cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic Productive Cough is Associated with Death in Smokers with Early COPD

Cough and phlegm are common in COPD. Previous studies have shown conflicting evidence regarding their association with mortality and lung function. We sought to better understand how cough and phlegm impact mortality and lung function in COPD. We analyzed data from the Lung Health Study, consisting of 5,887 smokers with mild to moderate airflow obstruction followed longitudinally. We assessed the association between baseline symptoms of cough alone, phlegm alone, and cough and phlegm with 12.5-year mortality and annual lung function decline. Average age at entry was 48.5 years (± 6.8) with 63% males and 4% African Americans. Cough alone was present in 17%, phlegm alone in 12%, while 31% had both. Neither symptom alone was associated with death, but the combination was associated with increased risk of death after adjustment for age, gender, race, smoking status at year 5, pack-years smoked, randomization group, baseline FEV1 percent predicted (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.02-1.59). Individuals with cough and phlegm together more commonly died of respiratory causes than those without. Cough with phlegm was associated with 48 mL lower baseline FEV1 (95% CI -90, -6), while neither symptom alone was associated with baseline FEV1. No symptom was associated with FEV1 longitudinally. Cough and phlegm together are associated with mortality and lung function decrement in mild-to-moderate COPD, independent of lung function and smoking status. Respiratory causes of death are common among those with cough and phlegm. Such information can help to identify subsets of individuals with COPD having higher risk for adverse outcomes.
Glycogen in human cementoblasts and PDL fibroblasts.

Healthy human periodontal ligaments (PDL) attached to 22 tooth roots (7 nonfunctioning third molars, 3 functioning first molars, and 12 functioning first premolars) were obtained from 20 patients between 10 and 67 years of age (mostly second and third decades) and examined by transmission electron microscopy. The collagen-producing cells (CPC) of the attached PDL were the cementoblasts and superjacent fibroblasts. A prominent accumulation of glycogen particles, confirmed by staining with periodic acid-chromic acid-silver methenamine, could be detected easily in the CPC of all sections obtained from all age groups and different kinds of teeth. The glycogen was most pronounced in the cementoblasts and was gradually reduced in those fibroblasts lying progressively more distant from the cementum. AcPase-positive lysosomal bodies sometimes were found within or fused with the clusters of glycogen particles, i.e., alpha particles. Occasionally, extracellular bubble-like structures with scattered glycogen particles were observed, suggesting the sequestration of unused glycogen. These findings of glycogen accumulation are presumed to be indicative of an anaerobic condition in the junctional area of cementum and PDL of human teeth.
Gravitational instability of a kink.

We study the equilibria of a self-gravitating scalar field in the region outside a reflecting barrier. By introducing a potential difference between the barrier and infinity, we create a kink which cannot decay to a zero-energy state. In the realm of a small amplitude, the kink decays to a known static solution of the Einstein-Klein-Gordon equation. However, for larger kinks the static equilibria are degenerate, forming a system with two energy levels. The upper level is unstable and, under small perturbations, decays to the lower energy stable equilibrium. Under large perturbations, the unstable upper level undergoes collapse to a black hole. The equilibrium of the system provides a remarkably simple and beautiful illustration of a turning point instability.
Interplay between allostery and intrinsic disorder in an ensemble

Allostery is a biological phenomenon of critical importance in metabolic regulation and cell signalling. The fundamental premise of classical models that describe allostery is that structure mediates ‘action at a distance’. Recently, this paradigm has been challenged by the enrichment of IDPs (intrinsically disordered proteins) or ID (intrinsically disordered) segments in transcription factors and signalling pathways of higher organisms, where an allosteric response from external signals is requisite for regulated function. This observation strongly suggests that IDPs elicit the capacity for finely tunable allosteric regulation. Is there a set of transferable ground rules that reconcile these disparate allosteric phenomena? We focus on findings from the human GR (glucocorticoid receptor) which is a nuclear transcription factor in the SHR (steroid hormone receptor) family. GR contains an intrinsically disordered NTD (N-terminal domain) that is obligatory for transcription activity. Different GR translational isoforms have various lengths of NTD and by studying these isoforms we found that the full-length ID NTD consists of two thermodynamically distinct coupled regions. The data are interpreted in the context of an EAM (ensemble allosteric model) that considers only the intrinsic and measurable energetics of allosteric systems. Expansion of the EAM is able to reconcile the paradox that ligands for SHRs can be agonists and antagonists in a cell-context-dependent manner. These findings suggest a mechanism by which SHRs in particular, and IDPs in general, may have evolved to couple thermodynamically distinct ID segments. The ensemble view of allostery that is illuminated provides organizing principles to unify the description of all allosteric systems and insight into ‘how’ allostery works.
Histone H3 Lysine 9 Methyltransferase G9a Is a Transcriptional Coactivator for Nuclear Receptors

