cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributed detection and Uniformly Most Powerful tests

Uniformly Most Powerful (UMP) centralized detection for the composite binary hypothesis problem has been well researched. This paper extends the UMP methodology to the parallel distributed detection problem, when the local observations are independently distributed. A collection of general theorems and corollaries define sufficient conditions for the existence of a UMP parallel Distributed Detection (UMP-DD) under one set of fusion rules. These same conditions under another set of general fusion rules result in at least a Locally Most Powerful Distributed Detection (LMP-DD) rule. The subtleties of these conclusions are explored using informative examples that highlight the strengths of this approach and introduce new groups of UMP-DD tests.
Acquired (non-Wilsonian) hepatocerebral degeneration: complex management decisions.

Abstract Portal systemic encephalopathy, in its many guises, can be reversible after medical management or liver transplantation. It is much less certain whether patients with a longstanding neurodegenerative syndrome (known in the medical vernacular as acquired hepatocerebral degeneration) can improve. Impressive neuroimaging abnormalities have been reported in this entity. 1 However, the combination of a severe disabling neurologic deficit and widespread magnetic resonance abnormalities tempers the enthusiasm of transplant surgeons to proceed with liver transplantation. In our liver transplantation program, we were recently confronted with such a case, and present herein not only the characteristic magnetic resonance imaging findings but also some of the dilemmas of management. ( Liver Transpl 2003;9:993-994. )
Quinazolin-4-one α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid (AMPA) Receptor Antagonists: Structure−Activity Relationship of the C-2 Side Chain Tether

A series of 6-fluoro-3-(2-chlorophenyl)quinazolin-4-ones has been prepared, which contains a 2-fluorophenyl ring attached to C-2 by a variety of two-atom tethers. These compounds were used to probe the structure−activity relationship (SAR) for AMPA receptor inhibition. The relative potencies of the new compounds ranged from 11 nM to greater than 10 μM. The differential activity of the compounds was rationalized on the basis of alterations of the 2-fluorophenyl positioning (planar and radial) relative to the quinazolin-4-one ring based on computational methods. From this effort, new AMPA receptor antagonists, containing the methylamino tether group, have been identified.
Mucosal IgA Elaboration

Secretory IgA is the main immunoglobulin present along mucosal surfaces. It is elicited best by oral rather than parenteral administration of specific antigens. The role of antigen form on the development of a secretory IgA response is still unclear. IgA protects by preventing attachment of microorganisms or their toxic products to the surface epithelium. A wide variety of regulatory T cells are now known to be of considerable importance in optimizing the secretory IgA response. This regulation is at least partly due to the elaboration of small polypeptide products (lymphokines). These lymphokines have been shown to be key signals during the maturation of IgA precursor B cells to IgA-secreting plasma cells. By studying models of the mucosal immune system which closely approximate the natural mucosal immune response, it should be possible to develop vaccines against many pathogenic microorganisms, their toxic products, and to toxicants and carcinogens within the environment.
Human-Mouse Cell Hybrids: A Suggestion of Structural Mutation for Dipeptidase-2 Deficiency in Mouse Cells

The dipeptidase-2 enzyme is inactive in certain cultured cell lines from the mouse. In somatic cell hybrids between such deficient cells and diploid human fibroblasts, the mouse deficiency was complemented when the homologous human peptidase-A was retained. The results suggested that the murine peptidase deficiency was the result of a structural mutation, rather than a regulatory one.
Virus discovery by deep sequencing and assembly of virus-derived small silencing RNAs

In response to infection, invertebrates process replicating viral RNA genomes into siRNAs of discrete sizes to guide virus clearance by RNA interference. Here, we show that viral siRNAs sequenced from fruit fly, mosquito, and nematode cells were all overlapping in sequence, suggesting a possibility of using siRNAs for viral genome assembly and virus discovery. To test this idea, we examined contigs assembled from published small RNA libraries and discovered five previously undescribed viruses from cultured Drosophila cells and adult mosquitoes, including three with a positive-strand RNA genome and two with a dsRNA genome. Notably, four of the identified viruses exhibited only low sequence similarities to known viruses, such that none could be assigned into an existing virus genus. We also report detection of virus-derived PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in Drosophila melanogaster that have not been previously described in any other host species and demonstrate viral genome assembly from viral piRNAs in the absence of viral siRNAs. Thus, this study provides a powerful culture-independent approach for virus discovery in invertebrates by assembling viral genomes directly from host immune response products without prior virus enrichment or amplification. We propose that invertebrate viruses discovered by this approach may include previously undescribed human and vertebrate viral pathogens that are transmitted by arthropod vectors.
The integration of disparity, shading and motion parallax cues for depth perception in humans and monkeys

