cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early predictors of severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding and adverse outcomes: a prospective study.

Abstract Background & Aims: Unlike in upper tract bleeding, prognostic factors for ongoing or recurrent bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract have not been well-defined. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding and for significant adverse outcomes. Methods: All patients seeking attention at a university emergency department for gastrointestinal bleeding were prospectively identified during a 3-year period. Ninety-four of 448 (21%) admitted patients had lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Clinical predictors available in the first hour of evaluation were recorded. The primary outcome, severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding, was defined as gross blood per rectum after leaving the emergency department associated with either abnormal vital signs (systolic blood pressure 100/min) or more than a 2-unit blood transfusion during the hospitalization. Significant adverse outcomes, including death, were tabulated. Results: Thirty-seven patients (39%) had severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Independent risk factors for severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding were initial hematocrit ≤35% (odds ratio [OR], 6.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2–16.7); presence of abnormal vital signs (systolic blood pressure 100/min) 1 hour after initial medical evaluation (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.4–12.5); and gross blood on initial rectal examination (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.2–13.2). Nineteen patients (20%) experienced a significant adverse outcome, including 3 deaths. The main independent predictor of adverse outcomes was severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.7–16.5). Conclusions: Risk factors are available in the first hour of evaluation in the emergency department to identify patients at risk for severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a significant risk factor for global adverse outcomes.
Collisional relaxation of metastable calcium by molecules

Abstract Rate constants for quenching of Ca( 3 P) by H 2 , N 2 , CO, CO 2 and CH 4 were measured by a modulated laser-induced fluorescence technique in a slowly flowing metal vapor cell.
Acidic and alkaline bottom ash and composted manure blends as a soil amendment.

Abstract Potential water quality impacts associated with using bottom ash (BA) and composted dairy manure (CM) as a soil amendment were evaluated in this study. Two column studies were conducted to evaluate three blends of acidic BA and CM (BA:CM, v/v) namely, B1 ac (95:5), B2 ac (90:10), and B3 ac (80:20) and three blends of alkaline BA and CM (BA:CM, v/v), namely, B1 al (95:5), B2 al (90:10), and B3 al (80:20) under constant head water table conditions. Samples from standing water (top) and leachate (bottom) were collected at weekly intervals until day 49 to evaluate the effects of different blend ratios and elapsed time on standing water and leachate chemical and physical properties. A higher CM content in both acidic and alkaline blends resulted in higher leachate concentrations for solids and nutrients tested in this study. Alkaline blends had higher standing water and leachate nutrients concentration compared to acidic blends. After day 28, standing water total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations for all acidic blends was below the USEPA drinking water standard however, TDS value for alkaline blend was always below the standard. Similar trends were also observed for NO 3 –N and phosphorus (P) concentrations for both blends. Based on these findings, it was concluded that acidic and alkaline blends B1 ac , B1 al , B2 ac and B2 al may be considered as a soil amendment material.
Influence of 11-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on spinal motoneurons in cat

Intracellular recording techniques were used on spinal motoneurons in the cat in order to define the synaptic pharmacology of 11-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC), the principal metabolite of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC). The 11-hydroxy derivative increased the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic potentials; such an excitatory response did not appear to be the result of changes in afferent input. The increase in excitatory postsynaptic potentials, however, may be accounted for by a rise in membrane resistance. The cannabinoid also concomitantly produced synaptic depression, as indicated by a rise in the firing threshold for the motoneuron action potential. The responses to 11-hydroxy derivative suggest synaptic sites and mechanisms of action; for instance, the data indicate that the cannabinoid affected postsynaptic conductance. Finally, the similarity between the synaptic effects of the 11-hydroxy derivative and those of delta-9-THC suggest that the metabolite may contribute to the pharmacological properties of its parent compound.
Heart rate adjustment of ST-segment depression for reduction of false positive electrocardiographic responses to exercise in asymptomtic men screened for coronary artery disease☆

