achieve highly-improved video quality for P2P video streaming applications in multi-hop wireless mesh networks. In this paper, the quality-driven P2P scheduling algorithm is formulated into a distributed distortion-delay optimization problem, where the expected video distortion is minimized under the constraint of a given packet playback deadline to select the optimal combination of system parameters residing in different network layers. Then we provide the algorithmic solution to the formulated problem based on dynamic programming. The distributed optimization running on each partner node adopted in the scheduling algorithm greatly reduces the computational intensity. Extensive experimental results demonstrate 5-15dB quality enhancement in terms of PSNR by using the proposed scheduling algorithm.
Differential Headbob Displays toward Neighbors and Nonneighbors in the Territorial Lizard Anolis sagrei

Animals in territorial neighborhoods often show differential behavior toward different classes of conspecifics. We tested whether males of the lizard Anolis sagrei outside of their territorial neighborhoods differed in visual display behavior when matched with neighbors versus with nonneighbors. We captured nine dyads of neighbors and nine dyads of nonneighbors, placed each dyad on an artificial habitat patch in the field, and then observed display behavior for one hour. Dyads of neighbors exhibited a smaller proportion of bobbing headbob displays than did dyads of nonneighbors. The direction of this display difference is consistent with the hypothesis that neighbors were treated less aggressively than nonneighbors.
Dhori virus (Orthomyxoviridae: Thogotovirus) infection in mice: A model of the pathogenesis of severe orthomyxovirus infection

After intranasal, subcutaneous, or intraperitoneal infection with Dhori virus (DHOV), adult mice developed a fulminant and uniformly fatal illness with many of the clinical and pathologic findings seen in mice infected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus. Histopathologic findings in lungs of DHOV-infected mice consisted of hemorrhage, inflammation, and thickening of the interstitium and the alveolar septa and alveolar edema. Extra-pulmonary findings included hepatocellular necrosis and steatosis, widespread severe fibrinoid necrosis in lymphoid organs, marked lymphocyte loss and karyorrhexis, and neuronal degeneration in brain. Similar systemic histopathologic findings have been reported in the few fatal human H5N1 cases examined at autopsy. Because of the relationship of DHOV to the influenza viruses, its biosafety level 2 status, and its similar pathology in mice, the DHOV-mouse model may offer a low-cost, relatively safe, and realistic animal model for studies on the pathogenesis and management of H5N1 virus infection.
Vaso-Pressor Action of Extracts of Plasma of Normal Dogs and Dogs with Experimentally Produced Hypertension:

ConclusionHypertension produced in dogs by means of compression of the renal artery has not been shown by the method employed to be caused by liberation of pressor substances into the blood stream which act directly on the peripheral blood vessels to cause vaso-constriction. Nor is the known pressor secretion of the pituitary gland present in amounts large enough to be detected by the method employed, in the blood of animals with hypertension. These conclusions are based on the following evidence: 1. Alcoholic extracts of plasma of dogs with hypertension when injected into anesthetized cats raises the cat's arterial pressure no more effectively than extracts from plasma of normal animals. 2. Removal of the hypophysis in animals with experimental hypertension does not alter the character of the pressor response to extracts of plasma.
Liver regeneration after major liver hepatectomy: Impact of body mass index.

Background Obese patients may present with metabolic abnormalities that impact liver regeneration. We sought to assess the impact of body mass index (BMI) on liver volume regeneration index (RI) and kinetic growth rate (KGR) among patients undergoing liver resection. Methods The study included 102 patients undergoing major hepatectomy (≥3 segments) between July 2004 and April 2015 and stratified the patients by preoperative BMI, number of segments resected, and postoperative remnant liver volume (RLVp) to total liver volume ratio. Resected volume at operation was subtracted from total liver volume to calculate postoperative RLVp. RI was defined as the relative increase in RLV within 2 months [(RLV2m–RLVp)/RLVp] and 7 months [(RLV7m–RLVp)/RLVp] postoperatively; KGR was calculated as RI divided by time postoperatively (weeks). Results Median patient age was 59.6 years (interquartile range 48.1–68.7 years), and most patients were men (52.0%). Liver failure was associated with the KGR at 2 months (KGR2m) and was greater among patients with KGR2m Conclusion BMI did not impact liver regeneration during the first 2 months. In contrast, KGR per week between 2 and 7 months postoperatively was less among overweight and obese patients.
Enhanced Prefrontal-Amygdala Connectivity Following Childhood Adversity as a Protective Mechanism Against Internalizing in Adolescence

