cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring congestion phase transitions in vehicular traffic via topology and driver behavior modeling

Traffic congestion is a world-wide problem with far-reaching consequences. Due to road topology as well as driver behavior, extreme degrees of congestion can occur. Just as in biological swarms, stochastic properties of individual agents contribute to the emergence of macroscopic network properties. In this paper we apply approaches for swarm behavior to road traffic, expanding them to include road topology and driver behavior. By varying traffic density, we study the phase transitions arising in traffic when moving from a free-flow to congested state. Ideally, understanding how phase transitions occur in realistic traffic will allow us to identify early signs and prevent such transitions from happening in real traffic, before the critical point is reached.
A conjugate gradient-neural network technique for ultrasound inverse imaging

In this paper, a new technique for solving the two-dimensional inverse scattering problem for ultrasound inverse imaging is presented. Reconstruction of a two-dimensional object is accomplished using an iterative algorithm which combines the conjugate gradient (CG) method and a neural network (NN) approach. The neural network technique is used to exploit knowledge of the statistical characteristics of the object to enhance the performance of the conjugate gradient method. The results for simulations show that the CGNN algorithm is more accurate than the CG method and, in addition, convergence occurs more rapidly. For the CGNN algorithm, approximately 50% fewer iterations are needed to obtain the inverse solution for a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 50 dB. For a smaller SNR of 35 dB, the CGNN method is not as accurate, but it still gives reasonable results.
An amino-terminal domain of the growth-associated protein GAP-43 mediates its effects on filopodial formation and cell spreading

GAP-43 is a neuronal protein that is believed to be important to neuronal growth and nerve terminal plasticity. It is enriched on the inner surface of growth cone membranes, a localization that may depend upon palmitoylation of Cys3 and Cys4. It is a major substrate for protein kinase C, which phosphorylates Ser41. Isolated GAP-43 can bind to actin and to calmodulin, and can activate the heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins, G(o) and Gi. A peptide consisting of the GAP-43 sequence 39-55 binds calmodulin, and an amino-terminal GAP-43 (1-10) peptide activates G(o), suggesting that these stretches may be functional domains of the intact protein. When expressed in non-neuronal cells, GAP-43 enhances filopodial extension and has effects upon cell spreading. We have examined the effects of various GAP-43 domains upon this assay, by expression of GAP-43, GAP-43 mutant proteins, and GAP-43-CAT fusion proteins in COS-7 cells. We find that the amino terminus (Met-Leu-Cys-Cys-Met-Arg-Arg-Thr-Lys-Gln) is an important contributor to these effects on cell shape. A GAP-43 protein mutant in Cys3 and Cys4 does not bind to the membrane, and is inactive. Mutants in Arg6 or Lys9 also are inactive, although they remain localized to particulate fractions; Arg7 mutants are active. A chimeric gene consisting of GAP-43 (1-10) fused to chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) also causes cell shape changes. As for GAP-43, the effects of this fusion protein are abolished by mutations of Cys3, Cys4, Arg6 or Lys9, but not by mutation of Arg7. Therefore, the cell surface activity of transfected GAP-43 depends upon its amino terminus, although other domains may regulate it in this regard. Since the amino-terminal domain includes the peptide stretch known to be capable of activating G(o) and Gi, we examined the effect of GAP-43 on a Gi-regulated second messenger system, the inhibition of cAMP production in A431 cells. A431 cells stably transfected with GAP-43 spread less well than do controls. In addition, they evidence decreased levels of forskolin-stimulated cAMP, consistent with chronic stimulation of Gi. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase by isoproterenol reverses the GAP-43-induced changes in cell shape. This suggests that G protein stimulation is involved in GAP-43 effects upon cell shape.
Corrections to "Low PMEPR Code Based on Star-16-QAM Constellations for OFDM"

Although the result of Part II of Theorem 1 in Z.Q. Taha and X. Liu (2007) is correct, the proof is incorrect. A corrected proof is given in this letter.
Looking White, Acting Black: Cast(e)ing Fredi Washington

In October 1926 a leading African-American newspaper, the Pittsburgh Courier, featured adjacent photographs of two young women with a provocative caption: “White Actresses Who Open with Robeson and Bledsoe on Broadway during Week.” The actresses featured were Lottice Howell, starring with Jules Bledsoe in the musical play Deep River, and Edith Warren, starring with Paul Robeson in the drama Black Boy. In reporting this latest bit of integrated casting, however, the Courier was wrong on two counts. First, they misidentified the photographs, identifying Howell as Warren and Warren as Howell; and second, they misidentified Warren, whose real name was Fredi Washington, as “white.” Washington (who dropped the stage name during previews) was, by self-identification, Negro, or, in the language of the Savannah official who recorded her birth in 1903, “colored.”
A non-negative matrix factorization method for detecting modules in heterogeneous omics multi-modal data

