cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced photo‐bioelectrochemical energy conversion by genetically engineered cyanobacteria

Photosynthetic energy conversion using natural systems is increasingly being investigated in the recent years. Photosynthetic microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria, exhibit light-dependent electrogenic characteristics in photo-bioelectrochemical cells (PBEC) that generate substantial photocurrents, yet the current densities are lower than their photovoltaic counterparts. Recently, we demonstrated that a cyanobacterium named Nostoc sp. employed in PBEC could generate up to 35 mW m−2 even in a non-engineered PBEC. With the insights obtained from our previous research, a novel and successful attempt has been made in the current study to genetically engineer the cyanobacteria to further enhance its extracellular electron transfer. The cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 was genetically engineered to express a non-native redox protein called outer membrane cytochrome S (OmcS). OmcS is predominantly responsible for metal reducing abilities of exoelectrogens such as Geobacter sp. The engineered S. elongatus exhibited higher extracellular electron transfer ability resulting in approximately ninefold higher photocurrent generation on the anode of a PBEC than the corresponding wild-type cyanobacterium. This work highlights the scope for enhancing photocurrent generation in cyanobacteria, thereby benefiting faster advancement of the photosynthetic microbial fuel cell technology. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 675–679. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enzyme-activated nanoconjugates for tunable release of doxorubicin in hepatic cancer cells.

Abstract We report the synthesis of a series of aromatic azo-linkers (L1–L4), which are selectively recognized and cleaved by azoreductase enzymes present in the cytoplasm of hepatic cancer cells via a NADPH-dependent mechanism. We utilized L1–L4 azo-linkers to conjugate doxorubicin to generation 5 (G5) of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers to prepare G5–L( x )–DOX nanoconjugates. We incorporated electron-donating oxygen (O) or nitrogen (N) groups in the para and ortho positions of L1–L4 azo-linkers to control the electronegativity of G5–L( x )–DOX conjugates and investigated their cleavage by azoreductase enzymes and the associated release of loaded DOX molecules. Hammett σ values of G5–L( x )–DOX conjugates ranged from −0.44 to −1.27, which is below the reported σ threshold (−0.37) required for binding to azoreductase enzymes. Results show that incubation of G5–L1–DOX ( σ = −0.44), G5–L2–DOX ( σ = −0.71), G5–L3–DOX ( σ = −1.00), and G5–L4–DOX ( σ = −1.27) conjugates with human liver microsomal (HLM) enzymes and the S9 fraction isolated from HepG2 hepatic cancer cells results in release of 4%–8%, 17%, 60%, and 100% of the conjugated DOX molecules, respectively. These results show that increasing the electronegativity (i.e. lower σ value) of L1–L4 azo-linkers increases their susceptibility to cleavage by azoreductase enzymes. Intracellular cleavage of G5–L( x )–DOX nanoconjugates, release of conjugated DOX molecules, and cytotoxicity correlated with conjugate's electronegativity ( σ value) was investigated, with G5–L4–DOX conjugate exhibiting the highest toxicity towards hepatic cancer cells with an IC 50 of 13 n m ± 5 n m in HepG2 cells. Cleavage of G5–L( x )–DOX conjugates was specific to hepatic cancer cells as shown by low non-specific DOX release upon incubation with non-enzymatic insect proteins and the S9 fraction isolated from rat cardiomyocytes. These enzyme-activated G5–L( x )–DOX conjugates represent a drug delivery platform that can achieve tunable and cell-specific release of the loaded cargo in hepatic cancer cells.
Visual diagnosis: four infants who have red, "bloody" stools.

1. Jill Lowers, MD* 2. Arthur Jaffe, MD* 3. Joseph A. Zenel, MD† 4. Michael D. Cabana, MD, MPH§ 5. Clement Donahue, MD‡ 6. Alan Uba, MD‡ 1. *(Cases 1, 2, 3) Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Ore 2. †(Cases 1, 2, 3) Associate Editor, Pediatrics in Review 3. §(Case 4) Departments of Pediatrics, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of General Pediatrics, Institute for Health Policy Studies, UCSF Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, Calif 4. ‡(Case 4) Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics, Institute for Health Policy Studies, UCSF Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, Calif A 2-year-old, previously healthy boy presents to the clinic with a history of 24 hours of fussiness, decreased appetite, and several short-lived episodes of acute abdominal pain. During the past 8 hours he has had several red, “bloody” stools. There is no vomiting. Physical examination reveals an alert child whose vital signs are normal. His abdomen is soft and nondistended. A palpable “mass” extends through the right upper and lower quadrants. Rectal examination does not reveal any fissures or tears. Auscultation reveals diminished bowel sounds. His remaining physical findings are within normal limits. After examination, the patient passes a red-colored stool (Fig. 1). Laboratory examination shows normal complete blood count and serum electrolyte concentrations. Stool guaiac testing is positive. Additional testing reveals the diagnosis. Figure 1. Red stool, guaiac-positive. A 2-year-old healthy girl presents with the complaint of a single large, red, “bloody” stool. She has had no vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fussiness, fever, or other systemic complaints. She has no history of constipation. Her mother brings the stool for examination (Fig. 2). Figure 2. Red stool, guaiac-negative. Physical examination reveals an alert, playful child whose vital signs are normal. Findings on abdominal examination are unremarkable, and the rectal examination does not reveal any fissures or tears. The remainder of her physical examination is normal. Stool guaiac testing is negative. Additional history reveals the diagnosis. A 5-month-old boy who has a recent history of acute otitis media presents with three episodes of red, “bloody” stools in the past 48 hours. The child is otherwise well and has no vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or abdominal pain. His appetite is good, and he drinks 8 oz of formula every 3 to 4 hours. He has no prior history of constipation or formula intolerance. Currently, he is taking oral cefdinir for the otitis media. His mother brings …
Epidemiology of HIV Infection and AIDS