Abstract Background Much research has focused on the deleterious neurobiological effects of childhood adversity that may underlie internalizing disorders. Although most youth show emotional adaptation following adversity, the corresponding neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methods In this longitudinal community study, we examined the associations among childhood family adversity, adolescent internalizing symptoms, and their interaction on regional brain activation and amygdala/hippocampus functional connectivity during emotion processing in 132 adolescents. Results Consistent with prior work, childhood adversity predicted heightened amygdala reactivity to negative, but not positive, images in adolescence. However, amygdala reactivity was not related to internalizing symptoms. Furthermore, childhood adversity predicted increased prefrontal-amygdala connectivity to negative, but not positive, images, yet only in lower internalizing adolescents. Childhood adversity also predicted increased prefrontal-hippocampus connectivity to negative images but was not moderated by internalizing. These findings were unrelated to adolescent adversity or externalizing symptoms, suggesting specificity to childhood adversity and adolescent internalizing. Conclusions Together, these findings suggest that adaptation to childhood adversity is associated with augmentation of prefrontal-subcortical circuits specifically for negative emotional stimuli. Conversely, insufficient enhancement of prefrontal-amygdala connectivity, with increasing amygdala reactivity, may represent a neural signature of vulnerability for internalizing by late adolescence. These findings implicate early childhood as a critical period in determining the brain's adaptation to adversity and suggest that even normative adverse experiences can have a significant impact on neurodevelopment and functioning. These results offer potential neural mechanisms of adaptation and vulnerability that could be used in the prediction of risk for psychopathology following childhood adversity.
Biochemical events in murine cytomegalovirus-infected mouse liver.

SummaryEvidence is provided that during MCMV-infection in mice there is a different effect on different liver lysosomal enzymes. Acid phosphatase showed a variable degree of activation and seemed to play an insignificant role in the tissue breakdown. Acid proteinase on the other hand exhibited increased activation and appears to be partly responsible for MVMC-hepatitis. Total lipids and cholesterol increased several fold, while phospholipids remained constant.This project was supported in part by U.S. Public Health Service DE 02342 and U.S. Public Health Service FR 5309.
Area Fidelity and Intra-field Distribution of Honey Bees During the Pollination of Onions

The intra-field movement of individual honey bees was determined in a hybrid seed onion ( Allium cepa L.) field. Foraging honey bees ( Apis mellifera L.) were captured and tagged with numbered ferrous metal discs that were recovered on subsequent foraging trips by magnets attached to umbels distributed throughout the field. The recovered tags revealed that most bees tended to forage near the initial capture locations but some foraged throughout the field. Bees moved freely between sterile and fertile lines.
Theta-D Controller-Filter for Aeroelastic Flutter Suppression

A new suboptimal nonlinear filter-based feedback control technique for the suppression of aeroelastic flutter is presented in this study. Novelty of this work lies in utilizing a new technique, called the θ-D method for both the controller and the filter formulations. The θ-D method is synthesized by adding perturbations to a typical optimal control formulation with a quadratic cost function. The controller expressions are obtained by getting an approximate solution to the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation. In many applications, an estimation technique is needed for use in the controller feedback since all the system states are usually not available for measurements. By using the dual nature of controllers and filters, a steady state θ-D filter expression is used for the filter dynamics. A controller using this new method has been designed to suppress the aeroelastic flutter of an airfoil using a filter-based feedback design. Simulation results show that the θ-D filter based controller successfully suppresses any aeroelastic flutter over a range of initial conditions and parameter variations.
Determination of Acid OrangeII in Abalone Soup with High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective To develop an analytical method for the analysis of acid orange Ⅱ in abalone soup with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS).Method Samples were extracted by methanol+ammonium acetate buffer(1+1,v/v)and purified on an OASIS WAX SPE column.The chromatographic column of HPLC-MS/MS was Waters Acuity BEH C_ 18(2.1 mm×50 mm,1.7 μm).Acid orange Ⅱ was detected by monitoring the ion transition of m/z 326.9→170.8 and 326.9→155.8 using multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)mode.Results The limit of quantification(LOQ)was 0.1 mg/kg,and the recoveries of two spiked samples(5 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg)were 87.0% and 101% respectively.The calibration curves showed good linearity in the range of 10-5000 μg/L with correlation coefficients larger than 0.999.The detection of acid orange Ⅱ in 14 samples from restaurants showed that the concentration of acid orange Ⅱ in 7 samples were 1.2-73.8 mg/g.Conclusion The method could meet the requirement for fast and accurate detection of acid orange Ⅱ in abalone soup.
Knowledge awareness of tuberculosis prevention and control among primary and secondary school students in a city of China