Methylation of Lys-9 of histone H3 has been associated with repression of transcription. G9a is a histone H3 Lys-9 methyltransferase localized in euchromatin and acts as a corepressor for specific transcription factors. Here we demonstrate that G9a also functions as a coactivator for nuclear receptors, cooperating synergistically with nuclear receptor coactivators glucocorticoid receptor interacting protein 1, coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1), and p300 in transient transfection assays. This synergy depends strongly on the arginine-specific protein methyltransferase activity of CARM1 but does not absolutely require the enzymatic activity of G9a and is specific to CARM1 and G9a among various protein methyltransferases. Reduction of endogenous G9a diminished hormonal activation of an endogenous target gene by the androgen receptor, and G9a associated with regulatory regions of this same gene. G9a fused to Gal4 DNA binding domain can repress transcription in a lysine methyltransferase-dependent manner; however, the histone modifications associated with transcriptional activation can inhibit the methyltransferase activity of G9a. These findings suggest a link between histone arginine and lysine methylation and a mechanism for controlling whether G9a functions as a corepressor or coactivator.
Formation and Photochemical Wolff Rearrangement of Cyclic α-Diazo Ketones: D-Norandrost-5-en-3β-ol-16-Carboxylic Acids

Formation and photochemical Wolff rearrangement of cyclic α-diazo ketones: d-norandrost-5-en-3β-ol-16-carboxylic acids intermediate: 16-Oximinoandrost-5-en-3β-ol-17-one intermediate: 7.50 g. (0.0239 mole) of 16-diazoandrost-5-en-3β-ol-17-one product: d-norandrost-5-en-3β-ol-16α-carboxylic acid product: methyl d-norandrost-5-en-3β-ol-16β-carboxylate Keywords: diazotization, preparation of diazonium salts; photochemical reactions; tert-butyl alcohol; isoamyl nitrite, preparation of; potassium permanganate, preparation of; photochemical apparatus, immersion well, quartz
Aryloxy Radicals from Diaryloxydiazirines: α-Cleavage of Diaryloxycarbenes or Excited Diazirines?

The synthesis of diaryloxydiazirines, precursors to diaryloxycarbenes, is described. Thermolyses of the diazirines afford anticipated carbene products, but photolyses afford both carbenes and aryloxy radicals by α-scission. UV spectra of the carbenes and radicals are observed.
A Novel Backoff-State Assignment Algorithm for Wireless Networks to Improve Channel Utilization

Many recent studies have been dedicated to the estimation of channel utilization of networks deploying IEEE 802.11 MAC protocols. A common finding in these studies is that as the number of wireless nodes increases in a carrier sensing zone, the channel utilization decreases. In this paper we identify a cause for channel utilization drop and propose a novel backoff-state assignment algorithm to alleviate the problem. Also, we develop an analytical model for a node using the proposed backoff-state assignment algorithm. Using the model we show that the proposed MAC can provide higher channel utilization than the original MAC for both basic and RTS/CTS modes of operation.
New aspects of Bregman divergence in regression and classification with parametric and nonparametric estimation

In statistical learning, regression and classification concern different types of the output variables, and the predictive accuracy is quantified by different loss functions. This article explores new aspects of Bregman divergence (BD), a notion which unifies nearly all of the commonly used loss functions in regression and classification. The authors investigate the duality between BD and its generating function. They further establish, under the framework of BD, asymptotic consistency and normality of parametric and nonparametric regression estimators, derive the lower bound of their asymptotic covariance matrices, and demonstrate the role that parametric and nonparametric regression estimation play in the performance of classification procedures and related machine learning techniques. These theoretical results and new numerical evidence show that the choice of loss function affects estimation procedures, whereas has an asymptotically relatively negligible impact on classification performance. Applications of BD to statistical model building and selection with non-Gaussian responses are also illustrated. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 119-139; 2009 © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada En apprentissage statistique, la regression et la classification demandent differents types de variables de sortie et la precision predictive est quantifiee par des fonctions de perte differentes. Cet article explore des nouveaux aspects de la divergence de Bregman (DB), une notion qui unifie presque toutes les fonctions de perte usuelles utilisees en regression et en classification. Les auteurs etudient la dualite entre la divergence de Bregman et sa fonction generatrice. De plus, ils etablissent, dans le cadre DB, la coherence asymptotique et la normalite des estimateurs de regression parametrique et non parametrique. Ils ont aussi obtenu une borne inferieure de leur matrice de variance-covariance asymptotique et ils ont demontre le role que les estimateurs de regression parametrique et non parametrique jouent dans la performance des procedures de classification et les techniques d'apprentissage machine. Ces resultats theoriques et de nouvelles evidences numeriques semblent indiquer que le choix de la fonction de perte affecte les procedures d'estimation tandis qu'il a un impact non significatif sur les performance de classification. Cet article presente aussi des applications de la divergence de Bregman a la construction de modeles statistiques et a la selection avec des variables non gaussiennes. La revue canadienne de statistique 37: 119-139; 2009 © 2009 Societe statistique du Canada
Invited tutorial: Energy efficient multi-Gb/s I/O: Circuit and system design techniques