Motivation Recent advances in high-throughput omics technologies have enabled biomedical researchers to collect large-scale genomic data. As a consequence, there has been growing interest in developing methods to integrate such data to obtain deeper insights regarding the underlying biological system. A key challenge for integrative studies is the heterogeneity present in the different omics data sources, which makes it difficult to discern the coordinated signal of interest from source-specific noise or extraneous effects. Results We introduce a novel method of multi-modal data analysis that is designed for heterogeneous data based on non-negative matrix factorization. We provide an algorithm for jointly decomposing the data matrices involved that also includes a sparsity option for high-dimensional settings. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated on synthetic data and on real DNA methylation, gene expression and miRNA expression data from ovarian cancer samples obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The results show the presence of common modules across patient samples linked to cancer-related pathways, as well as previously established ovarian cancer subtypes. Availability and implementation The source code repository is publicly available at https://github.com/yangzi4/iNMF. Contact gmichail@umich.edu Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Comparing the burden of pancreatic fistulas after pancreatoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy

Background Differences in the behavior of postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPF) have been described after various pancreatic resections. Here, we compare POPFs after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and distal pancreatectomy (DP) using the average complication burden (ACB), a quantitative measure of complication burden. Methods From 2001 to 2014, 837 DPs and 1,533 PDs were performed by 14 surgeons at 4 institutions. POPFs were categorized by International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula standards as biochemical (grade A) or clinically relevant (CR-POPF; grades B and C). ACB values were derived from fistula severity scores based on the Modified Accordion Severity Grading. The ACB of POPFs was compared between PD and DP. Results POPFs were more common after DP compared with PD (34.5 vs 27.2%; P Conclusion Although POPFs occur less frequently after PD, they are associated with a greater complication burden compared with DP. ACB varies significantly between health care providers, suggesting the need for risk-adjusted comparisons of complication severity. Using ACB to evaluate a distinct morbidity has the potential to aid in assessing the impact of procedure-specific complications.
Corporate crime and state legitimacy: the 2008 Chinese melamine milk scandal

Corporate crime is a worldwide problem [41], but the burgeoning reported economic crime rate in China [33] involving such acts as poisoned food [109] and rampant environmental pollution [95], provide a unique opportunity to study the nature of such offending in a country whose economy is growing faster than any other in history. China retained authoritarian one-party control as the nation transitioned from the collectivist economy established by Mao Zedong to the current Bsocialist market economy,^ a capitalist market system combined with state-owned-enterprises. This combination of control and capital may help explain the documented rise in whitecollar and corporate offending in China, and provides a unique backdrop for examining the relevance of theories developed through the study of western capitalist societies. Few scholarly works exist that examine similarities and differences between corporate crime in China with offenses in the west [19, 46]. One paramount issue is whether such illegalities are subject to Bnon-issue making^ [29, 47] where the state provides de facto approval for injurious behaviors through non-response. Not all corporate offenses in the west are treated in this manner as some have argued that selectivity in regulatory enforcement results in the investigation of crimes that threaten capital accumulation [17]. This is likely due to the state’s desire to maintain a balance between its essential functions: capital accumulation and government legitimacy [69, 73]. While there appears to be evidence for such theories in western capitalist democracies, their applicability to single-party states such as China has yet to be examined by scholars. The aim of this study is to compare Chinese state response to corporate crime with that of capitalist democracies given the People’s Republic of China’s authoritarian, oneparty rule. It seeks to answer four questions regarding China’s response to economic crime. First, to what extent do local and national enforcement agencies in China allow Crime Law Soc Change (2015) 63:247–267 DOI 10.1007/s10611-015-9567-5
Using Technology to Enhance Feedback to Student Teachers

The importance of effective and efficient feedback is paramount during the student teaching experience. This experience is a vital component of many teacher preparation programs. During these limit...
Systematic Evaluation of Bioorthogonal Reactions in Live Cells with Clickable HaloTag Ligands: Implications for Intracellular Imaging.

Bioorthogonal reactions, including the strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) and inverse electron demand Diels–Alder (iEDDA) reactions, have become increasingly popular for live-cell imaging applications. However, the stability and reactivity of reagents has never been systematically explored in the context of a living cell. Here we report a universal, organelle-targetable system based on HaloTag protein technology for directly comparing bioorthogonal reagent reactivity, specificity, and stability using clickable HaloTag ligands in various subcellular compartments. This system enabled a detailed comparison of the bioorthogonal reactions in live cells and informed the selection of optimal reagents and conditions for live-cell imaging studies. We found that the reaction of sTCO with monosubstituted tetrazines is the fastest reaction in cells; however, both reagents have stability issues. To address this, we introduced a new variant of sTCO, Ag-sTCO, which has much improved stability and can be ...
Radiogaschromatographie 14C und 11C-markierter aliphatischer Kohlenwasserstoffe und Amine

Verschiedene Probleme und Fehlerquellen der kontinuierlichen Radiogaschromatographie werden aufgezeigt und einige neue apparative Vorschlage zu ihrer Beseitigung mitgeteilt.
Microfluidic digital isoelectric fractionation for rapid multidimensional glycoprotein analysis.