The ability of heart rate (HR) correction of exercise-induced ST-segment depression (the delta ST/HR index) to reduce the number of false positive exercise electrocardiograms during initial screening for occult coronary artery disease (CAD) was examined in active, asymptomatic men from the Army Reserve. Among 606 consecutive men given treadmill tests, 62 asymptomatic subjects with normal results on resting electrocardiograms but abnormal outcomes on standard exercise electrocardiograms underwent rest and exercise radionuclide cineangiography, and the 10 subjects with abnormal radionuclide findings then underwent coronary angiography. A previously established delta ST/HR index less than 1.6 microV/beat/min correctly identified 34 of 52 subjects (65%) who, despite abnormal standard exercise electrocardiographic findings, had no rest or exercise radionuclide abnormalities. A delta ST/HR index greater than or equal to 1.6 microV/beta/min detected 7 of 7 subjects with abnormal radionuclide cineangiograms who had CAD at cardiac catheterization, but also identified 2 of 3 subjects with an abnormal radionuclide test who had no CAD. In contrast to the 7 of 62 subjects (11%) with abnormal standard exercise test criteria who had radionuclide and angiographic evidence of CAD, a delta ST/HR index partition of 1.6 microV/beat/min separated subjects into subgroups with 0% (0 of 35) vs 26% (7 of 27) prevalences of CAD by serial diagnostic evaluation (p less than 0.01). Thus, among asymptomatic subjects with abnormal electrocardiographic responses to exercise, simple HR correction of the magnitude of ST-segment depression reduced by 56% the number of subjects with standard exercise test criteria leading to referral for additional diagnostic evaluation, without loss of sensitivity for angiographically proven CAD and with accurate negative predictive value.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
High voltage degradation of GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors on silicon substrate

Abstract We have electrically stressed GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors on Si substrate at high voltages. We observe a pattern of device degradation that differs markedly from previous reports in GaN-on-SiC HEMTs. Similarly to these devices, the gate leakage current of GaN-on-Si HEMTs increases by several orders of magnitude at a certain critical voltage and this increase is irreversible. However, in contrast with devices on SiC, the critical voltage varies substantially across the wafer, even over short distances, with values as high as 75 V being observed. In addition, for voltages below the critical voltage, we observe a prominent degradation in the drain current and the source and drain resistances, something not observed in devices on SiC. This degradation is almost completely recoverable under UV illumination. We attribute these results to the high mismatch that exists between GaN and Si that leads to a large concentration of electrically active traps and a lower and non-uniform initial strain in the AlGaN barrier. This is evidenced by observed correlations between threshold voltage and maximum drain current in fresh devices and their corresponding critical voltages.
Timely monthly surveillance of birth prevalence rates of congenital malformations and genetic disorders ascertained by registries or other systematic data bases

In many jurisdictions large data sets on malformations are now collected routinely in order to define prevalence rates of malformations in infants and children, to detect long-term secular trends, and to ascertain cases, for ad hoc case-control studies. With slight modifications, these data sets may be used for prompt surveillance of changes in the birth prevalence of malformations, changes that conceivably could be possibly due to the introduction of a teratogen into the environment. A specific logistic approach is suggested, modeled on the New York State Malformation Registry, for prompt detection of changes in rates.
Recognition and Sedimentologic Description of Recent Debris Flow Deposits from the Ross and Weddell Seas, Antarctica

ABSTRACT The Antarctic continental margin is inferred to be an active site of debris flow deposition and an ideal place to study these deposits. Although similar to the poorly sorted glacial-marine sediments from which they are derived, debris flow deposits can be distinguished, using textural criteria, from sediments deposited by floating ice. Antarctic debris flow units are poorly sorted, massive, texturally homogeneous throughout their thickness, and have sharp upper and lower boundaries. A crudely developed pebble fabric may be present in some units and all contain displaced shelf faunas or are unfossiliferous. Deposits from floating ice are poorly sorted, stratified, bimodal, and texturally heterogeneous within a single unit. They have gradational contacts and a crudely developed pebble f bric. These textural characteristics are useful in distinguishing debris flow deposits from floating ice sediments in the ancient record. No reliable textural criteria were found for differentiating between ancient debris flow deposits and tillites deposited by grounded ice.
Photochemistry of macrocyclic copper(II) compounds bound to polyelectrolytes

Anionic polyelectrolytes were added to aqueous solutions of copper(II) tetraazamacrocycles to modify their photochemical properties. Steady-state photolysis of solutions containing polycarboxylates, at pH 6.5, showed formation of copper(I) macrocycles with minimal degradation to free copper ions, Cuaq+ or Cuaq2+. Product quantum yields indicated that: (i) the polycarboxylate surrounding helped to enhance the photochemical properties of copper(II) macrocyclic complexes, serving as sacrificial electron donors; and (ii) there was an interaction of the photogenerated carbon dioxide molecules with the copper(I) units, forming long-lived species. Moreover, the polyelectrolyte microenvironment protected the copper(I) macrocycles from prompt conversion by different reaction pathways, such as opening of the macrocycle and hydrolysis. Time resolved experiments helped to elucidate the nature of the reaction intermediates and indicated formation of an adduct between the copper moiety and carbon dioxide.
Graph-cut methods for grain boundary segmentation

This paper reviews the recent progress on using graph-cut methods for image segmentation, and discusses their applications to segmenting grain boundaries from materials science images.
Validated MALDI-TOF/TOF Mass Spectra for Protein Standards