A visual stimulus display was created that enabled us to examine how effectively the three depth cues of disparity, motion parallax and shading can be integrated in humans and monkeys. The display was designed to allow us to present these three depth cues separately and in various combinations. Depth was processed most effectively and most rapidly when all three cues were presented together indicating that these separate cues are integrated at yet unknown sites in the brain. Testing in humans and monkeys yielded similar results suggesting that monkeys are a good animal model for the study of the underlying neural mechanisms of depth perception.
Mechanism of the PII-activated phosphatase activity of Escherichia coli NRII (NtrB): how the different domains of NRII collaborate to act as a phosphatase.

The phosphatase activity of the homodimeric NRII protein of Escherichia coli is activated by the PII protein and requires all three domains of NRII. Mutations in the N-terminal domain (L16R), central domain (A129T), C-terminal domain PII-binding site (S227R), and C-terminal domain ATP-lid (Y302N) of NRII result in diminished phosphatase activity. Here, we used heterodimers formed in vitro from purified homodimeric proteins to study the phosphatase activity. A129T, S227R, and Y302N mutant subunits and A129T/S227R, A129T/Y302N, and S227R/Y302N double-mutant subunits formed stable heterodimers and were amenable to analysis; heterodimers containing these mutant subunits in various combinations were formed and their activities assessed. Complementation of the PII-activated phosphatase activity was observed in heterodimers containing S227R and Y302N subunits and in heterodimers containing A129T and Y302N subunits, but not in heterodimers containing A129T and S227R subunits. Complementation of the PII-activated phosphatase activity was also observed in heterodimers containing A129T/ S227R and Y302N subunits, but not in heterodimers containing A129T/Y302N and S227R subunits. Finally, inclusion of an S227R/Y302N subunit in a heterodimer with a subunit having wild-type phosphatase activity resulted in a dramatic decrease in phosphatase activity, while inclusion of an A129T/S227R subunit did not. These results suggest that the phosphatase activity of NRII requires the collaboration of the PII-binding site from one subunit of the dimer, the central domain from the same subunit, and the ATP-lid from the opposing subunit, in addition to the undefined N-terminal domain requirement(s).
Identification of a novel type of silk protein and regulation of its expression

The silk of lepidopteran insects has been studied extensively as proteins of two categories: the fibroins, which are produced in the posterior section of silk glands, and the sericins, which are secreted in the middle section. We now describe a third category that is named seroins to accentuate the fact that both the sericin- and the fibroin-producing cells participate in seroin secretion. Using a probe derived from the N-terminal sequences of a 23-kDa components of Galleria mellonella silk, we isolated silk gland-specific cDNA encoding 167 amino acids, of which 17 constitute the signal peptide. The following 14 residues match the N-terminal sequences of the 23- and 22.5-kDa silk proteines. The reaction of these proteins with concanavalin A and the presence of two glycosylation sites in the seroin peptide sequence indicate that seroin is secreted in two forms that both contain a mannose-rich sugar moiety. Seroin is distinguished from other silk proteins by high proline content (34 residues or 20.26% by weight), lack of cysteines, and the presence of two kinds of short amino acid repeats. Theseroin gene is expressed in both the posterior and middle silk gland sections. The expression fluctuates during development in correlation with the feeding regime and the changes in hormone titers:seroin mRNA is high in the silk glands of feeding larvae, declines at ecdysis, reaches a maximum during cocoon spinning, and thereafter rapidly drops to an undetectable level. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the drop is caused by ecdysteroid hormones and is prevented by juvenile hormones. N-terminal sequencing of several silk proteins of Bombyx mori revealed that the 8- and 13-kDa proteins share 5 or 6 out of 10 identified amino acids with the N terminus of Galleriaseroin and obviously represent seroin homologues. The result suggests that seroin-type proteins are a general component of lepidopteran silk.
Subject Headings in Full-Text Environments: The ECCO Experiment