Here we present an integrated microfluidic device for rapid and automated isolation and quantification of glycoprotein biomarkers directly from biological samples on a multidimensional analysis platform. In the first dimension, digital isoelectric fractionation (dIEF) uses discrete pH-specific membranes to separate proteins and their isoforms into precise bins in a highly flexible spatial arrangement on-chip. dIEF provides high sample preconcentration factors followed by immediate high-fidelity transfer of fractions for downstream analysis. We successfully fractionate isoforms of two potential glycoprotein cancer markers, fetuin and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), with 10 min run time, and results are compared qualitatively and quantitatively to conventional slab gel IEF. In the second dimension, functionalized monolithic columns are used to capture and detect targeted analytes from each fraction. We demonstrate rapid two-dimensional fractionation, immunocapture, and detection of C-reactive protein (CRP)...
Epidemiology of public health emergencies at schools in Zhejiang Province During 2005- 2012

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and trends of public health emergencies at school,which could provide suggestion for prevention and control.Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the data of public health emergencies at schools during 2005-2012 from Emergency Public Reporting System in Zhejiang Province.Results A total of 955 public health emergencies at school were reported in Zhejiang Province during 2005-2012,of which 863 infectious diseases events(90.37%) and 72 food poisoning events(7.53%).There was two peak periods of public health emergency at school,which was March to June and September to December.About 60% of emergencies occurred in rural areas.Respiratory diseases such as Chickenpox,mumps accounted for a large part of the events.Conclusion It shows decreased trends of public health emergencies at school in Zhejiang Province.Respiratory diseases were the leading causes,especially tuberculosis,which deserved much more attention.
Overlap in drug-disease associations between clinical practice guidelines and drug structured product label indications.

Background Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) recommend pharmacologic treatments for clinical conditions, and drug structured product labels (SPLs) summarize approved treatment indications. Both resources are intended to promote evidence-based medical practices and guide clinicians’ prescribing decisions. However, it is unclear how well CPG recommendations about pharmacologic therapies match SPL indications for recommended drugs. In this study, we perform text mining of CPG summaries to examine drug-disease associations in CPG recommendations and in SPL treatment indications for 15 common chronic conditions.
Mutinous Outbreaks in The Moonstone

Wilkie Collins wrote The Moonstone (1868) during a period in which few Victorians questioned the legitimacy or necessity of imperial rule in India. It was widely believed that Indians were instinctual, impulsive, and fanatic, that they lacked the mechanisms of self-control that guaranteed sound government at the level of self and society alike.1 The 1857 rebellion known in England as the Mutiny seemed to confirm the passionate volatility of Indians and their general antipathy to law and order. In the wake of the rebellion, a steady stream of journalistic accounts, full-scale histories, and eye-witness narratives began to appear in England. Although these “Mutiny” texts offer varied perspectives and explanations, most confirm conventional notions about the mutinous nature of Indian subjectivity. In his novel, Collins does not dispute prevailing understandings of “the Indian character,” but he does question the extent to which “the English character” differs from its ungovernable colonial counterpart. He does so by appropriating ethnographic commonplaces about Indian subjectivity and society and projecting them onto the English domestic scene. The characters in his novel are overmastered by their own “dark” and irrational obsessions, inordinate desires, unruly aggressions, and fanatical idolatries. This irony subverts accepted oppositions between those who inhabit mutinous India, which Betteredge dismisses as one of the “outlandish places of the earth,” and those who inhabit the presumably quiet and reasonable domestic nation (82).
1975–81: Catalysts and Convergences of Interest

As with Indo-Bangladesh relations, a wide range of pressures have impinged upon Bangladesh’s relations with Pakistan, although comparatively little study has been made of the latter. The interaction between Bangladesh and Pakistan has been overshadowed by the political upheavals occurring within each of the two states, Pakistan in particular. Pakistan’s long tradition of overwhelming concern for national identity and security, forged largely from decades of rivalry with India, has produced a domestic and foreign policy which strongly reflects that rivalry. The challenge therefore lies in defining characteristics which have been unique to Bangladesh-Pakistan relations and in assessing whether or not other influences, such as those deriving from Bangladesh, have also been able to play a significant role in shaping relations between the two states.
Abstract 2376: Clonal evolution of skin carcinomas during tumor progression and metastasis