A current focus of proteomics research is the establishment of acceptable confidence measures in the assignment of protein identifications in an unknown sample. Development of new algorithmic approaches would greatly benefit from a standard reference set of spectra for known proteins for the purpose of testing and training. Here we describe an openly available library of mass spectra generated on an ABI 4700 MALDI TOF/TOF from 246 known, individually purified and trypsin-digested protein samples. The initial full release of the Aurum Dataset includes gel images, peak lists, spectra, search result files, decoy database analysis files, FASTA file of protein sequences, manual curation, and summary pages describing protein coverage and peptides matched by MS/MS followed by decoy database analysis using Mascot, Sequest, and X!Tandem. The data are publicly available for use at ProteomeCommons.org.
The alignment of gold particles on MgO crystal faces

Abstract Gold, evaporated indirectly on the faces of magnesium oxide smoke crystals, is shown by scanning transmission electron microscopy to form well dispersed, well epitaxed crystals of diameter about 2 nm, apparently located randomly on the surface. Scanning reflection electron microscopy reveals that these crystallites tend to be aligned, presumably along straight-line steps on the MgO surfaces. While many of these linear arrays are parallel to the [100] edges of the MgO cubes, many are not but make small angles (1–5°) with such edges and with each other. There is some evidence of preferred angles between these lines and the cube edges, suggesting that jogs in the MgO steps tend to occur regularly with periodicities of 2 to 7 nm.
Cooperativity Between Voltage-sensing Domains in the Human BK Channel Revealed by Voltage-clamp Fluorometry.

Like other members of the voltage-gated K+ channel superfamily, BK channels are thought to derive voltage sensitivity from charge-possessing transmembrane segments S2-S4. Particularly in BK, S2 is thought to have a direct role in voltage sensing (Ma et al., JGP2006). We combined cut-open oocyte voltage-clamp with fluorometry, after labeling unique cysteines introduced in cysteine-less BK channels (hSlo) with TMRM (Savalli et al., PNAS2006 and JGP2007), to resolve voltage-dependent conformational rearrangements near the extracellular side of S2. The intensity of fluorescence emission (ΔF) was strongly voltage-dependent (FVhalf=-92±2.7mV, Fz=0.95±0.07, n=8), reporting protein rearrangements. To investigate voltage sensor function, we targeted two putative voltage-sensing residues: D153 (S2) and R213 (the single voltage-sensing residue in S4 -Ma et al., JGP2006). Neutralizing D153 in S2-labeled channels abolished voltage-evoked fluorescence deflections, strongly supporting the role of D153 in voltage activation of S2. Neutralizing R213 in the S4-labeled channel gave rise to a detectable but weakly voltage-dependent ΔF (Fz<0.2, n=2), perhaps arising from the S3 charge (D186, Ma et al., 2006). Cooperativity amongst voltage sensing transmembrane segments was evaluated by investigating ionic currents and ΔF from an S4 charge mutant labeled in the S2 and vice versa. In both cases, protein rearrangements were detected, albeit less voltage-dependent (Fz=0.21-0.23, n=5-6 respectively). These findings revealed that strong S2-S4 cooperativity underlies voltage sensing in the intact channel. In contrast to fluorescence experiments, the change in voltage sensitivity of ionic currents was smaller (Gz=0.70-0.86), supporting the view that the pore has intrinsic voltage dependence. An allosteric model of gating composed of two types of voltage sensing tetramers surrounding a single pore was used to provide a global fit of the experimental results.
The Chemistry of Manganese Ores through Time: A Signal of Increasing Diversity of Earth-Surface Environments

Almost all economic manganese ores are ultimately or directly derived from hydrothermal vents associated with intermediate volcanic rocks. This source is in contrast to deep-sea nodules, which likely have a larger component of sediment-derived manganese and whose volcanic sources are more mafic. Manganese deposits can be divided into sedimentary rock-hosted, volcanic rock-hosted and karst-hosted, in order of predominance. Two genetic types of sedimentary rock-hosted deposits can also be identified: those with Mn derived via upwelling from oxygen-minimum zones and those formed on the margins of euxinic basins. Most of the large tonnage deposits appear to form by the euxinic mechanism. Manganese ores, like those of Fe, show a strong concentration of deposits in the Paleoproterozoic and a lesser occurrence in the Neoproterozoic, but, unlike Fe, there is an additional strong peak in the Oligocene. Therefore, Mn is not controlled entirely by the level of oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere. At each peak of Mn deposition, the associated ore deposits are concentrated in a few districts, suggesting a more local than global control on manganese metallogenesis. Age trends can, however, be discerned in some chemical properties of manganese deposits. Overall, there is a trend to progressive increases in chemical diversity from the Archean to the Recent, with a particularly steep increase in the Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian, corresponding in time to the radiation of metazoans. Also beginning in the Cambrian is the development of upwelling-linked deposits. There is another sharp increase in chemical diversity at the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, which includes increased SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ratios and corresponds to the radiation of diatoms. There is a conspicuous gap in sedimentary rock-hosted Mn deposits between 1800 and 800 Ma that may correspond to a monotonous, low-oxygen ocean, but one without sulfidic deep water. Alternatively, Mn may have been precipitated entirely in the deep ocean, beneath a sulfidic oxygen minimum layer. The positive Eu anomalies, which in iron formations are equated to vent-sourced metals, are not seen in most Mn deposits, although they are found in Mn-rich iron formations. By contrast, Fe deposits interbedded with major Mn ores lack the usual Eu signal. Therefore, mechanisms of transport between hydrothermal vents and the sites of deposition differed for Fe and for Mn deposits in the Archean-Paleoproterozoic. The dominant pattern in the time trend of Mn deposition is increasing chemical diversity, which reflects an increasing compartmentalization of the Earth’s depositional environments. This compartmentalization was a response to, but also provided a spur to, the diversification of life forms.
Modulation Response of an Injection-Locked 1550 nm Quantum Dash Semiconductor Laser