Chip-to-chip I/O data rates continue to scale aggressively to keep up with demands brought on by multi-core CPU-based computer and networking systems. Due to increasing bandwidth needs and declining system power budgets, dramatically improving I/O energy efficiency is crucial and is the major challenge currently facing the computer and networking industry. A multi-pronged approach to I/O power reduction will be presented, employing both circuit and interconnect optimization. The use of system level modeling and optimization to co-design the packaging, board interconnect, channel, transmitter, receiver, and clocking will be advocated with examples that demonstrate minimum-power I/O systems. I/O energy reduction depends on both active power minimization as well as the use of aggressive power management methods. Techniques and corresponding examples will be shown that demonstrate I/O power management including dynamic voltage and frequency scaling, low-power standby, and fast wake-up times. This session will provide insight into the challenges and opportunities associated with each low-power technique, using case studies to illustrate state-of-the-art low-power I/O systems.
COG-7-deficient Human Fibroblasts Exhibit Altered Recycling of Golgi Proteins

Recently, we reported that two siblings presenting with the clinical syndrome congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) have mutations in the gene encoding Cog7p, a member of the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex. In this study, we analyzed the localization and trafficking of multiple Golgi proteins in patient fibroblasts under a variety of conditions. Although the immunofluorescent staining pattern of several Golgi proteins was indistinguishable from normal, the staining of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC)-53 and the vesicular-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors GS15 and GS28 was abnormal, and the steady-state level of GS15 was greatly decreased. Retrograde transport of multiple Golgi proteins to the ER in patient fibroblasts via brefeldin A-induced tubules was significantly slower than occurs in normal fibroblasts, whereas anterograde protein trafficking was much less affected. After prolonged treatment with brefeldin A, several Golgi proteins were detected in clusters that colocalize with the microtubule-organizing center in patient cells. All of these abnormalities were normalized in COG7-corrected patient fibroblasts. These results serve to better define the role of the COG complex in facilitating protein trafficking between the Golgi and ER and provide a diagnostic framework for the identification of CDG defects involving trafficking proteins.
A seizure-detection IC employing machine learning to overcome data-conversion and analog-processing non-idealities

This paper presents a seizure-detection system wherein the accuracy required of the analog frontend is substantially relaxed. Typically, readout of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals would dominate the energy of such a system, due to the precision (noise, linearity) requirements. The presented system performs data conversion and analog multiplication for EEG feature extraction via simple circuits to demonstrate that feature errors can be overcome by appropriate retraining of a classification model, using a machine-learning algorithm. This precludes the need to design a high-precision frontend. The prototype, in 32nm CMOS, results in features whose RMS error normalized to their ideal values is 1.16 (i.e. errors are larger than ideal values). An ideal implementation of the seizure detector exhibits sensitivity, latency, false alarms of 5/5, 2.0 sec., 8, respectively. The feature errors degrade this to 5/5, 3.6 sec., 443, causing high false alarms; but retraining of the classification model restores this to 5/5, 3.4 sec., 4.
The General Compartmental Model

Suppose we have a compartmental system consisting of compartments numbered from 1 to n. The general description for the dynamics of the exchange of material with respect to the ith compartment is the mass balance equation $$ \dot q_i = rate\;of\;\inf low - rate\;of\;outlow\quad i = 1,2, \ldots ,n, $$ (6.1) where qi(t) ≥ 0 is the quantity of material in compartment i at time t.The rate of transfer of material from compartment j to compartment i (i ≠ j) is modeled by fijqj, where fij is a nonnegative quantity called a fractional transfer coefficient which may be a function of the amounts q = [q1, q2, ..., qn ]T (T denotes transpose), time t, and a vector of parameters α = [α1, α2, …, α v ]T
G-Proteins in Neonatal Liver: Ontogeny and Relationship to Activation of Adenylate Cyclase

In mammals a variety of metabolic processes are initiated after birth to enable the newborn to adjust to living in an extra-uterine environment. Such metabolic processes include, but are not limited to, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, fatty acid oxidation, ketogenesis, ketone body utilization, and myelination. Other than myelination, the majority of the metabolic processes in this list occur in the liver, albeit with different time frames. Thus, the liver is a key organ for metabolic homeostasis in mammalian newborns. This organ accumulates glycogen as well as triglycerides prior to birth (1–5) such that at birth the concentration of glycogen in various species is generally twofold higher than the level of glycogen found in liver of the adult of the same species (5,6). At least two decades of research dating back to the work of Shelley (5) have delineated enzymatic and metabolite profiles which engender initial synthesis of liver glycogen prior to birth and its breakdown postnatally. This information is available in numerous reviews (7–12).
Debugging by skilled and novice programmers