The HIV/AIDS pandemic remains volatile and has become immensely complex. It is now a mosaic composed of a multitude of epidemics, which can be distinguished on the basis of: time of introduction of HIV; predominant modes of transmission; geography; age, sex, socioeconomic or behavioural characteristics of the populations most affected; rapidity of or potential for HIV spread; and availability of resources for prevention and care. From a global perspective, the pandemic disproportionately affects the developing world. HIV continues to spread at a diminished rate in the industrialised world and an increased rate in most parts of the resource-poor world. HIV increasingly affects people who, for reasons of race, sex, behaviour or social and economic status, are marginalised and have lesser access to preventive and healthcare services. As HIV epidemics spread and mature, their social, economic and demographic effects, particularly in the developing world, will continue to create great burdens on individuals, communities and countries, and may challenge the stability of entire regions. Current evidence of the effectiveness of HIV prevention and recent progress achieved in the development of new therapies provide the scientific basis on which an expanded response to growing prevention and care needs can be built. Even as prevention and treatment options improve, the human and economic costs of the pandemic will continue to be felt by individuals, families and loved ones, communities, countries and regions throughout the world.
The Illogic and Limits of Partnership Bankruptcy

New partnership law, the development of new partnership-type business entities, the complex bankruptcies of large law and accounting partnership and proposals to substantially amend federal bankruptcy law dealing with partnerships have brought the formerly neglected area of partnership bankruptcy to center stage. This article is the first economic analysis of the application of federal bankruptcy law to partnerships. The article accepts the standard economic explanation for bankruptcy as a way to preserve asset values from dissipation through creditor grab races under state law. However, it shows that even if this rationale works in other debt collection contexts, it does not justify the substantial costs of federalizing partnership bankruptcy law. Because the partnership's assets are enlarged by the assets of the individual partners, there may be little need to hold creditors at bay in order to accomplish a reorganization or orderly liquidation. Accordingly, this article suggests limiting the extent to which federal bankruptcy law trumps state partnership law on such matters as creditor actions against solvent partners and the dissociation of insolvent partners. It also considers the extent to which bankruptcy law should be applied to partnership-type firms whose members have limited liability.
Evidence for dominant transmission of chronic granulomatous disease from leukocyte oxygen uptake studies

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), an X-linked disorder of males, may also occur as an autosomal trait. Detection of the heterozygote by nitroblue tetrazolium dye tests (NBT) and bactericidal studies has not been successful in these families. Leukocytes of patients with CGD fail to show normal increments in respiration (O2 consumption) during phagocytosis of latex particles. A GME Oxygraph Model KM (Gilson) was used to determine phagocytic and basal rates of leukocyte O2 uptake in picomoles O2/min/million cells. A ratio of phagocytic to basal rate (P/B) for leukocytes from a series of normal males, females and children has been reported previously. Two families with clinical CGD non X-linked were studied by NBT dye tests, bactericidal studies and O2 consumption. In one family, 3 girls were affected; the father and brother were not affected and had normal studies but the mother had intermediate bactericidal capacity in one of 3 determinations. She had consistently abnormal O2 uptake (P/B of 2) as compared to normal females who show P/B of 13.3 ± 2.4. In the other family, a male propositus had typical clinical and lab findings of CGD. A male sib and both parents were normal clinically and by usual lab tests, however, the father's cells showed decreased O2 uptake below the average for normal males (P/B of 9 compared to normals of 11.83 ± 1.94). It is suggested from these studies that leukocyte O2 uptake may be of value in detecting asymptomatic carries of CGD for more precise genetic counseling.
Robust Statistical Controller for Stochastic Systems

The statistical control scheme presented here involves obtaining a feedback law which minimizes the value of a finite linear combination of the first k th cost cumulants of a traditional integral quadratic cost associated with a linear stochastic system. This statistical control scheme has shown to be quite competitive with other modern control design paradigms for several benchmark problems. This paper focuses on a particular type of statistical control known as the infinite horizon output feedback statistical control where an arbitrarily large time horizon is considered, not all the system state information is available, and the unmeasured states are estimated using the Kalman filter. Design of the statistical controller requires the precise knowledge of system parameters and system uncertainties could severely degrade the performance or even destabilize the controlled system. The main objective of this paper is to extend the existing infinite horizon output feedback statistical control theory to a class of linear time-invariant stochastic systems with structured uncertainty. This paper presents a computationally feasible algorithm for the construction of the robust statistical control scheme which guarantees the stability of the controlled system.
Intervention study on dietary nutrition of some young people in Xinjiang Military Region