Objective To know about students' knowledge of tuberculosis prevention and their access to obtaining the knowledge in elementary and high schools of Linan city,to provide scientific basis for health education of tuberculosis prevention and control.Methods Stratified cluster sampling was adopted to conduct questionnaire survey on tuberculosis prevention among 634 students.Results The total awareness rates of core information among elementary students,junior high school students and senior high school students were 85.3%,84.3% and 67.2%.The proportions of students who answered all right were 21.64%,47.41% and 49.03%.The main access to knowledge was school education among elementary students and junior high school students,and newspaper,magazines and periodicals among senior high school students.Conclusion Students in Linan city have a satisfactory master of TB prevention knowledge,which meets the targets of TB prevention,yet there still exist some weaknesses,which call for creative health education modes and approaches.
Solid state reaction kinetics of iron oxide reduction using hydrogen as a reducing agent

Abstract The thermochemical reduction of metal oxides is important for fuel production using chemical looping processes as well as metal extraction from ore. In this study, reaction kinetics for the reduction of iron oxide using hydrogen as a reducing agent is studied. Experiments are conducted with the iron-silica Magnetically Stabilized Porous Structure (MSPS) for different reaction conditions, including reaction temperature, hydrogen inlet molar concentration, and hydrogen inlet flow rate. The reduction reaction is characterized by step-wise conversion of magnetite to elemental iron via wustite. Thus the reaction kinetics is governed by the coexistence of two reactions, magnetite to wustite and wustite to iron conversions. A one-dimensional plug flow isothermal kinetic model is proposed, and a numerical scheme is developed to solve the species transport and substrate conservation equations. The numerical scheme is used as a tool to calibrate the kinetic model, and the critical kinetic parameters, including activation energy, pre-exponent, and order of reaction, are determined for both reactions. The reaction mechanism for both reactions is identified, and a transition in the reaction mechanism is captured with different models. The kinetic model shows good agreement with the experimental data for different operating conditions. This study provides a basis for scaling bench scale hydrogen reduction reactors to an industrial scale.
Using Multiple External Collections for Query Expansion.

First, we investigated the possibility of using query sessions from PubMed query logs for improving the estimation of a relevance model. In a typical search scenario, a user may submit multiple queries before she actually finds satisfactory search results. These closely related queries form a single query session which represents a single information need. By finding relevant query sessions with regard to a Medical Track topic we can incorporate into our relevance model useful query terms which reflect real information needs that are more or less related to the Medical Track topic.
4‐Aminopyridine promotes functional recovery and remyelination in acute peripheral nerve injury

Traumatic peripheral nerve damage is a major medical problem without effective treatment options. In repurposing studies on 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), a potassium channel blocker that provides symptomatic relief in some chronic neurological afflictions, we discovered this agent offers significant promise as a small molecule regenerative agent for acute traumatic nerve injury. We found, in a mouse model of sciatic crush injury, that sustained early 4-AP administration increased the speed and extent of behavioral recovery too rapidly to be explained by axonal regeneration. Further studies demonstrated that 4-AP also enhanced recovery of nerve conduction velocity, promoted remyelination, and increased axonal area post-injury. We additionally found that 4-AP treatment enables distinction between incomplete and complete lesions more rapidly than existing approaches, thereby potentially addressing the critical challenge of more effectively distinguishing injured individuals who may require mutually exclusive treatment approaches. Thus, 4-AP singularly provides both a new potential therapy to promote durable recovery and remyelination in acute peripheral nerve injury and a means of identifying lesions in which this therapy would be most likely to be of value.
Evolutionary and ecological forces that shape the bacterial communities of the human gut