Two experiments investigated expert-novice differences in debugging computer programs. Debugging was done on programs provided to the subject, and were run on a microcomputer. The programs were in LOGO in Exp. 1 and Pascal in Exp. 2. Experts debugged more quickly and accurately, largely because they generated high quality hypotheses on the basis of less study of the code than novices. Further, novices frequently added bugs to the program during the course of trying to find the original one. At least for these simple programs, experts superior debugging performance seemed to be due primarily to their superior ability to comprehend the program.
High-resolution ground-penetrating radar profiles of perennial lake ice in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: Horizon attributes, unconformities, and subbottom penetration

ABSTRACTGround-penetrating radar (GPR) is not commonly used to study lake ice, and in general, the ground-based use of radar frequencies greater than 500 MHz in cryosphere geophysics is rare, due to a general interest in deeper stratigraphy and the difficulty of extensive profiling over rough snow surfaces. Our goal was to find further information on the origin of the deposition and formation of intra-ice layers, bottom topography, and subbottom deposits using GPR with pulses centered near 850 MHz on two permanently ice-covered lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. The profiles were obtained using a one-person sled operation over Lake Bonney, which is typical of lakes in the region, having an ice thickness that ranges between 3 and 5 m, and Lake Vida, where the maximum ice depth is at least 27 m. Lake Bonney exhibits a semicontinuous sediment horizon at approximately a 2-m depth and several minor horizons. In contrast, Lake Vida contains unconformably eroded and folded continuous reflection horizo...
Clonidine Patch Toxicity

Five published case reports of clonidine patch toxicity in pediatric patients bring to light the importance of educating the public regarding appropriate use and disposal of transdermal drug-delivery systems. With the increasing use of clonidine transdermal delivery systems it is important that clonidine patch toxicity be considered in pediatric patients presenting with symptoms of depressed consciousness, miosis, hypoventilation, hypotension, bradycardia, hypothermia, cardiac dysrhythmias, hypotonia, or convulsions. Appropriate early supportive management is essential to avoid serious morbidity or mortality in the pediatric patient, and is reviewed herein.
Recent Advances in Time-Domain Seismic Imaging

Time-domain imaging, which includes prestack time migration, as well as normal moveout, offset continuation, and stacking, is a workhorse of seismic data processing. Although time-domain imaging technology has been commodified and almost fallen off the radar of seismic imaging research, opportunities for advancing this technology have not been exhausted yet. Recent advances in velocity-independent imaging, time-to-depth conversion, and wave-equation time migration reveal new opportunities for fundamental breakthrough improvements.
Abstract 1400: Obesity induced leptin-notch signaling axis in breast cancer.

Obesity leads to increased leptin levels and signaling which has been linked to the growth of breast cancer (BC). We early identified leptin as an inducer of Notch in BC cells. However, whether leptin-induction of Notch is instrumental to the development of BC is unknown. Objective: Therefore, we examined the impact of obesity and inhibition of leptin signaling (via LPrA2 antagonist) on the growth of syngeneic E0771-derived BC and tumor expression of Notch in lean and obese mice and in E0771 cell cultures. Methods: C57BL/6J female mice were fed either high-fat diet (HFD, 60% Kcal from fat) or normal diet (10% Kcal from fat). Obesity was defined as BW ≥ 20% BW Lean-control at week 5. Lean and diet-induced-obesity (DIO) mice were orthotopically inoculated with mouse E0771 cells in the lower left region of the mammary pad. One week later the mice were treated with either (1) pegylated leptin peptide receptor antagonist 2, PEG-LPrA2 or (2) PEG-Scrambled peptide (as control; 50μl i.v. tail vein/ 0.1 mM) following the two-arm design: (a) one and (b) two doses/weekly. Treatment lasted for 4 weeks. Tumor onset and growth was determined overtime and expression of Notch, its ligands, and crosstalk factors were assessed using western blot, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA. Leptin9s effects on Notch and crosstalk factors were also investigated in E0771 cell cultures. Results: Obesity induced E0771-BC onset and growth and, increased the expression of Notch in vivo. Inhibition of leptin signaling had a higher impact on DIO mice than in lean mice by delaying onset and reducing tumor growth and the expression of Notch. Therefore, high levels of leptin in DIO-mice played a positive role in tumorigenesis. Similarly, leptin induced and PEG-LPrA2 decreased Notch expression in E0771 cells in vitro. Present data further validate the idea that the consumption of a high-fat diet leads to early BC onset and growth, which was linked to the leptin-Notch axis. Our results reinforce the potential use of inhibition of leptin signaling as a novel approach to fight breast cancer, especially in obese patients showing higher levels of leptin and incidence of BC. Funding: This work was supported by NIH/NCI 5SC1CA138658-03 and the Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar Award (to RRGP), NIH/2G12RR003034-26; U54 MSM/TU/UAB Cancer Center Partnership; and 1R21CA153172-01A1 (to MTK). This research was also supported, in part, facilities and support services at Morehouse School of Medicine (NIH 1C06 RR18386). Citation Format: Monica Battle, Corey Gillespie, Tanisha McGlothen, Marta Torroella-Kouri, Ruben R. Gonzalez-Perez. Obesity induced leptin-notch signaling axis in breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1400. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1400
Buried quasi-integrated enucleation implant of proplast II a preliminary report