Tumor heterogeneity and the ongoing evolution of tumor subpopulations have presented considerable challenges to the success of cancer therapies, highlighting a critical need for greater understanding of these phenomena. We used a K5CreER-Confetti reporter mouse in combination with the DMBA (dimethylbenzanthracene)/TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) skin carcinogenesis model to study the genetics, clonality, and evolutionary behavior of tumor subpopulations from tumor initiation to metastasis. Treating the skin of K5CreER-Confetti mice with tamoxifen results in widespread labeling of the epidermis and hair follicles, which persists for at least 18 months. Papillomas that develop from Confetti-activated skin are of clonal origin, evidenced by each tumor being distinctly dominated by a single Confetti color (RFP, YFP, GFP, or CFP; or uncolored). Twelve weeks after initiation, the majority of tumors remain single-colored, with only 22% (36 of 133) showing any evidence of a secondary color population present. By 20 weeks after initiation, however, nearly all tumors (78%, 42 of 54) have incorporated one or more secondary populations, readily identifiable as streaks of a distinct color. FACS separation and sequencing of these different colored populations reveals these populations are genetically distinct: in preliminary analysis, the primary color population typically carries the expected driver Hras Q61L mutation while the secondary populations do not. The tumor thus appears to be incorporating pseudo-normal tissue from its microenvironment during early growth. Activation of the Confetti reporter in tumors post-initiation in papillomas results in labeling of single cells with all 4 Confetti colors, allowing subpopulations and their evolution to be studied at later stages. These highly multi-color papillomas subsequently give rise to single-color carcinomas and metastases, suggesting that the conversion from a benign to malignant tumor is clonally driven. The Confetti mouse is a valuable tool for studying the clonality and genetics of subpopulations present in tumors, which need to be better understood in order to improve the treatment of heterogeneous human tumors. Citation Format: Melissa Q. McCreery, Allan Balmain. Clonal evolution of skin carcinomas during tumor progression and metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2376.
Palladium-Catalyzed Cross Coupling of Secondary and Tertiary Alkyl Bromides with a Nitrogen Nucleophile

We report a new class of catalytic reaction: the thermal substitution of a secondary and or tertiary alkyl halide with a nitrogen nucleophile. The alkylation of a nitrogen nucleophile with an alkyl halide is a classical method for the construction of C–N bonds, but traditional substitution reactions are challenging to achieve with a secondary and or tertiary alkyl electrophile due to competing elimination reactions. A catalytic process could address this limitation, but thermal, catalytic coupling of alkyl halides with a nitrogen nucleophile and any type of catalytic coupling of an unactivated tertiary alkyl halide with a nitrogen nucleophile are unknown. We report the coupling of unactivated secondary and tertiary alkyl bromides with benzophenone imines to produce protected primary amines in the presence of palladium ligated by the hindered trialkylphosphine Cy2t-BuP. Mechanistic studies indicate that this amination of alkyl halides occurs by a reversible reaction to form a free alkyl radical.
Bearings-Only Tracking with Biased Measurements

This paper focuses on particle filtering techniques for tracking a single target using bearings-only measurements. The problem is formulated as fusing information collected from two or more sensors in the presence of additive noise and multiplicative/additive biases. Assuming the biases are nuisance parameters and marginalizing them out from the estimation problem, we propose an algorithm that combines a standard particle filter and one Kalman filter to efficiently resolve the fusion problem. The algorithms are tested and compared by computer simulations which offer insight into the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method.
On Nonuniform Noisy Decoding for LDPC Codes With Application to Radiation-Induced Errors

Recent studies on noisy decoding for LDPC codes rely on the assumption that the noise in each component is independent and perpetual. This paper examines a noisy decoding model that generalizes this approach: the noise is due to multi-state channels, where the channel states are governed by queue-like processes. This model is inspired by errors in decoders that are due to the high levels of radiation. This is an important problem, as modern non-volatile memories (NVMs) must perform well in high-radiation environments if they are to be used for deep space applications. High levels of radiation have a significant impact on floating gate-based NVMs, such as flash, and therefore, require well-tuned, powerful error-correcting codes for reliable data storage along with the decoders capable of handling radiation-induced noisy components. We introduce a noisy LDPC decoding model subsuming certain previously studied models. This model is better suited to represent transient errors—in both variable nodes and check nodes—and allows for a more refined analysis compared with older, coarser models. We perform a density evolution-like theoretical evaluation, applicable to both regular and irregular codes, optimize the voting threshold for a Gallager B/E-decoder, and analyze the resulting evaluation. We also examine the finite block length case.
Identification and Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity: Update 2017

With increased survival of very premature infants in the United States and across the world, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a leading cause of preventable childhood visual impairment and blindness. Premature birth requires that retinal maturation take place in a physiologically abnormal environment, leading to retinal injury and dysregulated growth and development. Although the pathophysiology of ROP is understood to involve exposure to extrauterine hypoxia and hyperoxia, multiple international studies have failed to identify the optimal approach to preventing ROP. Clinical efforts therefore center on optimizing screening and identification of ROP and on improving ophthalmologic interventions to modify the course of vision-threatening disease.
What Kind of Welcome? Addressing the Integration Needs of Central American Children and Adolescents in US Local Communities