Objective To discuss effect of implementation of comprehensive nutritional interventions on dietary nutrition status of some young people in Xinjiang Military Rgion. Methods Social 1 632 youth of new recruits with the same intensity of labor and similar ages in a unit of Xinjiang Military Rgion were divided into control group and intervention group randomly according to dining unit. Comprehensive measures of nutrition education and dietary guidance in combination with nutrition catering software were taken to interfere in nutrition for six months. Nutrition intake, physical examination, improvement of the nutrition knowledge, attitude and behavior and related changes of blood indicators were compared between the two groups. Results After comprehensive intervention in nutrition for 6 months, rationality of dietary nutrition in intervention group was improved by comparing with that of the control group. Supplement of energy and protein decreased while intake of micronutrient of Ca, Fe, Zn and vitamin C was increased. Before the intervention, the intake of energy, protein and Ca was 14.8 MJ, 116.7 g and 764.2 mg, and they were 12.6 MJ, 102.3 g and 920.0 mg after the intervention, respectively. Compared with the control group, improvement rate of dietary nutrition knowledge(χ2=412.4), attitude(χ2=309.7) and behavior(χ2=320.4) of intervention group increased with statistical differences(P0.01). Awareness rate of each question increased over 30.0%. Abnormal weight proportion decreased, and normal proportion of signs of nutrition deficiency disease increased from 90.7% before the test to 96.6%. Micronutrients in blood was improved with statistical significance(χ2=4.58, P0.05), especially for Ca, Fe and vitamin C. Conclusions Comprehensive nutritional interventions in nutrition of young people in a unit of Xinjiang Military Region are obviously effective. The specially designed"guiding recipe"and"catering software"for the people can effectively improve the efficiency and level of dietary nutrition intervention.
Pharmacodynamics Test of Gongyan Effervescent Tablet Antibacterial Activity in Vitro

Objective: To study the antibacterial activity of Gongyan effervescent tablets in vitro. Methods: Compared the antibacterial activity between tested drugs and control drugs in same condition. Results: The MBC of tested drugs on Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were 15.6mg/mL and 62.5 mg/mL, respectively. Compared with the control drug, the difference had statistical significance (P0.01, reject H0). Conclusion: Gongyan effervescent tablets drug tested has some antibacterial activity in vitro.
Comparison of electronically superpulsed and continuous-wave CO2 laser on the rat uterine horn *

Forty-three rats underwent a series of operations with the CO 2 laser to incise the uterine horn. Electronically pulsed laser light was compared with the continuouswave (CW) mode on alternative horns, with each animal serving as its own control. Five variations of the superpulsed mode were compared with the same number of CW settings. Three experiments were performed: (1) acute evaluation after partial uterine horn transection, (2) acute observation after complete transection, and (3) chronic studies after partial transection. The sectioned uterine horns were grossly observed and photographed, then sampled, histologically fixed, and studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. Zones of thermal necrosis were measured by an imaging tube and quantified by a computer-linked digitizing tablet. The results of this study demonstrated 2.5 times less thermal necrosis by electronically pulsed, versus the CW, laser beam. Four-and-one-half times less necrosis was also observed when the pulsed laser was employed for complete transection experiments. Adhesions were provoked in every animal that underwent chronic investigation. Inflammatory response, adhesion progression, and hydrosalpinx formation were significantly diminished in the pulsed-treated group. Qualitatively, wounds inflicted by pulsing showed different geometric patterns, compared with CW incisions. Electronic pulsing offers the surgeon the combined advantages of knife-like incisions and the precision and hemostatic properties of the CO 2 laser.
Monkey neurophysiology to clinical neuroscience and back again

Gustav Theodor Fechner defined the field of psychophysics as the study of the relationship between the physical properties of stimuli and the internal responses or perceptions they evoke. Since the mid-19th century, psychophysics has evolved into a very powerful field of study exploring the inner workings of the mind. Carefully designed and well-controlled psychophysical experiments have revealed some of the most fascinating aspects of our brains. Think about visual illusions. How is it that we can “see” things that are not there? How is it that we can look at one image and in one moment it looks like a vase and the next it looks like two faces? Experiments using different visual stimuli and measuring the time it takes to detect or discriminate something in the image provide clues as to how our brains work. This understanding is not a one-way street. The real power of psychophysics depends on fundamental knowledge gained by physiological experiments performed in animals, particularly monkeys, when inferences about the inner workings of the human mind are made. The paper by Hall and Colby in PNAS (1) shows how critically important basic research in monkeys is for our understanding of the human brain and how it goes awry in disease.
Specificity of commercially available antibodies used for gastrin measurement