A preliminary report of a new design for a buried quasi-integrated implant made of Proplast II (Vitek, Inc., Houston, Texas, U.S.A.) is presented. The design is intended to combine the benefits of an integrated and buried implant.
Application of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology Emergency

Objective To evaluate ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology emergency application.Methods 200 hospital emergency routine ultrasound examination were retrospectively analyzed by abdominal and vaginal type of two-dimensional images,blood flow distribution,spectral characteristics,to discuss the history and laboratory tests combined with comprehensive analysis.Results 200 cases of emergency obstetrics patients,by ultrasound examination and were confirmed by surgery and clinical pathology.Which accounted for 70 cases of ectopic pregnancy,diagnosis rate of 93%.Accounted for 17 cases of acute pelvic inflammatory disease,diagnosis rate of 100%.Accounted for 15 cases of ruptured ovarian cyst,diagnosis rate of 100%.Types of abortion accounted for 47 cases,the diagnosis rate of 94%.Accounted for 34 cases of placenta previa,diagnosis rate of 85%.Abruption accounted for 12 cases,the diagnosis rate of 83%.Postpartum hemorrhage accounting for two cases,the diagnosis rate of 100%.Red degeneration of uterine fibroids during pregnancy accounted for one case,the diagnosis rate of 100%.Dysfunctional uterine bleeding accounted for two cases,the diagnosis rate of 100%.Conclusions In conclusion,ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology emergency application plays a crucial role.
Epidemiologic analysis of public health emergencies in Tianjin from 2008to 2012

Objective To analyze the occurrence and epidemiologic characteristics of public health emergencies in Tianjin from2008 to 2012, and enhance the city's management of the public health emergencies. Methods Descriptive epidemiologic method was carried out to analyze the characteristics of the public health emergencies reported from "public health emergency management information system". Results From 2008 to 2012, a total of 224 public health emergencies were reported in Tianjin which caused9 396 cases and 22 deaths, influencing 2.078 4 million population. Most of the emergencies were caused by infectious diseases and food poisoning, accounting for 85.27% and 8.93% of all public health emergencies of, respectively. School was an important place of public health emergency. Conclusion Outbreaks of infectious diseases and food poisoning is the focus of prevention and control;Schools have a high incidence of public health emergencies, which should be given adequate attention.
Genetic Analysis on Characters of Functional Leaves in Rice

Genetic characterization of functional leaves of rice(Oryza sativa L.subsp.indica),including flag leaf,the 2nd leaf from the top and the 3rd leaf from the top,was conducted based on diallel cross data(7×10 and 9×9)with 13 sterile lines and 19 restorer lines by the NCⅡ design.The F1 and parents were planted at Luzhou,Sichuan and Beibei,Chongqing with a randomized block design and three replications.The results showed that the genetic variances of the flag leaf width,the length and the width of the 2nd leaf from the top,and the length of the 3rd leaf from the top were led by both additive and dominant effects,in which the genetic variances of the leaf width were mainly led by additive effects while those of the leaf length were mainly led by dominant effects.The genetic variance of the flag leaf length was primarily led by dominant effect,while the width of the 3rd leaf from the top was only led by additive effect.The dominant effect and environmental effect interaction of the length of the functional leaves were significant at 5% or 1% level,while the additive effect and environmental effect interactions of the width of the functional leaves were not significant.Narrow heritability(h2N)of the leaf width was generally higher than that of the leaf length in the two sets of combinations,in which h2N of the width of the 2nd leaf from the top was the highest,with 58.65% and 48.19% respectively in the two sets of combinations.The length and the width of functional leaves in rice exhibited mid-parent heterosis or negative over-parent heterosis at various degrees,in which the mid-parent heterosis ranged from 4.46% to 27.53%,and the indexes of heterosis of the leaf width and length all exceeded 100%.
Social problems of women patients in a private obstetrics and gynecology clinic