Unaccompanied child migrants from Central America and Mexico arriving at the US southern border became national news in the summer of 2014. Child advocates called for protecting the children and ensuring due process in immigration proceedings. The attention centered on the push factors driving the arrival of unaccompanied children and their treatment while in government custody. This chapter focuses on integration challenges these young people face while awaiting their immigration hearing. It aims to answer the following questions: How will they fare in the families and communities to whom they have been released? Will their relatives embrace them? How will antiimmigrant sentiments affect their daily lives? Will they be integrated into US schools or even go to school? Who will support them?
Studies of Viscoelastic Relaxation Processes in Linear Polymers by Means of Brillouin Scattering

Unlike crystalline solids, polymeric solids do not undergo first order phase changes upon being heated but they undergo relaxational transitions which exhibit rather sudden changes in both the distribution of mechanical relaxation times as well as changes in certain thermodynamic properties. These transitions appear to involve either changes in the motion of the backbone or the side chains and their determination is strongly dependent upon the frequency of the detection method and other extrinsic factors. This paper deals with the detection of these transitions in amorphous solids in the gigahertz range using acoustical phonons as a probe. The relationship of observed phonon velocities and scattering intensities to bulk properties is investigated and in certain cases it has also been possible to associate relaxational transitions with internal degrees of freedom in the sub-skeletal or side chain regions. A theory is employed which accounts for changes observed in the Landau-Placzek ratio, absorption coefficients, and phonon velocities as temperature and phonon frequencies are varied.
Conformal Gravity Solutions to Standard Gravity Problems

Gravitational theories outside standard general relativity have been drawing increased attention over the past several years, mostly due to the lack of direct observational evidence of dark matter. With some recent very high level dark matter searches continuing, and the parameter space to search decreasing has lead to a new interest in rethinking gravity at the largest of scales. As an alternative gravitational theory, conformal gravity has enjoyed much of the success of Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) in predicting phenomenology, but differs dramatically in its initial construction. In this work, we explore some recent advances in conformal gravity, which help to build the case for support of such an alternative theory. Here, we highlight conformal gravity’s success in fitting new rotation curves, its ability to explain velocity dispersions in clusters, the initial steps towards gravitational lensing and finally, some preliminary work on explaining universal centripetal acceleration trends in galaxies.
Reliability of surface response to excitation method for data-driven prognostics using Gaussian process regression

In this study, the surface response to excitation method (SuRE) is investigated using a data-driven method for diagnostics and prognostics of applied load on a plate structure. The SuRE method is an emerging approach in ultrasonic wave-based structural health monitoring (SHM). In this method, high-frequency, surface-guided waves are excited on the structure using piezoceramic elements. The waves propagate and interact with internal or surface damages on the structure. State of heath is evaluated by monitoring changes in the measured frequency transfer functions. Reliability and computational efficiency of the SuRE method has been verified for several diagnostic and structural health monitoring applications. In this paper, the effectiveness of the SuRE method for prognostics and health management (PHM) of a composite plate under applied load is studied. Two piezoelectric elements are attached on the surface of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite plate. Sweep excitation-generated (150-250 kHz), surface-guided waves and the transmitted waves were monitored at the sensory position. The reference data set comprised of characteristic transfer functions was generated. SHM data using the SuRE method was captured for eleven locations of applied load between the sensor and exciter. Four data-driven prognostic models, using Gaussian Processes Regression (GPR), were qualified by interval-averaging features extracted from the spectrums and predicted the location of load. During this study, a new approach based on SuRE method is proposed for identifying the location of applied load on a composite and the optimum parameters of the study were evaluated to enhance the performance of GPR identified the optimum parameters number of SuRE method and selected features for most accurate predictions.
The echo that rolled into thunder: Otoacoustic emissions and newborn hearing screening

Kemp’s 1978 publication that described “stimulated acoustic emissions” changed the basic understanding of the cochlea and provided a window to assess cochlear mechanics non-invasively in humans. The emissions, referred to early on as “Kemp’s echoes,” were adopted as the measure of choice by the Rhode Island Hearing Assessment Screening Program, a clinical research study that boldly investigated the ability to screen every baby for hearing loss. This presentation will review how a new, slightly suspicious, physiological measure was used as an integral part of improving hearing healthcare in newborns. The use of distortion-product and transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions as screening tools to identify hearing loss in newborns and their use in the differential diagnosis of hearing loss will be discussed. Clinical findings from infants with and without hearing loss will be presented that support current otoacoustic emission models, and new measures tied to cochlear physiology will be suggested that could lead to improved clinical use. This presentation emphasizes that the science of basic measures from the auditory system has fueled the national and international movement of improving hearing healthcare and habilitation in newborns.Kemp’s 1978 publication that described “stimulated acoustic emissions” changed the basic understanding of the cochlea and provided a window to assess cochlear mechanics non-invasively in humans. The emissions, referred to early on as “Kemp’s echoes,” were adopted as the measure of choice by the Rhode Island Hearing Assessment Screening Program, a clinical research study that boldly investigated the ability to screen every baby for hearing loss. This presentation will review how a new, slightly suspicious, physiological measure was used as an integral part of improving hearing healthcare in newborns. The use of distortion-product and transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions as screening tools to identify hearing loss in newborns and their use in the differential diagnosis of hearing loss will be discussed. Clinical findings from infants with and without hearing loss will be presented that support current otoacoustic emission models, and new measures tied to cochlear physiology will be suggested that could ...
Relative Importance of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression in Predicting Risk of Suicide among a Cohort of Vietnam Veterans.