The increase in modulation bandwidth of an injection-locked quantum dash laser is examined as a function of injected power and detuning. Bandwidth enhancement up to a factor of 3 is observed.
β-Cryptoxanthin Restores Nicotine-Reduced Lung SIRT1 to Normal Levels and Inhibits Nicotine-Promoted Lung Tumorigenesis and Emphysema in A/J Mice

Nicotine, a large constituent of cigarette smoke, is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, but the data supporting this relationship are inconsistent. Here, we found that nicotine treatment not only induced emphysema but also increased both lung tumor multiplicity and volume in 4-nitrosamino-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-initiated lung cancer in A/J mice. This tumor-promoting effect of nicotine was accompanied by significant reductions in survival probability and lung Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression, which has been proposed as a tumor suppressor. The decreased level of SIRT1 was associated with increased levels of AKT phosphorylation and interleukin (il)-6 mRNA but decreased tumor suppressor p53 and retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-β mRNA levels in the lungs. Using this mouse model, we then determined whether β-cryptoxanthin (BCX), a xanthophyll that is strongly associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer in several cohort studies, can inhibit nicotine-induced emphysema and lung tumorigenesis. We found that BCX supplementation at two different doses was associated with reductions of the nicotine-promoted lung tumor multiplicity and volume, as well as emphysema in mice treated with both NNK and nicotine. Moreover, BCX supplementation restored the nicotine-suppressed expression of lung SIRT1, p53, and RAR-β to that of the control group, increased survival probability; and decreased the levels of lung il-6 mRNA and phosphorylation of AKT. The present study indicates that BCX is a preventive agent against emphysema and lung cancer with SIRT1 as a potential target. In addition, our study establishes a relevant animal lung cancer model for studying tumor growth within emphysematous microenvironments.
Stream control in networks with interfering MIMO links

A distributed algorithm, which exploits channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter, is presented for determining the maximum number of independent data streams for each transmitting node in a network of interfering multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) links. Simulated throughputs for two simple network topologies show that the algorithm yields nearly optimal stream control. These closed-loop MIMO throughputs are compared to those of open-loop MIMO, with and without optimal stream control, and to the throughput when the links operate in a non-interfering, TDMA fashion.
Systematic review of change in bodily pain after sinus surgery.

ObjectivesTo determine whether bodily pain is increased in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and if bodily pain improves following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).MethodsAll studies reporti...
Why Does It Take a Village? The Mediation of Neighborhood Effects on Educational Achievement

The urban and educational literature has recently begun to focus on the increase of concentrated poverty in inner-city neighborhoods and the educational failure of youth often associated with living in these neighborhoods. The current study examines this issue by identifying which neighborhood characteristics influence educational achievement and what mechanisms mediate these associations. Using the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 linked to 1990 census information at the neighborhood level, the current study finds not only that neighborhood characteristics predict educational outcomes but also that the strength of the predictions often rivals that associated with more commonly cited family- and school-related factors. When considering how neighborhood characteristics influence educational outcomes, theorists have proposed several mediating processes, including collective socialization, social control, social capital, perception of opportunity, and institutional characteristics. The current study reveals that these mediators account for about 40% of the neighborhood effect on educational achievement, with collective socialization having the strongest influence. Also discussed are the theoretical and policy implications of this study and directions for future research.
Control of radar scattering by reactive loading

A method for obtaining a desired radar scattering pattern by reactively loading a conducting body is given. The theory uses the concept of characteristic modes of a loaded body. Any desired real current can be resonated by reactive loads to make it the dominant mode current of that body. If no other mode is near resonance, the radar scattering pattern becomes nearly the same as the radiation pattern of the resonated current. A quality factor Q is defined as a measure of the broadband behavior of a scatterer. Procedures for computing the real currents having minimum Q and maximum gain-quality ratio are given. A pattern synthesis procedure is developed for obtaining the real current whose radiation field pattern is the least mean-square approximation to a desired field pattern. Numerical examples are given for each procedure discussed.
Genetic variants in inflammation-related genes are associated with radiation-induced toxicity following treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.

Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy is often accompanied by the development of esophagitis and pneumonitis. Identifying patients who might be at increased risk for normal tissue toxicity would help in determination of the optimal radiation dose to avoid these events. We profiled 59 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 37 inflammation-related genes in 173 NSCLC patients with stage IIIA/IIIB (dry) disease who were treated with definitive radiation or chemoradiation. For esophagitis risk, nine SNPs were associated with a 1.5- to 4-fold increase in risk, including three PTGS2 (COX2) variants: rs20417 (HR:1.93, 95% CI:1.10–3.39), rs5275 (HR:1.58, 95% CI:1.09–2.27), and rs689470 (HR:3.38, 95% CI:1.09–10.49). Significantly increased risk of pneumonitis was observed for patients with genetic variation in the proinflammatory genes IL1A, IL8, TNF, TNFRSF1B, and MIF. In contrast, NOS3:rs1799983 displayed a protective effect with a 45% reduction in pneumonitis risk (HR:0.55, 95% CI:0.31–0.96). Pneumonitis risk was also modulated by polymorphisms in anti-inflammatory genes, including genetic variation in IL13. rs20541 and rs180925 each resulted in increased risk (HR:2.95, 95% CI:1.14–7.63 and HR:3.23, 95% CI:1.03–10.18, respectively). The cumulative effect of these SNPs on risk was dose-dependent, as evidenced by a significantly increased risk of either toxicity with an increasing number of risk genotypes (P<0.001). These results suggest that genetic variations among inflammation pathway genes may modulate the development of radiation-induced toxicity and, ultimately, help in identifying patients who are at an increased likelihood for such events.
Proinflammatory Phenotype of Perivascular Adipocytes: Influence of High-Fat Feeding

Adipose tissue depots originate from distinct precursor cells, are functionally diverse, and modulate disease processes in a depot-specific manner. However, the functional properties of perivascular adipocytes, and their influence on disease of the blood vessel wall, remain to be determined. We show that human coronary perivascular adipocytes exhibit a reduced state of adipocytic differentiation as compared with adipocytes derived from subcutaneous and visceral (perirenal) adipose depots. Secretion of antiinflammatory adiponectin is markedly reduced, whereas that of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, is markedly increased in perivascular adipocytes. These depot-specific differences in adipocyte function are demonstrable in both freshly isolated adipose tissues and in vitro-differentiated adipocytes. Murine aortic arch perivascular adipose tissues likewise express lower levels of adipocyte-associated genes as compared with subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues. Moreover, 2 weeks of high-fat feeding caused further reductions in adipocyte-associated gene expression, while upregulating proinflammatory gene expression, in perivascular adipose tissues. These changes were observed in the absence of macrophage recruitment to the perivascular adipose depot. We conclude that perivascular adipocytes exhibit reduced differentiation and a heightened proinflammatory state, properties that are intrinsic to the adipocytes residing in this depot. Dysfunction of perivascular adipose tissue induced by fat feeding suggests that this unique adipose depot is capable of linking metabolic signals to inflammation in the blood vessel wall.
Endothelin-induced cardiac myocyte hypertrophy: role for focal adhesion kinase

Endothelin-1 (ET) produces neonatal rat ventricular myocyte (NRVM) hypertrophy and activates focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in other cell types. In the present study, we examined whether ET activated ...
Effects of short‐term, high‐dose prednisone treatment of patients with HBsAg‐positive chronic active hepatitis

We conducted a clinical trial to study the effects of a 10-week course of prednisone therapy and its withdrawal on serum aminotransferase levels and on hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive chronic active hepatitis (CAH-B). Eighteen patients with CAH-B were treated with prednisone, while another 18 patients matched for age, sex, race and sexual preference were followed simultaneously without treatment for the same duration. Nine of 18 prednisone-treated patients became transiently DNA polymerase positive. All nine patients developed a transient rise in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of greater than 300 U/L above baseline values, which was associated with a drop in HBsAg levels from a mean of 186 micrograms/ml prior to therapy to 92 micrograms/ml at 6 months following treatment. Six of these patients developed fatigue, anorexia and dark urine, and four also developed either ascites or hemorrhage from esophageal varices, which was accompanied by hepatic encephalopathy. All six of these patients had histologic evidence of CAH with cirrhosis. In comparison, none of the control, untreated patients with CAH-B had any change in either HBV markers or serum ALT levels. Therefore, even a short course of prednisone in patients with CAH-B with cirrhosis is detrimental and its use should be discouraged.
Functional communication training using assistive devices: Recruiting natural communities of reinforcement.