Patients present or exhibit problems other than physical ones to their physicians and need access to some type of assistance for them. Over a 1 year period, women patients were referred to and seen by the medical social worker employed by a private obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Their social problems were studied by content analysis of patients‘ records, patients' social services cards, and monthly social services summaries. Results showed that 163 women exhibited 288 social problems consisting of three major types, financial, marital, and emotional. Various relationships were shown between the type of social problem and the primary reason the patient visited the clinic. It was also shown that if a patient has a financial problem, she is more likely to have a greater number of social problems than are other patients.
Data and energy cooperation in relay-enhanced OFDM systems

To advance green communications, we propose an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based cooperative relay system, where the relay node not only can forward the data to the destination node, but is also capable of transferring energy to the source node. In particular, to maximize the overall system capacity in multiple subchannels and multiple time slots while meeting the power constraints, a power allocation optimization problem is formulated and solved in three steps. First, at each data transmission and data forwarding cycle, we split the total transmission power of relay into two parts, one for data forwarding and the other as power supplement for the source node. Then, our analysis indicates that at each cycle, once all of the subchannels are sorted in a certain order, the relay node will only provide forwarding power to the subchannels with index greater than a certain value. Meanwhile, the incentive for the relay node to provide power supplement should be strong enough such that relay chooses not to simultaneously transmit data and energy. Then, an equivalent convex constrained optimization problem is formulated and the solution is derived by solving the Lagrange function. The solution takes the form of water-filling in combination with a cooperative feature. Numerical results demonstrate that energy cooperation notably improves the system capacity.
Assessing Adolescents' Communicative Self-Efficacy to Discuss Controversial Issues: Findings from a Randomized Study of the Word Generation Program.

AbstractCommunicative self-efficacy serves as an important link between discussing controversial issues and civic engagement because confidence in one’s discourse skills is important to managing conflicting perspectives and developing solutions to community-based problems. Freely available to schools, Word Generation is a cross-content literacy program that supports teachers in the four main content areas—ELA, social studies, science, and math—to embed learning of controversial issues through classroom discussions, subject-specific lessons, and writing. Middle school students (N = 5,870) from diverse backgrounds participated in a randomized study of the intervention that was conducted in 12 middle schools located in an urban school district. We analyzed survey data based on students’ self-reported ratings on their communicative self-efficacy, as indicated by confidence to participate in discussions of 15 different controversial issues related to politics, society, and science. Paired sample t-tests indica...
The Precarious Health of Young Mexican American Men in South Texas, Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, 2004-2015.

INTRODUCTION Hispanic men have higher rates of illness and death from various chronic conditions than do non-Hispanic men. We aimed to characterize the health of Mexican American men living on the US-Mexico border in South Texas and elucidate indications of chronic disease in young men. METHODS We sampled all male participants from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, an ongoing population-based cohort of Mexican Americans in Brownsville, Texas. We calculated descriptive statistics and stratified the sample into 3 age groups to estimate the prevalence of sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors by age group and evaluated differences between age groups. RESULTS Obesity prevalence was approximately 50% across all age groups (P = .83). Diabetes prevalence was high overall (26.8%), and 16.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.1%-23.8%) of men younger than 35 had diabetes. More than 70% of these young men had elevated liver enzymes, and mean values of aspartate aminotransferase were significantly higher in younger men (45.0 u/L; 95% CI, 39.5-50.6 u/L) than in both older age groups. Less than 20% of young men had any form of health insurance. Current smoking was higher in young men than in men in the other groups, and the rate was higher than the national prevalence of current smoking among Hispanic men. CONCLUSIONS We suggest a need for obesity and diabetes prevention programs and smoking cessation programs for men in this region. Opportunities exist to expand current intervention programs and tailor them to better reach this vulnerable population of young Hispanic men. Elevated liver enzymes in men younger than 35 suggest a substantial burden of liver abnormalities, a finding that warrants further study.
The Declining Fortunes of American Workers: Six Dimensions and an Agenda for Reform