We examined the specificity of commercially available antibodies used in measurement of serum gastrin. Antibodies were obtained from five commercial laboratories, and antibody immunoreactivity with gastrin and cross-reactivity with cholecystokinin (CCK) were determined. All antibodies were equally immunoreactive with gastrin, and cross-reactivity of three antibodies with CCK was minimal (less than 5%). In contrast, substantial cross-reactivity with CCK was found with two antibodies. To determine the clinical significance of cross-reactivity with CCK, secretin injection tests were performed in 24 individuals: seven in normal health, four with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, three with antral gastrin cell hyperfunction, six with ordinary duodenal ulcer disease, and four with atrophic gastritis. Serum gastrin levels were measured with all five gastrin antibodies. The response to secretin was negative in all normal subjects and in those with duodenal ulcer and antral gastrin cell hyperfunction. The response to secretin was positive in all four patients with gastrinoma with use of the five antisera. All four patients with atrophic gastritis had normal responses to secretin when antibodies with minimal CCK cross-reactivity were used; however, two of four had false positive secretin test results when serum gastrin levels were measured with the two antibodies with a high degree of cross-reactivity with CCK. These studies indicate that significant cross-reactivity of gastrin antibodies with CCK can result in false positive secretin injection test results and can lead potentially to the erroneous diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
The Impact of a Task Clarification and Feedback Intervention on Restaurant Service Quality

ABSTRACTCustomer service is a key aspect of restaurant success, as performance has shown a reliable positive relationship with customer retention. However, waitstaff performance may deteriorate, as income from gratuities is often unrelated to service quality. The present study investigated the effectiveness of an intervention consisting of task clarification and task-specific feedback on restaurant service tasks and observed the relationship between task completion and gratuities. Three adult women servers participated during their regular working shifts at a local dine-in restaurant. Initially customer service task completion was low (36% on average across participants). Performance increased immediately following the introduction of the intervention, and all participants maintained 87.5%–100% task completion. Correlational analyses found that gratuities were unrelated to performance and may thus pose a problem for performance maintenance. Implications relating to feedback and payment schedules are discu...
Advancing Stakeholder Marketing Through Resource-Based Theory

The creation and exchange of value offerings for different stakeholders has become a central component of marketing. Despite the increasing adoption of the stakeholder view among marketing academics, stakeholder marketing is still in its infancy. By applying resource-based theory (RBT) to stakeholder marketing, the paper provides a theoretical foundation to encourage further research in this stream. Because any stakeholder group or relationship can serve as a strategic resource for the firm, RBT is particularly relevant to stakeholder marketing. A critical review leads to a set of research questions aligned with five major themes for future research integrating RBT and stakeholder marketing.
An Assessment of the Role of Intentions in Turnover of Salespeople

Three path models examining the differing roles for three turnover variables were investigated using a field sample of salespeople. A model was supported wherein intention to search was the primary predictor of turnover. Both thinking of quitting and promotion satisfaction were predictive of intention to search. Findings suggest that alternative roles need to be theorized and investigated for intention to search and intention to quit in the turnover process.
Nuclear design sensitivity analysis for a fusion reactor

The final design of a nuclear reactor and any component thereof evolves through an iterative process that necessitates the evaluation of many alternative concepts. In particular, conceptual and preliminary reactor systems studies require many quick survey calculations to determine changes of certain important design parameters in response to changes of layout, material compositions, and other design features. Effective methods to perform such design sensitivity analyses are described and applied to the nuclear design of a fusion reactor. Generalized perturbation theory is used to calculate sensitivities of integral nuclear design parameters to certain design changes. The accuracy of this method is evaluated for specific cases where large ranges of design perturbations are considered. Specifically, the effects on tritium breeding, energy deposition, atom displacements and transmutations in the Reference Theta-Pinch Reactor design due to variations in the beryllium thickness, choices of molybdenum, vanadium, or niobium structural material, BeO versus beryllium neutron multiplier, graphite region thickness, and /sup 6/Li enrichment are investigated.
History, Physical Examination, Laboratory Testing, and Emergency Department Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of Acute Cholecystitis.