Since microbes were first described in the mid-1600s, we have come to appreciate that they live all around and within us with both beneficial and detrimental effects on nearly every aspect of our lives. The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a dynamic community of trillions of bacteria that constantly interact with each other and their human host. The acquisition of these bacteria is not stochastic but determined by circumstance (environment), host rules (genetics, immune state, mucus, etc), and dynamic self-selection among microbes to form stable, resilient communities that are in balance with the host. In this review, we will discuss how these factors lead to formation of the gut bacterial community and influence its interactions with the host. We will also address how gut bacteria contribute to disease and how they could potentially be targeted to prevent and treat a variety of human ailments.
Management of Large Sessile Cecal Polyps

The subject matter of this chapter are large sessile adenomas of the cecum. The audience is presumed to be general or colorectal surgeons who regularly perform colonoscopy. This chapter is intended for a Western audience. It is important to note that the literature referenced in this chapter pertains to large bowel adenomas and is not necessarily specific to cecal lesions.
Progranulin, lysosomal regulation and neurodegenerative disease

The discovery that heterozygous and homozygous mutations in the gene encoding progranulin are causally linked to frontotemporal dementia and lysosomal storage disease, respectively, reveals previously unrecognized roles of the progranulin protein in regulating lysosome biogenesis and function. Given the importance of lysosomes in cellular homeostasis, it is not surprising that progranulin deficiency has pleiotropic effects on neural circuit development and maintenance, stress response, innate immunity and ageing. This Progress article reviews recent advances in progranulin biology emphasizing its roles in lysosomal function and brain innate immunity, and outlines future avenues of investigation that may lead to new therapeutic approaches for neurodegeneration.
DNA Damage Checkpoint Dynamics Drive Cell Cycle Phase Transitions

DNA damage checkpoints are cellular mechanisms that protect the integrity of the genome during cell cycle progression. The prevailing paradigm of DNA damage checkpoints is that they halt cell cycle progression until the damage is repaired, allowing cells time to recover from damage before resuming normal proliferation. Here, we challenge this model by observing cell cycle phase transitions in individual proliferating cells responding to acute DNA damage under live imaging conditions. We find that in gap phases (G1 and G2), DNA damage triggers an abrupt halt to cell cycle progression in which the length of arrest correlates with the severity of damage. However, cells that have already progressed beyond a proposed “commitment point” within a given cell cycle phase readily transition to the next phase, revealing a relaxation of checkpoint stringency during later stages of certain cell cycle phases. In contrast, cell cycle progression in S phase is significantly less sensitive to DNA damage. Instead of exhibiting a complete halt to cell cycle progression, our results are consistent with high DNA damage doses causing a decreased rate of progression. These phase-specific differences in DNA damage checkpoint dynamics lead to corresponding differences in the proportions of irreversibly arrested cells. Thus, the precise timing of DNA damage determines the sensitivity, rate of progression, and functional outcome of DNA damage checkpoints. These findings both explain and inform our understanding of cell fate decisions after treatment with common cancer therapeutics such as genotoxins or spindle poisons, which often target cells in a specific cell cycle phase.
Inflammatory infiltrate and mucosal remodeling in chronic rhinosinusitis with and without polyps: structured histopathologic analysis