Objective Research has demonstrated that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Vietnam veterans is associated with increased risk of suicide. It is also widely reported that suicide is related to depression. This study examined the effect of PTSD and depression on risk of suicide among a cohort of Vietnam veterans. Method All study subjects were selected from the Department of Veterans Affairs Agent Orange Registry. Suicide risk associated with PTSD was first assessed by comparing the number of suicides among a cohort of 2,874 veterans with PTSD to that of 8,537 veterans not diagnosed with PTSD. Risk of suicide was approximated by hazard ratios (HRs), generated by Cox proportional hazard models, including a model that utilized competing risk analyses. Results The risk of suicide associated with PTSD and depression when examined separately was similar, HR = 7.1 (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.9, 10.3) and HR = 7.2 (95% CI: 4.8-10.8), respectively. Competing risk analysis indicated that veterans with both PTSD and depression compared to veterans with neither diagnosis had the highest risk of suicide, HR = 15.22. Conclusions This study suggests that depression as well as PTSD should be monitored as a way of reducing suicides among Vietnam veterans.
Пространственные и временные изменения в структуре сообщества зоопланктона и пелагических рыб восточной части Берингова моря в контексте меняющихся климатических условий

Zooplankton and pelagic fish samples collected on the eastern Bering Sea shelf in late summer 2003-2010 were used to evaluate spatial and temporal changes in the plankton and nekton community structure. The zooplankton were sampled by vertical towing of a Juday net (168 μm mesh) and oblique towing of a Bongo net (505 μm mesh), and pelagic fish were caught by midwater rope trawl. The communities were compared across climate regimes (in relatively warm and cold years), by latitude (in the northern and southern parts of the shelf), and by water depth (in the inner, middle, and outer domains of the shelf). Zooplankton were dominated by the small copepod Oithona spp. in warm years but relatively larger copepods Pseudocalanus spp. and Acartia spp. in cold years. Notably, the large copepod Calanus spp., an important energy-rich prey for fish, were more abundant in cold years than warm years. Age-0 walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus were more abundant in warm years, while capelin Mallotus villosus were abundant within cold-year communities over the northern shelf. Latitudinal variations in communities were more prominent in the cold years, particularly in 2007 and 2010. Cross-shelf variations were evident, particularly for large zooplankton and fish, with communities corresponding to specific oceanographic domains. Outer shelf communities varied less than inner and middle shelf communities between warm and cold periods, suggesting that this region may be less impacted by climate variability. An understanding of the overlap of zooplankton (prey) and fish communities within specific shelf regions or climate regimes may provide information for ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management.
Chapter 6 – Nitrogen-Containing Molecular Systems at High Pressures and Temperature

This chapter briefly surveys current experimental capabilities for subjecting molecules to extreme conditions of pressure and temperature and the use of Raman and infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction to characterize the solid-state chemistry of some simple nitrogen molecular systems. The chapter considers chiefly phase transformations and vibration dynamics of nitrogen bearing systems, including polynitrogen species at high pressure. There has been considerable progress in the study of framework nitrides at high pressures. Our discussion on nitrogen-bearing molecular systems complements other recent reviews in exemplifying how even simple molecules can be endowed at high P–T with unorthodox properties and incarnations. Systematic explorations of the chemical domains made accessible by DAC techniques are still in their infancy. Most of the experiments on nitrogen systems that are shown in table I was done during the past five years. The scope of in situ experiments has been much enhanced by the availability of advanced synchrotron radiation sources. The value of symbiotic interactions between theory and experiment are well exemplified in the case of polynitrogen. References to further resources are provided.
Clinical significance of autoantibodies to Ku and related antigens

The Ku antigen was first described by Mimori et al. [1] as a nonhistone nuclear antigen producing a precipitin line with serum from a patient with scleroderma-polymyositis overlap syndrome. Although originally thought to be relatively specific for this unusual subset of autoimmune disease, subsequent studies have shown that autoantibodies to Ku are also found in some sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), scleroderma, polymyositis, Grave’s disease, and primary pulmonary hypertension [2–6]. Thus, serum autoantibodies specific for Ku cannot at present be regarded as a diagnostic marker for any particular autoimmune disease subset.
A polymorphic polycycle—evidence for a sickle-shaped dodecenyl oxyallylic cation