Background Acute Cholecystitis (AC) is a common differential for patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with abdominal pain. The diagnostic accuracy of history, physical exam and bedside lab tests for AC have not been quantitatively described. Objectives: We performed a systematic review to determine the utility of History/Physical exam (H&P), Laboratory studies and Ultrasonography (US) in diagnosing AC in the ED. Methods We searched medical literature from January 1965 to March 2016 in PubMed, EMBASE and SCOPUS using a strategy derived from the following formulation of our clinical question: Patients: ED patients suspected of AC. Interventions: H&P, laboratory studies and US findings commonly used to diagnose AC. Comparator: Surgical pathology or definitive diagnostic radiological study confirming AC. Outcome: The operating characteristics of the investigations in diagnosing AC were calculated: Sensitivity, Specificity and Likelihood Ratios were calculated using Meta-DiSc with a random-effects model (95% CI). Study quality and risks for bias were assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies. Results Separate PubMed / Embase/SCOPUS searches retrieved studies for: H&P (n=734), Labs (n=74) and US (n= 492). 3 H&P studies met inclusion/exclusion criteria with AC prevalence 7%-64%. Fever had Sensitivity ranging from 31-62% and Specificity 37-74%. LR+ 0.71-1.24, LR- 0.76-1.49. Jaundice Sensitivity ranging from 11-14%, and Specificity 86-99%, LR+ 0.80- 13.81, LR- 0.87-1.03. Murphy's sign Sensitivity of 62% (53%-71%), and Specificity of 96% (95%-97%). LR+ 15.64 (11.48-21.31), LR- 0.40 (0.32-0.50). Right upper quadrant pain had sensitivity ranging from 56-93% and specificity 0-96%. LR +0.92-14.02, LR- 0.46-7.86. 1 lab study met criteria with a 26% prevalence of AC. Elevated bilirubin had Sensitivity of 40% (12%-74%), and Specificity 93% (77%-99%). LR+ 5.80 (1.25-26.99), LR- 0.64 (0.39-1.08). 5 US studies with a prevalence of AC between 10%-46%. Sensitivity US 86% (78%-94%) Specificity 71% (66%-76%). LR+ 3.23 (1.74-6.00), LR- 0.18 (0.10-0.33). Conclusion Variable disease prevalence coupled with limited sample sizes, increases the risk of selection bias. Individually, none of these investigations reliably rule-out AC. Development of a clinical decision rule to include evaluation of H&P, laboratory data as well as ultrasound are more likely to achieve a correct diagnosis of AC. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Neutron Scattering to Study Membrane Systems: From Model Membranes to Living Cells

The existence and role of lateral lipid organization in biological membranes has been studied and contested for more than 30 years. Lipid domains, or rafts, are hypothesized as scalable compartments in biological membranes, providing appropriate physical environments to their resident membrane proteins. This implies that lateral lipid organization is associated with a range of biological functions, such as protein co-localization, membrane trafficking, and cell signaling, to name just a few. Neutron scattering techniques have proven to be an excellent tool to investigate these structural features in model lipids, and more recently, in living cells. I will discuss our recent work using neutrons to probe the structure and mechanical properties in model lipid systems and our current efforts in using neutrons to probe the structure and organization of the bilayer in a living cell. These efforts in living cells have used genetic and biochemical strategies to generate a large neutron scattering contrast, making the membrane visible. I will present our results showing in vivo bilayer structure and discuss the outlook for this approach.
Knowing Where You're Going: Planning for Meaningful Course Closure

ABSTRACTA literature review on approaches to a final course session reveals a dearth of attention to the issue. Options for last-day activities fall into three categories: professor-centered, activity-focused, and student-driven. Using the criterion that meaningful course closure calls for last-day activities that engage students in reflection not only about what they have learned but also how they will use these ideas in the future, this article reviews the literature and analyzes options for last-day planning from each category. Drawing upon apt examples as well as upon the author's personal experience, the article makes the case that, because the last class needs to stimulate reflection on the key ideas and enduring understandings of the course, planning for the final class should be an integral part of the initial course design.
Community media and translocalism in Latin America: cultural production at a Mexican community radio station:

This article investigates the role that community media play in the translocal negotiation of local culture in Latin America. Translocal is a concept that captures the way that local cultural produ...
Crystal structure of Mdm12 and combinatorial reconstitution of Mdm12/Mmm1 ERMES complexes for structural studies.

Membrane contact sites between organelles serve as molecular hubs for the exchange of metabolites and signals. In yeast, the Endoplasmic Reticulum - Mitochondrion Encounter Structure (ERMES) tethers these two organelles likely to facilitate the non-vesicular exchange of essential phospholipids. Present in Fungi and Amoebas but not in Metazoans, ERMES is composed of five distinct subunits; among those, Mdm12, Mmm1 and Mdm34 each contain an SMP domain functioning as a lipid transfer module. We previously showed that the SMP domains of Mdm12 and Mmm1 form a hetero-tetramer. Here we describe our strategy to diversify the number of Mdm12/Mmm1 complexes suited for structural studies. We use sequence analysis of orthologues combined to protein engineering of disordered regions to guide the design of protein constructs and expand the repertoire of Mdm12/Mmm1 complexes more likely to crystallize. Using this combinatorial approach we report crystals of Mdm12/Mmm1 ERMES complexes currently diffracting to 4.5 A resolution and a new structure of Mdm12 solved at 4.1 A resolution. Our structure reveals a monomeric form of Mdm12 with a conformationally dynamic N-terminal β-strand; it differs from a previously reported homodimeric structure where the N-terminal β strands where swapped to promote dimerization. Based on our electron microscopy data, we propose a refined pseudo-atomic model of the Mdm12/Mmm1 complex that agrees with our crystallographic and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) solution data.
Discrete-time fractional-order multiple scenario-based sensor selection

In this paper, we address the problem of deploying sensors to estimate the state of a plant described by discrete-time fractional-order system. More specifically, we assume that these systems' parameters and disturbance/measurement noise characteristics describe possible scenarios. Therefore, the goal of this paper is that of selecting a subset of sensors that will optimally perform (in a minimum squared error sense) among multiple (finite) scenarios. In particular, we show this problem to be NP-hard, and we provide a bisection-type algorithm with suboptimality guarantees. Furthermore, we show that no other algorithm ensures better optimality bound for this problem unless P=NP. Finally, we present some simulations that illustrate the applicability of the main results in an electroencephalogram data associated with different tasks.
Minding the gap and overlap: a literature review of fragmentation of primary care for chronic dialysis patients.