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is commonly classified into CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). Structured histopathologic reporting has the potential to identify salient histologic markers to differentiate subtypes and provide insights into pathophysiologic mechanisms in CRS. Methods A structured histopathology report of 13 variables was prospectively employed to analyze ethmoid sinus tissue removed during endoscopic sinus surgery for 99 patients, including 43 CRSsNP and 56 CRSwNP. These variables were compared in association with presence of nasal polyps, radiographic computed tomography scores (Lund-Mackay Score [LMS]), subjective symptoms scores (SNOT-22), duration of CRS, comorbid asthma, and atopy. Results Overall inflammation did not differentiate between CRSsNP and CRSwNP (p < 0.26). Compared to CRSsNP, CRSwNP had statistically significant increase in basement membrane thickening (76.8% vs 48.8%, p < 0.004), subepithelial edema (19.6% vs 2.3%, p < 0.01), fibrosis (58.9% vs 27.9%, p < 0.002), hyperplastic/papillary changes (12.5% vs 0.0%, p < 0.016), eosinophilia (41.1% vs 18.6%, p < 0.047), and eosinophilic aggregates (30.4% vs 11.6%, p < 0.022). Higher LMS was associated with increased eosinophilia (p < 0.001), eosinophil aggregates (p < 0.000), inflammation (p < 0.023), basement membrane thickening (p < 0.037), hyperplastic/papillary changes (p < 0.040) and fibrosis (p < 0.000). SNOT-22 scores were not associated with any histologic parameters. Conclusion Significant histopathologic differences were evident in patients with CRSwNP and CRSsNP. No single feature reliably differentiated between the 2 subtypes, underscoring the heterogeneity of CRS and limitation of this phenotypic classification system. Eosinophilic aggregates were associated with significantly worse disease, possibly signifying a unique subtype. Further studies are needed to understand the relationship of histopathologic features to disease outcome.
Long term decomposition: the influence of litter type and soil horizon on retention of plant carbon and nitrogen in soils

How plant inputs from above- versus below-ground affect long term carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) retention and stabilization in soils is not well known. We present results of a decade-long field study that traced the decomposition of 13C- and 15N-labeled Pinus ponderosa needle and fine root litter placed in O or A soil horizons of a sandy Alfisol under a coniferous forest. We measured the retention of litter-derived C and N in particulate (>2 mm) and bulk soil (<2 mm) fractions, as well as in density-separated free light and three mineral-associated fractions. After 10 years, the influence of slower initial mineralization of root litter compared to needle litter was still evident: almost twice as much root litter (44% of C) was retained than needle litter (22–28% of C). After 10 years, the O horizon retained more litter in coarse particulate matter implying the crucial comminution step was slower than in the A horizon, while the A horizon retained more litter in the finer bulk soil, where it was recovered in organo-mineral associations. Retention in these A horizon mineral-associated fractions was similar for roots and needles. Nearly 5% of the applied litter C (and almost 15% of the applied N) was in organo-mineral associations, which had centennial residence times and potential for long-term stabilization. Vertical movement of litter-derived C was minimal after a decade, but N was significantly more mobile. Overall, the legacy of initial litter quality influences total SOM retention; however, the potential for and mechanisms of long-term SOM stabilization are influenced not by litter type but by soil horizon.
Echocardiographic evaluation of patients presenting with acutely decompensated heart failure in the setting of dietary or medication noncompliance—Is there a role?

Background Reevaluating patients who are admitted with heart failure (HF) exacerbation using echocardiogram is a common and appropriate indication. However, it is unknown whether it is appropriate to reevaluate such patients when the exacerbation is attributed to patients' noncompliance with self-care behaviors, where the presumption is that the underlying HF biology is stable. Methods Echocardiograms on all patients hospitalized for HF exacerbation attributed to dietary or medication noncompliance were retrospectively assessed for the presence of significant changes from prior echocardiogram. Results A total of 559 charts of patients admitted with heart failure exacerbation were reviewed, of which 125 patients (22%) were thought to have dietary or medication noncompliance as the etiology. Fifty-three patients (42%) had a follow-up echocardiogram performed during the index admission. The likelihood of being reevaluated by an echocardiogram during admission was not affected by the clinical service that the patient was admitted to, the patient's gender, or age. Eighty percent of echocardiograms performed within a year of prior study and 78% of echocardiograms performed >1 year revealed at least one significant change. The most common changes identified were an increase in left atrium diameter, worsening of pulmonary artery systolic pressure and worsening ejection fraction. There was no correlation between the time interval of between echocardiograms and the likelihood of a significant change. Conclusions Repeat echocardiograms in patients admitted with HF exacerbation due to noncompliance revealed significant changes in the majority of patients studied. The changes may reflect worsening in cardiac function in addition to the presumed etiology of noncompliance.
Coronary Artery Calcium Progression Is Associated with Cardiovascular Events Among Asymptomatic Individuals: From the North Texas Primary Care Practice-based Research Network (NorTex-PBRN).