A polycycle containing a cyclodecanone ring gives two polymorphs on crystallization from hexanes. Form 1 is space group P21/n with a = 17.145(2), b = 6.8979(9), c = 13.721(2) A, and = 99.689(5)°. Form 2 is space group P21/c, with a = 19.046(2), b = 6.8211(4), c = 12.890(1), and = 105.302(4)°.
CLOUDS AND FOG | Contrails

Contrails are anthropogenically induced clouds that have the potential to impact climate and reveal aircraft positions. Contrail formation is governed by temperature and humidity fields and is generally limited to temperatures below −40 °C. Contrail growth and transformation into cirrus clouds is more complex and must be understood to fully account for contrail effects on climate. Contrail microphysical and optical properties as well as coverage, location, and illumination conditions are also critical for determining contrail radiative forcing, a climate change metric. In situ measurements, satellite remote sensing, cloud process models, and climate models are used to study contrails and their potential impacts on global climate.
The Harold N. Godwin Leadership Legacy: Cultivating pharmacy leaders

As an invited speaker for the Harold N. Godwin Leadership Legacy Award luncheon in December 2017, I had an opportunity to identify the specific traits of the pharmacists who exemplify and carry forward that legacy. Everyone who has interacted with Harold Godwin or colleagues from the KU pharmacy
BIOMARKERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY: ETHICAL CHALLENGES

Environmental epidemiology is a multidisciplinary science and covers a range of methodological and design approaches. Exposure assessment is a critical component of the discipline and there are con...
ELIMINATION OF ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES FROM THE BODY BY USING HERBAL MEDICINES

Backgrounds and Aims:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of herbal medicinal products obtained from the local herbs and fruits for neutralization and elimination of OCPs from ...
Identifying characteristics that impact motor carrier safety using Bayesian networks.

Abstract Problem Statement In the U.S., a safety rating is assigned to each motor carrier based on data obtained from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) and an on-site investigation. While researchers have identified variables associated with the safety ratings, the specific direction of the relationships are not necessarily clear. Objective The objective of this study is to identify those relationships involved in the safety ratings of interstate motor carriers, the largest users of the U.S. transportation network. Method Bayesian networks are used to learn these relationships from data obtained from MCMIS for a 6-year period (2007–2012). Results Our study shows that safety rating assignment is a complex process with only a subset of the variables having statistically significant relationship with safety rating. They include driver out-of-service violations, weight violations, traffic violations, fleet size, total employed drivers, and passenger & general carrier indicators. Application The findings have both immediate implications and long term benefits. The immediate implications relate to better identification of unsafe motor carriers, and the long term benefits pertain to policies and crash countermeasures that can enhance carrier safety.
An ideology critique of nonideal methodology

Ideal theory has been extensively contested on the grounds that it is ideology: namely, that it performs the distorting social role of reifying and enforcing unjust features of the status quo. Inde...
Investigation of a tellurium-packed column for isolation of astatine-211 from irradiated bismuth targets and demonstration of a semi-automated system.

Astatine-211 is an attractive radionuclide for use in targeted alpha therapy of blood-borne diseases and micrometastatic diseases. Efficient isolation methods that can be adapted to robust automated 211At isolation systems are of high interest for improving the availability of 211At. Based on the early studies of Bochvarova and co-workers involving isolation of 211At from irradiated thorium targets, we developed a method for 211At isolation from bismuth targets using tellurium-packed columns. Dissolution of irradiated bismuth targets is accomplished using HNO3; however, 211At is not captured on the Te column material in this matrix. Our method involves slow addition of aqueous NH2OH·HCl to the Bi target dissolved in HNO3 to convert to a HCl matrix. The amount of NH2OH·HCl was optimized because (1) the quantity of NH2OH·HCl used appears to affect the radiolabeling yield of phenethyl-closo-decaborate(2-) (B10)-conjugated antibodies and (2) reducing the volume of NH2OH·HCl solution can effectively shorten the overall isolation time. A proof-of-concept semi-automated process has been demonstrated using targets containing ~0.96 GBq (~26 mCi) of 211At. High isolation yields (88–95%) were obtained. Radiochemical purity of the isolated 211At was assessed by radio-HPLC. Concentrations of Bi and Te contaminants in the 211At and the astatinated antibodies were evaluated using ICP-MS.
The roles of collaborative professional development, self-efficacy, and positive affect in encouraging educator data use to aid student learning

This research tests a hypothesized model that links collaborative data-use professional development experiences and successful use of student data to aid instruction. A serial, regression-based med...
Higher plasma cystatin C is associated with mortality after acute respiratory distress syndrome: findings from a Fluid and Catheter Treatment Trial (FACTT) substudy