We evaluated the effectiveness of functional communication training (FCT) as an intervention for the problem behavior exhibited by 5 students with severe disabilities both in school and in the community. Following an assessment of the function of their problem behavior, the students were taught to use assistive communication devices in school to request the objects and activities that presumably were maintaining their behavior. Multiple baseline data collected across the students indicated that not only did the students use their devices successfully, but the intervention also reduced their problem behavior. In addition, data from community settings showed generalization to untrained community members. These results replicate other successful efforts to use FCT with individuals having limited communication skills, and demonstrate the value of teaching skills to recruit natural communities of reinforcement in order to generalize intervention effects to meaningful nontraining environments.
Automatically Tuning Background Subtraction Parameters using Particle Swarm Optimization

A common trait of background subtraction algorithms is that they have learning rates, thresholds, and initial values that are hand-tuned for a scenario in order to produce the desired subtraction result; however, the need to tune these parameters makes it difficult to use state-of-the-art methods, fuse multiple methods, and choose an algorithm based on the current application as it requires the end-user to become proficient in tuning a new parameter set. The proposed solution is to automate this task by using a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to maximize a fitness function compared to provided ground-truth images. The fitness function used is the F-measure, which is the harmonic mean of recall and precision. This method reduces the total pixel error of the Mixture of Gaussians background subtraction algorithm by more than 50% on the diverse Wallflower data-set.
The Neural Basis of Implicit Attitudes

Evidence that human preferences, beliefs, and behavior are influenced by sources that are outside the reach of conscious awareness, control, intention, and self-reflection is incontrovertible. Recent advances in neuroscience have enabled researchers to investigate the neural basis of these implicit attitudes, particularly attitudes involving social groups. From this research, a model with three identified neural components related to the automatic activation and regulation of implicit attitudes is beginning to emerge. The amygdala is implicated in the automatic evaluation of socially relevant stimuli, while the anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices are involved in the detection and regulation, respectively, of implicit attitudes. Further support for this model comes from the inclusion of these regions in current models concerning the cognitive regulation of emotion and the detection of conflict. The identification of a putative neural substrate for implicit attitudes has had a direct imp...
Regulation of human neuronal calcium channels by G protein βγ subunits expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells

We examined the ability of different G protein subunits to inhibit the activity of human α1B and α1E Ca2+ channels stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells together with β1B and α2Bδ Ca2+ channel subunits. Under normal conditions, Ca2+ currents in α1B-expressing cells showed little facilitation after a depolarizing prepulse. However, when we overexpressed the β2γ2 subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins, the time course of activation of the Ca2+ currents was considerably slowed and a depolarizing prepulse produced a large facilitation of the current as well as an acceleration in its time course of activation. Similar effects were not observed when cells were transfected with constitutively active mutants of the G protein α subunits αs, αi1, and αo or with the G protein β2 and γ2 subunits alone. Studies carried out in cells expressing α1E currents showed that overexpression of β2γ2 subunits produced prepulse facilitation, although this was of lesser magnitude than that observed with Ca2+ currents in α1B-expressing cells. The subunits β2 and γ2 alone produced no effects, nor did constitutively active αs, αi1, and αo subunits. Phorbol esters enhanced α1E Ca2+ currents but had no effect on α1B currents, suggesting that protein kinase C activation was not responsible for the observed effects. When α1E Ca2+ currents were expressed without their β subunits, they exhibited prepulse facilitation. These results demonstrate that α1E Ca2+ currents are less susceptible to direct modulation by G proteins than α1B currents and illustrate the antagonistic interactions between Ca2+channel β subunits and G proteins.
Generalized second law for cosmology

We conjecture a novel generalized second law that can be applied in cosmology, regardless of whether an event horizon is present: the generalized entropy increases monotonically outside of certain hypersurfaces we call past Q-screens. A past Q-screen is foliated by surfaces whose generalized entropy (sum of area and entanglement entropy) is stationary along one future null direction and increasing along the other. We prove that our generalized second law holds in spacetimes obeying the quantum focusing conjecture. An analogous law applies to future Q-screens, which appear inside evaporating black holes and in collapsing regions.
Fluidics-based plant study platform with colorimetric humidity monitoring