Background Although incidental coronary artery calcium (CAC) has been established as a surrogate measure for atherosclerotic plaque burden, little is known about its progression and the associated risks. This study looks at the association of select cardiovascular risk factors with the progression of CAC over a 2-year period and the relationship between CAC progression and experiencing a composite cardiovascular disease (CVD) event. Methods Repeated CAC measurements were obtained for 311 asymptomatic participants aged >44 years, who were recruited from a collaborative network of primary care clinics. Results An average of 24.4 months separated scans and CAC scores increased by a mean of 24.45 Agatston units. A total of 113 participants (30%) demonstrated CAC progression, whereas the rest showed no change or a decrease in CAC over 2 years. In adjusted regression models that controlled for age and sex, the following were associated with 2-year CAC progression: dyslipidemia, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and non-high-density lipoprotein. Moreover, those with progressive CAC measures were >4 times more likely to experience a composite CVD event in 2 years, after controlling for known risk factors. Conclusions Overall, several baseline risk factors remained significant after adjusting for age and sex. CAC progression was independently associated with a composite CVD event.
Assessment of Ground Vehicle Tankers Interacting with Liquid Sloshing Dynamics

This paper presents an assessment of the problems encountered with the design, dynamics and stability of road tankers. Generally, the research activities pertaining to these problems may be classified into three groups, liquid sloshing dynamics in moving containers, trucks dynamics carrying solids, and dynamic coupling of liquid-vehicle systems. The modal analysis of liquid free surface for circular, elliptic and generic cross-section geometries is presented together with the corresponding equivalent mechanical models. Considering popularity of horizontal elliptic cross-section tanks, the trammel equivalent pendulum received extensive research activities and the main results are discussed. Design optimisation of the liquid container cross-section and the passive and active control of liquid sloshing approaches are used by engineers to minimise rollover problem. The most difficult problem of road tankers is the coupling dynamics of liquid and vehicle dynamics under different conditions such as braking and lateral acceleration; in this view, computer numerical simulations have been developed.
Highly-oriented one-dimensional MOF-semiconductor nanoarrays for efficient photodegradation of antibiotics

The ineffective removal of antibiotics from the aquatic environment has raised serious problems, including chronic toxicity and antibiotic resistance. Among the numerous strategies, photocatalytic degradation appears to be one of the promising methods to remove antibiotics. Semiconductors are the most widely used photocatalysts, whereas, their efficiencies still suffer from limited light absorption and poor charge separation. Given their exceptional properties, including a superior surface area and massive active sites, MOFs are excellent candidates for the formation of hierarchical nanostructures with semiconductors to address the above issues. In this study, highly-oriented one-dimensional (1D) MIL-100(Fe)/TiO2 nanoarrays were developed as photocatalysts for the first time (MIL = Materials Institute Lavoisier). The 1D structured TiO2 nanoarrays not only enable the direct and enhanced charge transport, but also permit easy recycling. With the in situ growth of MIL-100(Fe) on the TiO2 nanoarrays, the composite exhibits enhanced light absorption, electron/hole separation, and accessibility of active sites. As a result, up to 90.79% photodegradation efficiency of tetracycline, a representative antibiotic, by the MIL-100(Fe)/TiO2 composite nanoarrays was achieved, which is much higher than that of pristine TiO2 nanoarrays (35.22%). It is also worth mentioning that the composite nanoarrays demonstrate high stability and still exhibit high efficiency twice that of the pristine TiO2 nanoarrays even in the 5th run. This study offers a new strategy for the degradation of antibiotics by using 1D MOF-based nanocomposite nanoarrays.
A Primal-Dual Quasi-Newton Method for Exact Consensus Optimization