Care coordination is a challenge for patients with kidney disease, who often see multiple providers to manage their associated complex chronic conditions. Much of the focus has been on primary care physician (PCP) and nephrologist collaboration in the early stages of chronic kidney disease, but less is known about the co-management of the patients in the end-stage of renal disease. We conducted a systematic review and synthesis of empirical studies on primary care services for dialysis patients. Systematic literature search of MEDLINE/PubMED, CINAHL, and EmBase databases for studies, published until August 2015. Inclusion criteria included publications in English, empirical studies involving human subjects (e.g., patients, physicians), conducted in US and Canadian study settings that evaluated primary care services in the dialysis patient population. Fourteen articles examined three major themes of primary care services for dialysis patients: perceived roles of providers, estimated time in providing primary care, and the extent of dialysis patients’ use of primary care services. There was general agreement among providers that PCPs should be involved but time, appropriate roles, and miscommunication are potential barriers to good primary care for dialysis patients. Although many dialysis patients report having a PCP, the majority rely on primary care from their nephrologists. Studies using administrative data found lower rates of preventive care services than found in studies relying on provider or patient self-report. The extant literature revealed gaps and opportunities to optimize primary care services for dialysis patients, foreshadowing the challenges and promise of Accountable Care / End-Stage Seamless Care Organizations and care coordination programs currently underway in the United States to improve clinical and logistical complexities of care for this commonly overlooked population. Studies linking the relationship between providers and patients’ receipt of primary care to outcomes will serve as important comparisons to the nascent care models for ESRD patients, whose value is yet to be determined.
On applying the generalized extreme value distribution to undermoded cavities within a reverberation chamber

Due to an insufficient number of standing wave modes excited within a complex cavity at low frequencies (i.e. an undermoded cavity), the conditions of the central limit theorem are not maintained and therefore the exponential distribution does not reasonably model the power within the space. Multiple distribution functions have been applied to fields (or received power) within an undermoded reverberation chamber with varying success. The purpose of this paper is to expand upon recent work which applied the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution to an overmoded complex cavity, by investigating the GEV for an undermoded enclosure tested within a reverberation chamber (i.e. a nested cavity experiment). Data blocking methods are discussed and distribution parameters and associated confidence intervals are statistically determined through maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) methods.
Propeller/rudder interaction with direct and coupled CFD/potential flow propeller approaches, and application to a zigzag manoeuvre

This paper investigates a coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD)/potential propeller code approach to simulate maneuvers of ships. While this approach is successful in submarines, the concept h...
Fundametal G—Strata

Let k be a non-archimedean local field, with valuation ring O and prime ideal P. Then O/P is a finite field with q elements which we denote byF q .
Risk of percutaneous renal biopsy of native kidneys in the evaluation of acute kidney injury.

Background Percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) of native kidneys (NKs) to better understand and treat acute kidney injury (AKI) is being advocated, but little is known about the risk of complications. Methods We performed a retrospective study of PRB of NKs in 955 adults from 1991 to 2015 at an academic medical center with real-time ultrasound and automated biopsy needles. Patients undergoing PRB for evaluation of AKI (n = 160) were compared with 795 patients biopsied for other reasons (not-AKI) for postbiopsy complications [need for transfusion of packed red blood cells (PRBCs), an interventional radiologic or surgical procedure, readmission or death]. Results Patients biopsied for AKI were older (58 ± 16 versus 44 ± 16 years; P < 0.0001), with a higher serum creatinine (SCr) (4.5 ± 2.7 versus 1.8 ± 1.6 mg/dL; P < 0.0001) and lower hemoglobin (Hgb) (10.4 ± 1.7 versus 12.1 ± 2.1; P < 0.0001) and a greater proportion had an abnormal bleeding time (12.5% versus 7.4%, P 0.04), partial thromboplastin time (15.2% versus 5.3%, P < 0.0001) and/or prothrombin time (27.0% versus 12.8%; P < 0.0001) compared with not-AKI patients. Complications post-PRB were significantly greater in patients biopsied for AKI {11.3% versus 6.7%; P=0.04; odds ratio [OR] 1.78 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-3.12]} with patients biopsied for AKI requiring more blood transfusions (10.0% versus 5.3%; P 0.02; OR 2.04 (95% CI 1.12-3.74)]. By multivariate analysis, baseline features predictive of a complication were increased SCr and decreased Hgb level, as well as female gender and increased systolic blood pressure. Conclusion Patients biopsied for evaluation of AKI are at greater risk of complications due to increased risk factors.
The life and career of Paul MacLean: A journey toward neurobiological and social harmony