At the turn of the century, I undertook an assessment of the then current state of workplace rights and obligations. I concluded that the balance of power between employers and workers was “badly skewed” in favor of employers. This article revisits that topic for the purpose of assessing twenty-first century trends through the lens of six workplace dimensions. They are: workforce attachment, union-management relations, employment security, income inequality, balancing work and family, and retirement security. An examination of these dimensions reveal that the status of U.S. workers has significantly declined during the first sixteen years of the twenty-first century. This article then sets out a proposed agenda for reform designed to recalibrate the current imbalance in the respective fortunes of employees and employers.
Myeloma Cell-Derived Factors Retard the Differentiation and Function of Dendritic Cells.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy often associated with a suppressed immune system. The mechanisms for the immunosuppression are largely unknown. In this study, we examined, using the murine 5T33 myeloma model, the effects of tumor cell or its-derived factors on the differentiation and function of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Our results showed that differentiation of BMDCs was retarded in the presence of 10% of tumor-derived supernatant (TSN). This is evident by, compared with control cells, the downregulated expression of surface molecules including CD40, CD86 and MHC class II; secretion of higher levels of IL-10 and lower levels of IL-12; and a poor T-cell response in an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction induced by TSN-treated cells. The same phenomenon was also observed when the bone marrow progenitor cells were cocultured, either in direct contact or separated by transwell membrane, with myeloma cells. The treatment downregulated the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) and mitogen-induced extracellular kinase (MEK), and upregulated the expression of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) in the cells. As a high level of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-b can be detected in TSN, we examined whether these cytokines were responsible. Our results showed that addition of TGF-b, IL-10 and/or IL-6 could largely replace TSN in retarding the differentiation of BMDCs, and neutralizing antibodies against these cytokines, especially in combination, were able to block the effects of TSN or tumor cells on BMDCs. Finally, our results showed that inhibiting p38 MAPK or STAT3 restored the differentiation and function of these cells. Hence, our study not only sheds light on the mechanisms of tumor-induced immune evasion in MM and but also provides one of the solutions to overcome the problems.
Electrothermal simulation tools for analysis and design of ESD protection devices (NMOSFET)

Two- and three-dimensional simulators have been developed to investigate the electrothermal operation of semiconductor devices and conditions for onset of thermally activated second breakdown. There are two distinct breakdown modes, one associated with a pn-junction and the other with a resistor, that can cause thermal breakdown in transistors. Simple structures have been studied for a better understanding of second breakdown. Simulations coupled with experimental results also allow the evaluation of failure thresholds of MOS devices under ESD stress conditions. It is noted that 2-D simulations are pessimistic in predicting the failure thresholds and should be used for a study of qualitative trends only. >
Information fusion management: Collection to diffusion

Information fusion systems include the collection of information from various sources (e.g., sensors) in support of a user's task. After receiving the information, the user has many options associated with the diffusion of information such as dissemination to others, storage in a database, of multiplicative tasking for new information. This paper revisits the notions of the Joint Director of the Laboratories/Data Fusion Information Group (JDL/DFIG) information model that seeks a balance between information estimation and management from collection to diffusion. The data diffusion framework extends the JDL/DFIG model for action diffusion.
Biotic enhancement of weathering and surface temperatures on earth since the origin of life

Abstract Assuming steady state of carbon dioxide levels in a “pressure-cooker” atmosphere/ocean system (10–20 bars, near 100°C) produced by a land weathering sink and volcanic source (BLAG model), an abiotic Earth model for 3.8 Ga requires present biotic enhancements of weathering to be on the order of 100 or greater, consistent with the limit inferred from experimental and field studies. Using a plausible ratio of the present biotic enhancement (from higher plants) to enhancements produced by microbial activity alone, along with models for continental growth and outgassing rates consistent with geologic evidence, we find that computed surface temperatures hover near 20°C over geologic time, slowly decreasing to present, after a rapid initial decline as a result of microbial colonization of land. Results are consistent with the first possibility for glaciation in the late Archean/early Proterozoic. Useful modeling of climatic evolution, taking into account biotic enhancement of weathering, can now apparently be extended into the Precambrian, assuming operation of the carbonate-silicate buffer.
Enhancing utility and privacy with noisy minimax filters

Preserving privacy of continuous and/or high-dimensional data such as images, videos and audios is challenging. Syntactic anonymization methods were proposed typically for discrete data types and can be unsuitable. Differential privacy, which provides a stricter type of privacy, has shown more success in sanitizing continuous data. However, both syntactic and differential privacy are susceptible to inference attacks, i.e., an adversary can accurately guess sensitive attributes from insensitive attributes. On the other hand, minimax filters were proposed previously to minimize the accuracy of inference while maximizing utility at the same time. The paper presents noisy minimax filter that combines minimax filter and differentially private mechanism, which can attain high average utility and protection against inference attacks and a formal worst-case privacy guarantee. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated with real databases of faces, voices, and motion data.
X-linked myotubular myopathy: Living longer and awaiting treatment

The congenital myopathies (CMs) are a cluster of genetic disorders affecting myofiber structure and function. The salient clinical features are hypotonia, weakness, and motor impairment. The presentation varies from the most severe impairment in the newborn to a range of phenotypes in infancy (“floppy baby”), childhood, or occasionally adulthood. The prevalence of CMs is ≈1:26,000 children (birth to 17 years).1 The CMs were named on the basis of distinctive morphologic abnormalities seen on muscle biopsy: nemaline myopathy, with rods due to protein accumulation; core myopathy, with cores or multiminicores devoid of oxidative enzyme activity; centronuclear myopathy, with abnormal centrally placed nuclei; and congenital fiber-type disproportion, with a predominance of small type 1 fibers. Specific clinical features, e.g., ophthalmoparesis and facial, bulbar, and respiratory weakness, and muscle MRI can point toward a specific diagnosis.2 Standard-of-care guidelines for the CMs were published in 2012.3
Phase-locking and bistability in neuronal networks with synaptic depression