We introduce the primal-dual quasi-Newton (PD-QN) method as an approximated second order method for solving decentralized optimization problems. The PD-QN method performs quasi-Newton updates on both the primal and dual variables of the consensus optimization problem to find the optimal point of the augmented Lagrangian. By optimizing the augmented Lagrangian, the PD-QN method is able to find the exact solution to the consensus problem with a linear rate of convergence. We derive fully decentralized quasi-Newton updates that approximate second order information to reduce the computational burden relative to dual methods and to make the method more robust in ill-conditioned problems relative to first order methods. The linear convergence rate of PD-QN is established formally and strong performance advantages relative to existing dual and primal-dual methods is shown numerically.
Fecal Microbiota and Screening for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal carcinoma ranks third for cancer incidence and fourth for cancer mortality worldwide (1). In the US, the incidence of colorectal carcinoma has been decreasing across all racial and ethnic groups in those older than 50 years, largely as a result of standardized screening guidelines and the consequent removal of adenomatous (premalignant) polyps (2). Recently, however, there has been a concerning rise in the incidence of colorectal carcinoma in young adult patients. In response, the American Cancer Society released new guidelines in May 2018 that lower the recommended age to begin colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45 years (3). The short- and long-term efficacy of this guideline change to improve patient morbidity and mortality remains to be seen, but the immediate result is a renewed interest in safe, cost-effective, and accurate testing methods for the detection of colorectal carcinoma. It is now accepted that the microbiome of the human gastrointestinal tract is associated with certain forms of gastrointestinal disease, and there is growing evidence that dysbiosis facilitates the development and spread of colorectal carcinoma (4). For example, the bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum is not prevalent in feces from patients with benign colonic disease or in healthy colonic tissue, but it is often found in association with colorectal carcinoma. Recent studies have shown that F. nucleatum promotes an inflammatory microenvironment within colorectal carcinoma through recruitment of myeloid cells, that the …
Le groupo\"{i}de de Galois de $P\_1$ et son irr\'{e}ductibilit\'{e}

In this article, the Galois groupoid of the first Painleve equation is computed. This computation use E. Cartan's classification of structural equations of pseudogroups acting on $C^2$ and the degeneration of the first Painleve equation on an elliptic equation ($y'' = 6y^2$). A definition of reducibility for singular holomorphic foliations is proposed. A characterisation of reducible foliations on their Galois groupoid is given and applied to prove the foliation irreducibility of the first Painleve equation.
Effect of Fluid-to-Structure Heat Transfer on the Structural Damage Potential to a Liquid-Metal Fast Breeder Reactor

Deterministic calculations simulating a hypothetical accident in a liquid-metal fast breeder reactor that leads to a hydrodynamic disassembly of the core have been carried out to estimate the system's damage potential due to the vapor-pressure-driven expansion of molten core material and its dependency on the heat transfer to the remaining structure. These calculations ignored the effect on the work potential of sodium left in the core during the disassembly. Results indicate that steel cladding in the upper axial blankets and fission gas plenum acts as a thermodynamic energy sink that could reduce the total thermodynamic work energy by between one and two orders of magnitude, provided little or no sodium is present in the core at the time of interaction. These results have been found to be insensitive to the rate of heat transferred from the molten fuel to the molten steel that comprises the molten core material.
A National Survey of Medical School Curricula on Criminal Justice and Health.

The number of U.S. medical schools that provide clinical training in correctional facilities or classroom-based training in criminal justice–related issues is unknown. This study consisted of an on...
Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index 2006