Abstract Working as a physician, Paul MacLean's interests moved in the direction of the brain when he realized that most of his patients suffered from symptoms (e.g. anxiety, sleeping problems) that could not be traced to a known physiological cause. His curiosity about the neurological origins of these psychological symptoms led him to the laboratories of Stanley Cobb and James Papez, both of whom were influential in guiding MacLean's interests toward the temporal lobe. His neurobiological interest was not contained, however, to the temporal lobe. As his own family grew to include a wife and five children, his scholarly pursuits extended to social and familial relations and their accompanying underlying neuroanatomical circuits (i.e. the thalamocingulate system). Viewing the brain and behavior from an evolutionary perspective, MacLean introduced the concept of the “triune brain” to describe the evolutionarily distinct components of the mammalian brain and reintroduced Broca's term “limbic” to describe a neuroanatomical system involved in emotional functions. MacLean wrote that the development of social behaviors, such as mother–infant audiovocal communication and the separation cry of the offspring, served as the driving force in the evolution of the neocortex. MacLean's neuroevolutionary perspective and appreciation of the complexity and evolutionary significance of social systems offer valuable insights into the contemporary fields of behavioral neuroscience and biological psychiatry.
Gentrification: Deliberate Displacement, or Natural Social Movement?

Gentrification is the process of physically renovating the housing and retail in a neighborhood in order to increase property values, establish high profile restaurants and shops, and attract an influx of wealthier residents. In this literature review I will explore the benefits and costs of gentrification. Section II explores research emphasizing the positive characteristics of gentrification, while Section III reviews literature discussing the negative effects of gentrifying a neighborhood. The final section summarizes the material and addresses areas for further study. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol15/iss1/12 42 The Park Place Economist, Volume XV
A Mechanism for Oxygen Damage to the Immature Retinal Vasculature

Although it is generally believed that direct cytotoxic effects of oxygen on capillary endothelial cells may be involved in the vascular degenerative process of retrolental fibroplasia (RLF), the precise mechanism of the oxygen vaso-obliteration which preceeds it has not been firmly established. It has also long been recognized that risk factors other than sustained exposure to high oxygen concentration environments may contribute to this retinopathy, but no solid evidence of other risk factors has emerged.
Against Obligation: The Multiple Sources of Authority in a Liberal Democracy

Do citizens of a nation such as the United States have a moral duty to obey the law? Do officials, when interpreting the Constitution, have an obligation to follow what that text meant when ratified? To follow precedent? To follow what the Supreme Court today says the Constitution means? These are questions of political obligation (for citizens) and interpretive obligation (for anyone interpreting the Constitution, often officials). Abner Greene argues that such obligations do not exist. Although citizens should obey some laws entirely, and other laws in some instances, no one has put forth a successful argument that citizens should obey all laws all the time. Greene's case is not only "against" obligation. It is also "for" an approach he calls "permeable sovereignty": all of our norms are on equal footing with the state's laws. Accordingly, the state should accommodate religious, philosophical, family, or tribal norms whenever possible. Greene shows that questions of interpretive obligation share many qualities with those of political obligation. In rejecting the view that constitutional interpreters must follow either prior or higher sources of constitutional meaning, Greene confronts and turns aside arguments similar to those offered for a moral duty of citizens to obey the law.
Hidden Markov Modeling of Speech

Hidden Markov models (HMM) were first described in the classic paper by Baum [Baum 72]. Shortly afterwards, they were extended to automatic speech recognition independently at CMU [Baker 75a] and IBM [Bakis 76, Jelinek 76]. It was only in the past few years, however, that HMMs became the predominant approach to speech recognition, superseding dynamic time warping.
Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease associated with large-cell lymphoma: analysis of Ig gene rearrangements by V-J polymerase chain reaction.