Studying plant root responses to various environmental stimuli is challenging due to lack of proper and convenient methods for analysis. By adopting the concept of microfluidic systems, we develop a novel meso-scale fluidic platform to create controlled environment for studying physiological behaviors of small plant roots. Air flows with different humidity through a Y-shape fluidic channel generate a two-dimensional humidity gradient over the root zone of a small plant. The gradient was monitored with embedded humidity sensors. Actively growing plant roots are directly exposed to this humidity gradient and their growth kinetics are analyzed. This simple fluidic platform proved to be very effective and promising to investigate hydrotropic responses of plant roots (i.e. root bending toward a more humid region). We anticipate that this platform can be applied to other areas of plant research including metabolic and genetic engineering.
Deoxynyboquinones as NQO1-Activated Cancer Therapeutics

ConspectusOne of the major goals of cancer therapy is the selective targeting of cancer cells over normal cells. Unfortunately, even with recent advances, the majority of chemotherapeutics still indiscriminately kill all rapidly dividing cells. Although these drugs are effective in certain settings, their inability to specifically target cancer results in significant dose-limiting toxicities. One way to avoid such toxicities is to target an aspect of the cancer cell that is not shared by normal cells.A potential cancer-specific target is the enzyme NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). NQO1 is a 2-electron reductase responsible for the detoxification of quinones. Its expression is typically quite low in normal tissue, but it has been found to be greatly overexpressed in many types of solid tumors, including lung, breast, pancreatic, and colon cancers. This overexpression is thought to be in response to the higher oxidative stress of the cancer cell, and it is possible that NQO1 contributes to tumor pro...
The Canada–U.S. Agreement on Government Procurement: A Step Forward with Plenty of Room for Further Development

Canada is the top destination for American exports, with many expanding opportunities for American corporations. The Canada-United States Agreement on Government Procurement (CUSAGP) enables American corporations to tap into the roughly CDN$691.4 billion Canadian government contracts market. This paper explores the historical context of the CUSAGP, starting with the role of government procurement in the original post-WWII efforts to reduce barriers to trade that resulted in the GATT and the WTO. The events that precipitated the creation of the CUSAGP involved the Recovery Act enacted in response to the financial crisis of 2008 and the Canadian reaction to it. This paper analyzes the legality of the CUSAGP under U.S. constitutional law, statutory law, and principles of international law. The conclusions of the analysis are that the CUSAGP is good law, but that there are specific areas with room for expansion on both the federal and sub-federal level to increase greater economic opportunities for both countries.
Vernalization Duration Requirement in Soft Winter Wheat is Associated with Variation at the VRN‐B1 Locus

Genetic variation in the factors controlling flowering in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) allow it to be grown in a wide range of environments. The aim of this study was to identify genetic determinants of flowering time in winter wheat cultivars adapted to regions of the United States differing in latitude and the duration of cold temperatures during winter. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from the cross between cultivars NC-Neuse and AGS 2000 that are adapted to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions, respectively. We identified a QTL for heading date (HD) in the greenhouse after 4 wk of vernalization, designated Qvdr.nc-5BL, which also had a large effect on winter dormancy release and HD when the population was evaluated in the field at locations in North Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana during 2012 and North Carolina during 2013. However, Qvdr.nc-5BL did not have a significant effect on HD in greenhouse grown plants vernalized for 8 wk or in plants grown in the field at Raleigh, NC during 2011. In those environments where Qvdr.nc-5BL was not significant, a region on chromosome 2B, probably associated with the Ppd-B1 locus, was determined to have a HD effect. Interrogation of the population with gene-based markers for Vrn-B1 and Ppd-B1 suggests that these loci are major determinants of HD in winter wheat and are important for adaptation to diverse growing environments.
Wandering Spleen. A Case of Spontaneous Hemoperitoneum in an HIV-positive Patient with Recurrent Tuboovarian Abscess.

Background Wandering spleen is a rare and potentially devastating condition that can present in a variety of ways. Here we present a case that led to acute abdomen and hemoperitoneum in a young woman. Case A 27-year-old woman with a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), pelvic inflammatory disease, and tuboovarian abscess was readmitted to the hospital for intravenous antibiotic treatment. When her clinical picture did not improve, she underwent placement of a pelvic drain for abscess drainage. Overnight she developed an acute abdomen and hemorrhagic shock. She was taken to the operating room for an exploratory laparotomy, which revealed a ruptured spleen with a single, elongated vascular pedicle. Conclusion Wandering spleen is a rare diagnosis, more common in reproductive-aged women, with potentially fatal complications. It is a necessary component of a differential diagnosis for acute abdomen in reproductive-aged women.
Creating advanced health informatics certification.