We consider a recurrent network of two oscillatory neurons that are coupled with inhibitory synapses. We use the phase response curves of the neurons and the properties of short-term synaptic depression to define Poincare maps for the activity of the network. The fixed points of these maps correspond to phase-locked modes of the network. Using these maps, we analyze the conditions that allow short-term synaptic depression to lead to the existence of bistable phase-locked, periodic solutions. We show that bistability arises when either the phase response curve of the neuron or the short-term depression profile changes steeply enough. The results apply to any Type I oscillator and we illustrate our findings using the Quadratic Integrate-and-Fire and Morris-Lecar neuron models.
The Interpretation of Legal Language

In everyday interactions, we do our best to resolve linguistic vagueness, ambiguity, and other indeterminacies contextually. When these problems arise in the interpretation of authoritative legal texts, by contrast, it is not abundantly clear what context is relevant, or even legitimate. This article discusses approaches that legal analysts take in resolving linguistic indeterminacy. The most basic principle is reliance on the “ordinary meaning” of a term in dispute, on the assumption that this default interpretation is most likely to be within the intention of the drafters. However, there is no clear understanding of what “ordinary meaning” means or how to find it. Most recently, judges and legal scholars have turned to using linguistic corpora to assist in determining ordinary meaning in such cases. Other cases, focusing on the resolution of syntactic or semantic ambiguity, are less common. Courts in these cases sometimes resort to legally based “tiebreakers,” such as the rule of lenity, which requires ...
Minding the Stories We Tell: Acknowledging and Addressing Implicit Narratives in IDT

What are the implicit stories of the Instructional Design and Technology field? How are they told? Who are the central characters? What is the plot? This chapter considers how instructional design and technology practices can unintentionally convey and reinforce dominant narratives about the world, people, and legitimate concerns. Along with overt, intentional forms of storytelling, less recognized yet powerful implicit narratives are discussed, toward an aim of raising awareness of how our practices may perpetuate injustice or can, instead, facilitate equity and inclusion. A project-based effort to integrate consideration of implicit narratives related to social justice awareness and understanding within the overt IDT curriculum is discussed.
New world paleoenvironments during the Last Glacial Maximum: Implications for habitable land area and human dispersal

Abstract The movement and dispersal of human populations during the Pleistocene is a complex question, and one that has been addressed extensively in the literature. During Pleistocene glacial periods, landscapes and coastlines altered dramatically, with old routes closing and new routes opening. One of the best understood of these glacial periods, the Last Glacial Maximum (between 22 and 18 ka), is of particular interest with regards to the colonization of the New World. Despite decades of study, archaeologists still do not fully understand the timing and tempo of that process. This study contributes to this discussion by presenting an estimation of habitable land area in the New World at the LGM when sea level was 120 m lower than present day using a previously published method for mapping ancient coastlines and calculating land areas in Google Earth. Areas defined as uninhabitable include those areas covered by ice sheets, glaciers, and ice fields, and areas of extreme aridity. Combined habitable land areas of North and South America are estimated as 34,149,094.81 km2. Added to data from the previous study, a new estimate of global habitable land area at the LGM is calculated to be 111,108,807.21 km2. Data on paleocoastlines are then used to predict locations where archaeological traces of early human dispersals may potentially be found.
Remote Ischemic Preconditioning Does Not Prevent White Matter Injury in Neonates.

Background Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a mechanism to protect tissues from injury during ischemia and reperfusion. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of RIPC in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods The outcome was white matter injury (WMI), assessed by the change in volume of WMI from preoperative to postoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients were randomized to RIPC or SHAM. RIPC was induced prior to cardiopulmonary bypass by four 5-minute cycles of blood pressure cuff inflation to produce ischemia of the lower extremity. For patients randomized to SHAM, the cuff was positioned, but not inflated. Results The study included 67 patients, with 33 randomized to RIPC and 34 randomized to SHAM. Preoperative and postoperative MRIs were available in 50 patients, including 26 of the 33 RIPC patients and 24 of the 34 SHAM patients. There were no differences in baseline and operative characteristics for either the overall study group or the group with evaluable MRIs. WMI was identified in 28% of the patients preoperatively and in 62% postoperatively. There was no difference in the prevalence of WMI by treatment group ( p > 0.5). RIPC patients had an average change in WMI of 600 mL 3 , and SHAM subjects had an average WMI change of 107 mL 3 . There was no significant difference in the mean value of WMI change between patients who received RIPC and those who received SHAM treatments ( p = 0.178). Conclusions In this randomized, blinded clinical trial, there was no evidence that use of RIPC provides neuroprotection in neonates undergoing repair of congenital heart defects with cardiopulmonary bypass.