The clonality of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease (NLPHD) and the relationship to composite or sequential large-cell lymphomas (LCLs) is poorly understood. Clonal Ig heavy-chain gene rearrangements (lgHGR) have infrequently been observed in NLPHD by Southern hybridization. The goals of this study were (1) to determine if IgHGR could be identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques in the LCL associated with NLPHD; (2) to determine if the lgHGR identified in the LCL could also be found in the associated NLPHD; and (3) to determine if Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) played a role a role in histologic progression to LCL. Using consensus primers to conserved regions in the lgH variable (V) and joining (J) region genes, we analyzed formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections from the biopsies of 25 patients referred to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) registry for NLPHD and LCL using both single-step and seminested V-J PCR. The histologically aggressive component was further subclassified as frank LCL or as LH NLPHD, n = 4). In addition, we also amplified, with 32P labeling, 12 cases of NLPHD without associated LCL. Two clonal IgHGR were identified in 29 cases (7%) of typical NLPHD, both of which were associated with LCL containing a similar sized band by PCR. The clonal identity of the bands in the NLPHD and associated LCL was confirmed by sequencing the products in these two cases. Eight of 10 cases (80%) of LCL associated with NLPHD contained a clonal band by this technique. By contrast, none of the cases classified as L&H-cell- rich contained an IgHGR. The single-step and seminested PCR methods produced identical results. All clonal LCLs were studied for EBV sequences by in situ hybridization using the EBER1 probe, and were negative. We conclude that the LCLs associated with NLPHD are clonal B- cell malignancies. However, by these methods, the same clone can be identified in only a minority of cases of NLPHD and LCL. EBV does not appear to play a role in histologic progression. Moreover, our results suggest that many cases suspected of being LCL may actually represent NLPHD with increased numbers of L&H cells. In histologically equivocal cases, the diagnosis of LCL should be reserved for those cases in which a clonal B-cell neoplasm can be demonstrated.
Liver transplantation and waitlist mortality for HCC and non-HCC candidates following the 2015 HCC exception policy change

Historically, exception points for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) led to higher transplant rates and lower waitlist mortality for HCC candidates compared to non-HCC candidates. As of October 2015, HCC candidates must wait 6 months after initial application to obtain exception points; the impact of this policy remains unstudied. Using 2013-2017 SRTR data, we identified 39 350 adult, first-time, active waitlist candidates and compared deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT) rates and waitlist mortality/dropout for HCC versus non-HCC candidates before (October 8, 2013-October 7, 2015, prepolicy) and after (October 8, 2015-October 7, 2017, postpolicy) the policy change using Cox and competing risks regression, respectively. Compared to non-HCC candidates with the same calculated MELD, HCC candidates had a 3.6-fold higher rate of DDLT prepolicy (aHR = 3.49 3.69 3.89 ) and a 2.2-fold higher rate of DDLT postpolicy (aHR = 2.09 2.21 2.34 ). Compared to non-HCC candidates with the same allocation priority, HCC candidates had a 37% lower risk of waitlist mortality/dropout prepolicy (asHR = 0.54 0.63 0.73 ) and a comparable risk of mortality/dropout postpolicy (asHR = 0.81 0.95 1.11 ). Following the policy change, the DDLT advantage for HCC candidates remained, albeit dramatically attenuated, without any substantial increase in waitlist mortality/dropout. In the context of sickest-first liver allocation, the revised policy seems to have established allocation equity for HCC and non-HCC candidates.
Kappa opioid signaling in the central nucleus of the amygdala promotes disinhibition and aversiveness of chronic neuropathic pain

Chronic pain is associated with neuroplastic changes in the amygdala that may promote hyper-responsiveness to mechanical and thermal stimuli (allodynia and hyperalgesia) and/or enhance emotional and affective consequences of pain. Stress promotes dynorphin-mediated signaling at the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) in the amygdala and mechanical hypersensitivity in rodent models of functional pain. Here, we tested the hypothesis that KOR circuits in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) undergo neuroplasticity in chronic neuropathic pain resulting in increased sensory and affective pain responses. After spinal nerve ligation (SNL) injury in rats, pretreatment with a long-acting KOR antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), subcutaneously or through microinjection into the right CeA, prevented conditioned place preference (CPP) to intravenous gabapentin, suggesting that nor-BNI eliminated the aversiveness of ongoing pain. By contrast, systemic or intra-CeA administration of nor-BNI had no effect on tactile allodynia in SNL animals. Using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, we found that nor-BNI decreased synaptically evoked spiking of CeA neurons in brain slices from SNL but not sham rats. This effect was mediated through increased inhibitory postsynaptic currents, suggesting tonic disinhibition of CeA output neurons due to increased KOR activity as a possible mechanism promoting ongoing aversive aspects of neuropathic pain. Interestingly, this mechanism is not involved in SNL-induced mechanical allodynia. Kappa opioid receptor antagonists may therefore represent novel therapies for neuropathic pain by targeting aversive aspects of ongoing pain while preserving protective functions of acute pain.
Broadband and Sparse Finite-Element Formulation Free of Low-Frequency Breakdown

A new full-wave finite-element (FE) formulation is developed, which is not only sparse, well conditioned, but also free of low-frequency breakdown by construction. We first analytically identify the nullspace of the stiffness matrix, denoted by Co, and its complementary space C h in an arbitrary mesh. Both of Co and C $h$ are found to be sparse. For problems involving loss, we further decompose Co into two subspaces, each of which is also analytically identified. One subspace is the nullspace of the transformed submatrix characterizing the loss, and the other is its complementary space. The FE system matrix transformed onto the new space is free of low-frequency breakdown for both lossless and general lossy problems, where dielectrics and conductors can be lossy and arbitrarily inhomogeneous. Furthermore, the new FE system of equations is sparse, and well-conditioned, thus facilitating efficient computation. Numerical results have validated the proposed formulation.