In 2005, AMIA leaders and members concluded that certification of advanced health informatics professionals would offer value to individual practitioners, organizations that hire them, and society at large. AMIA’s work to create advanced informatics certification began by leading a successful effort to create the clinical informatics subspecialty for American Board of Medical Specialties board-certified physicians. Since 2012, AMIA has been working to establish advanced health informatics certification (AHIC) for all health informatics practitioners regardless of their primary discipline. In November 2015, AMIA completed the first of 3 key tasks required to establish AHIC, with the AMIA Board of Directors’ endorsement of proposed eligibility requirements. This AMIA Board white paper describes efforts to establish AHIC, reports on the current status of AHIC components, and provides a context for the proposed AHIC eligibility requirements.
Taenia solium neurocysticercosis

After many years as a relatively rare neurological disorder, Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) neurocysticercosis is now seen more frequently in patients in the United States. Humans are the definitive and only hosts of the tapeworm stage. The larval stage develops in the pig, the intermediate host, following ingestion of tapeworm eggs excreted in the feces of the tapeworm carrier. The larvae invade most tissues of the pig giving rise to a disease termed cysticercosis. When humans ingest raw or undercooked meat from cysticercotic pigs, taeniasis (tapeworm) results. Humans can also act as intermediate hosts if they ingest T. solium eggs present in contaminated food or water; cysticercosis, similar to that seen in pigs, develops. If the larvae invade the central nervous system, neurocysticercosis with ensuing neurological dysfunction results. Cysticercotic pigs are rarely found in the United States. Only three animals out of >88 million federally inspected pigs were diagnosed as cysticercotic in 1990. In the United States, the excellent sewage disposal system prevents access of pigs to human feces and infection of pigs by T. solium eggs is consequently rare. In Mexico, however, the mean rate for cysticercotic pigs in inspected slaughter houses during 1980-1981 was 1.55% and there is little reason to suspect that it has decreased. In rural areas of Mexico and South America where sewage disposal is limited, the number of cysticercotic pigs can be in excess of 5% and neurocysticercosis is a common disease in the human population. In such areas, pigs are not penned or fed but depend on scavenging waste, including human waste, for food. Thus, the cycle of cysticercotic pigs infecting humans and tapeworm carriers infecting both humans and pigs is difficult to break in primitive rural areas. The incidence of neurocysticercosis is increasing in the United States due to an influx of immigrants from areas where T. solium is endemic. Most patients presenting with neurocysticercosis are of Mexican origin and probably acquired their disease in Mexico. However, several cases have been reported in people who have no history of travel to endemic areas and who were probably infected through ingestion of food prepared by an unhygienic food preparer who was also a tapeworm carrier. In this review, the life cycle of T. solium , parasite transmission, incidence of T. solium -related disease in pigs and humans, the disease process, drugs used in treatment, detection T. solium and destruction of T. solium eggs and cysticerci in foods are discussed. Food microbiologists must be aware of the increasing importance of T. solium as a disease agent and how to control T. solium -related diseases.
OXYGEN-18 DIFFUSION IN SURFACE DEFECTS ON MgO AS REVEALED BY PROTON ACTIVATION

A study of the effect of surface defects on the self-diffusion of oxygen in MgO is reported. The technique involves exchange with oxygen-18 enriched gas followed by proton bombardment to yield the radioisotope, fluorine-18. This may be treated as a normal radioactive tracer. The penetration distribution of the oxygen isotope is indicated by autoradiography. Preferential diffusion of oxygen down bicrystal grain boundaries is definitely proven. Dislocations introduced by cold-working are found to contribute to the overall rate of oxygen diffusion. Surface fractures are shown to be important channels for the rapid movement of oxygen. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Science, Gender and History: The Fantastic in Mary Shelley and Margaret Atwood

Sometimes what seems obvious isn’t obvious at all: such is the case of the relationship between Mary Shelley and Margaret Atwood as revealed in Suparna Banerjee’s rich monograph, the first full-len...
Approximate dynamic programming for missile defense interceptor fire control

Abstract Given the ubiquitous nature of both offensive and defensive missile systems, the catastrophe-causing potential they represent, and the limited resources available to countries for missile defense, optimizing the defensive response to a missile attack is a necessary national security endeavor. For a single salvo of offensive missiles launched at a set of targets, a missile defense system protecting those targets must determine how many interceptors to fire at each incoming missile. Since such missile engagements often involve the firing of more than one attack salvo, we develop a Markov decision process (MDP) model to examine the optimal fire control policy for the defender. Due to the computational intractability of using exact methods for all but the smallest problem instances, we utilize an approximate dynamic programming (ADP) approach to explore the efficacy of applying approximate methods to the problem. We obtain policy insights by analyzing subsets of the state space that reflect a range of possible defender interceptor inventories. Testing of four instances derived from a representative planning scenario demonstrates that the ADP policy provides high-quality decisions for a majority of the state space, achieving a 7.74% mean optimality gap over all states for the most realistic instance, modeling a longer-term engagement by an attacker who assesses the success of each salvo before launching a subsequent one. Moreover, the ADP algorithm requires only a few minutes of computational effort versus hours for the exact dynamic programming algorithm, providing a method to address more complex and realistically-sized instances.