Cystatin C is a well-validated marker of glomerular filtration rate in chronic kidney disease. Higher plasma concentrations of cystatin C are associated with worse clinical outcomes in heterogenous populations of critically ill patients and may be superior to creatinine in identifying kidney injury in critically ill patients. We hypothesized that elevated levels of plasma cystatin C in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) would be associated with mortality risk. In a retrospective study, cystatin C was measured by nephelometry on plasma obtained at enrollment from 919 patients in the Fluid and Catheter Treatment Trial. Multivariable logistic regression was performed testing the association between quartiles of cystatin C and 60-day mortality. Analyses were stratified by acute kidney injury (AKI) status identified in the first 7 days after enrollment by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Cystatin C was significantly higher among those patients who died compared to those who survived to 60 days [1.2 (0.9–1.9) mg/L vs. 0.8 (0.6–1.2) mg/L, p < 0.001]. Compared to the lower three quartiles, subjects in the highest quartile of cystatin C had a significantly higher odds of death at 60 days [OR 1.8 (1.2–2.6), p = 0.003 in adjusted analyses]; the odds of death incrementally rose in higher cystatin C quartiles compared to the lowest quartile (OR 1.1, 1.8, and 2.5). In adjusted analyses stratified by AKI status, compared to subjects in the lower three quartiles, subjects in the highest quartile of cystatin C with AKI had a significantly higher odds of death at 60 days both in participants with AKI [OR 1.6 (1.0–2.4), p = 0.048] and those without AKI [OR 2.4 (1.2–5.0), p = 0.017]. In adjusted analyses, there was no significant association between sex-stratified baseline creatinine quartiles and mortality. Higher plasma levels of cystatin C on enrollment were strongly associated with mortality at 60 days in patients with ARDS with and without AKI identified by creatinine-based definitions. Compared to creatinine, cystatin C may be a better biomarker of kidney function in patients with ARDS and therefore identify patients with multiple organ failure at higher risk of death.
Abstract 16565: Intramyocardial Tbx18 Gene Delivery in a Radiopaque Medium Enables Real-Time Assessment of Gene Transfer, and is Compatible With Biological Pacemaker Function

Introduction: The efficacy and specificity of myocardial gene transfer depends on retention of the injectate at the site of gene delivery. However, no direct method exists to confirm myocardial ret...
Alcohol and Cocaine Abuse

Increasing numbers of persons presenting for substance abuse treatment are multiple-substance users and their predominant drugs of choice are cocaine and alcohol. There are similarities in the treatment of alcohol and cocaine abuse, but important clinical differences need to be acknowledged. This chapter compares and contrasts the most recent epidemiology and clinical characteristics of both alcohol and cocaine abusers. First, use and abuse trends in the United States for both substances are described. The clinical characteristics of dependence on either substance are contrasted in detail, and finally, treatments are briefly described. Treatment for both disorders can be accomplished in the same setting if important demographic and pharmacological differences are addressed. In either disorder, comorbid psychopathology is frequent and appropriate treatment matching based on diagnosis is imperative.
Triplet Repeat Diseases

The repeat expansion disorders are a group of human diseases that are caused by the elongation of a DNA repeat sequence. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the discovery of repeat expansion as an important cause of human disease, and we summarize the molecular genetics and mechanistic basis of 27 microsatellite repeat disorders. Comparison of the many repeat expansion disorders reveals distinct categories of repeat diseases, allowing us to propose a classification of the repeat expansion disorders based upon mutation sequence and pathogenic mechanism. The four types of repeat expansion disorders defined by this approach are the CAG/polyglutamine repeat diseases; the loss-of-function repeat diseases; the RNA gain-of-function repeat diseases; and the polyalanine diseases. Although the genetic basis for most of these diseases was determined less than a decade or so ago, considerable advances have been made in our understanding of how “dynamic mutations” produce molecular pathology and human disease. Keywords: Aggregate; Anticipation; Gain of function; Loss of function; Repeat Expansion; Trinucleotide
Patterns of calculated basal drag on ice streams B and C, Antarctica

Patterns of strain rate and slope on the ice streams are unusual. They cannot be accounted for in the usual way as due to standing waves in ice flow over a basal obstruction to flow (such as a sticky spot). The features are studied using the force-budget technique. The conventional flow law is used, together with measurements of surface strain rate and shape of the glacier, to compute basal drag. The results for Ice Stream C are as expected, in that the drag varies from site to site but is directed inland, restraining the flow. The calculated drag at the base of Ice Stream B, on the other hand, is in places such that it acts to propel the glacier forward. This result is untenable. Either the conventional flow law is not applicable to Ice Stream Β or there are large spatial variations in ice stiffness, perhaps associated with foliation, or both.
Charge-controlled magnetism in colloidal doped semiconductor nanocrystals.

The room-temperature magnetism of colloidal doped semiconductor nanocrystals can be manipulated reversibly by controlling their electric charge state, making such materials attractive for potential spintronics applications.