Funded by US-AID, Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) is an effort to explain why some parts of the country perform better than others in terms of private sector dynamism, job creation and economic growth. Using new survey data from businesses that describe their perceptions of their local business environments, as well as credible and comparable data from official and other sources regarding local conditions, the PCI rates provinces on a 100-point scale. In 2005, the overall index is comprised of nine sub-indices that explain much of the variation in performance across provinces in Vietnam. In 2006, two new sub-indices were developed to capture other aspects of Provincial Government efforts to enhance the business environment. In addition, a number of the existing indices were strengthened by modifying certain indicators. Sub-indices and indicators are described in detail under the caption “PCI Sub-Indices” below.The research has a number of important design elements that make the results easily translated into governance reforms:First, by separating out the growth that is generated by initial conditions (i.e. the fundamental underlying factors that contribute to growth but that are very difficult or impossible to address in the short-term), the research was able to determine that good governance practices are possible at the provincial level and that these practices explain why some areas outperform others or why some areas have similar economic outcomes despite having very different initial conditions. The focus on governance practices should lead to improvements in economic performance, even without significant changes in the physical and human infrastructure in a region.Second, by normalizing the scores around the best practices already found in Vietnam, the index directs provincial governments to improve their performance, not against some ideal standard of good governance but rather against the best performance already practiced by their peers within the same national political framework. Therefore, any province in theory could attain a perfect score by adopting the best practices already found in Vietnam. The implication is that there are no easy explanations for poor performance – every provincial government can do better to generate a more favorable economic environment within their borders.Third, by comparing governance practices against actual economic performance, the PCI provides initial estimates of how important governance practices are to attracting investment and generating growth. The research provides a compelling demonstration of the association between business-friendly governance practices, business responses and, importantly, welfare improvements. This last connection is critical as it makes clear that business-friendly policies and practices benefit not just entrepreneurs but also the broader society that relies upon private sector dynamism to provide the jobs that raise household living standards.Research results from the work of the Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
High dimensional robust M-estimation : arbitrary corruption and heavy tails

We consider the problem of sparsity-constrained $M$-estimation when both explanatory and response variables have heavy tails (bounded 4-th moments), or a fraction of arbitrary corruptions. We focus on the $k$-sparse, high-dimensional regime where the number of variables $d$ and the sample size $n$ are related through $n \sim k \log d$. We define a natural condition we call the Robust Descent Condition (RDC), and show that if a gradient estimator satisfies the RDC, then Robust Hard Thresholding (IHT using this gradient estimator), is guaranteed to obtain good statistical rates. The contribution of this paper is in showing that this RDC is a flexible enough concept to recover known results, and obtain new robustness results. Specifically, new results include: (a) For $k$-sparse high-dimensional linear- and logistic-regression with heavy tail (bounded 4-th moment) explanatory and response variables, a linear-time-computable median-of-means gradient estimator satisfies the RDC, and hence Robust Hard Thresholding is minimax optimal; (b) When instead of heavy tails we have $O(1/\sqrt{k}\log(nd))$-fraction of arbitrary corruptions in explanatory and response variables, a near linear-time computable trimmed gradient estimator satisfies the RDC, and hence Robust Hard Thresholding is minimax optimal. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in sparse linear, logistic regression, and sparse precision matrix estimation on synthetic and real-world US equities data.
Approximating the Stretch Processor's Response to Monochromatic Interference

Stretch processing, a popular signal-processing method for modern radars using wideband linear frequency modulation, efficiently achieves fine range resolution for accurate range measurement, effective target discrimination, and high-resolution imaging. However, additive interference signals, both random and deterministic, degrade the stretch processor's performance. Through an innovative application of the principle of stationary phase, this paper derives a convenient yet accurate approximation to the stretch processor's response to a deterministic monochromatic interference signal. Favorable agreement of the derived expression's predictions with the corresponding exact responses for three example cases verifies the derived expression's correctness.
Synthesis and spin trapping properties of polystyrene supported trifluoromethylated cyclic nitrones

Polystyrene supported fluorinated cyclic nitrone spin-traps: Resin-2-HFDMPO (2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-1-oxide) and Resin-2-PFDMPO (2-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole 1-oxide) containing a trifluoromethyl pyrroline-N-oxide core were developed to detect free radicals under flow conditions. A continuous flow EPR technique was used to evaluate the spin trapping properties of these tethered nitrones. While both resins trapped radicals, polymer supported nitrone Resin-2-PFDMPO with a longer and more flexible linker showed a more information rich spectrum than Resin-2-HFDMPO.
Patient Phenotypes Help Explain Variation in Response to a Social Gamification Weight Loss Intervention.

Purpose:This study aims to determine latent classes of study participants using baseline characteristics, explore the patterns within the groups, and determine whether the intervention had differen...