Bibliographic records regularly combine two incommensurable types of description: one that captures the physical and textual facts of a work, the other that seeks to encompass succinctly the work’s intellectual content. This article deals with the second type of bibliographic description: subject headings and their contribution to resource discovery. The article reports on an experiment at Northwestern University Library to add subject headings to online records for the Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO).The author assesses the benefits of this enhancement by using a representative research topic: a search for contemporary material on the East India Company (1600–1873). This article extends arguments recently presented by Gross and Taylor (2005) in two directions: first, by considering the importance of subject headings for access to historical materials; and, second, by examining the value added by subject headings even when the full text of a work is available online.
Modeling and small signal analysis of a PMSG-based wind generator With sensorless maximum power extraction

In this paper, a grid-tied permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) based wind generator with sen-sorless maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is modeled in Matlab/Simulink. Small signal analysis is performed to testify that sensorless MPPT can help the system achieve stability. Time domain simulations are performed to present the wind energy system's MPPT capability for a typical wind speed time series input and the system's ability to recover its equilibrium operating point. The major finding of this paper includes two aspects: i) the sensorless MPPT is effective in extracting maximum wind energy and at the same time stabilizing the wind energy system and 2) the slope of the MPPT lookup table has the major impact on the electromechanical dynamics of the wind energy system.
Fluctuations about simple nonequilibrium steady states

The Langevin formalism that describes fluctuations about thermodynamic equilibrium is extended to study hydrodynamic nonequilibrium steady states. The limitations of our generalization are discussed as well as the connection between experimental and theoretical quantities which is more subtle than in equilibrium. The spectrum for Brillouin scattering from a fluid in a shear flow or temperature gradient is simply obtained by Langevin methods. The latter problem exhibits an asymmetry in the height of the peaks inversely proportional to the square of the scattering wave vector. We also construct a microscopic ensemble that is applicable to a variety of hydrodynamic nonequilibrium steady states, and then verify for a particular model that our extension of the Langevin method agrees with a fully microscopic calculation.
Enhanced potency of desiccated thyroid powder.

Abstract Thyroid Powder, USP, when aged in vitro at room temperatures for 19 months, was found to be significantly more potent in the production of hyperthyroidism in female Swiss Webster mice when fed ad libitum at approximately 3000 ppm in ground Purina Lab Chow, than a similar sample kept in a deep freeze at −23°. Potency was based upon the oxygen consumption-stimulating ability of the thyroid preparations. No significant difference in potency was noted between the freezer-stored thyroid sample and the original.
Ergosterol content as a measure of biomass of potential biological control fungi in liquid cultures

784A and G. solani 810A exhibited the highest and lowest levels of ergosterol, respectively, under test conditions. Based upon relative amounts of ergosterol produced per mycelial dry weight, three groups namely high (G. roseum 784A), medium (Mariannaea elegans 386E, G. roseum 321M, G. viride 623E, G. virens 258C and G. virens 258D) and low (Trichoderma pseudokoningii 228B, G. solani 810A) were identified. Concentration of ergosterol do not always correlate with absolute fungal biomass and is influenced by both internal and external factors. Test growth conditions should therefore closely mimic that of anticipated environment. Concentrations of ergosterol of eight biological control fungi reported in this study fall within the range of other fungi reported in the literature. Under control conditions, ergosterol concentration of the eight potential biological control fungi may be used as a relative index of their biomass and their growth in liquid cultures.
A proposed grading and scoring system for spina bifida: Spina Bifida Neurological Scale (SBNS)

Received: 23 July 1993 Sir: The recently published article by Oi and Matsumoto [4] was of great interest, with an excellent strong scientific basis. I sincerely agree with the comments of these two authors. The Children's Hospital in Panama provides tertiary health care to a large proportion of the children of a population of approximately 1 200 000 in the metropolitan area. It also serves as referral center. The age limit of children treated in the
FeO-rich, porphyritic pyroxene chondrules in unequilibrated ordinary chondrites

Abstract A suite of FeO-rich (type II), porphyritic, olivine/pyroxene (POP) chondrules has been studied in detail. Data for ten chondrules from Semarkona (LL3.0) are emphasized, and one chondrule from Chainpur (LL3.4) and two from Parnallee (LL3.6) are included as further examples of certain properties. The chondrules contain phenocrysts of pyroxene and olivine in varying proportions, and have Fe/(Fe+Mg) > 10 mol% in the silicate minerals. Four pyroxene minerals are present: clinoenstatite, orthorhombic enstatite, pigeonite, and augite. Pyroxene phenocrysts may consist of all four minerals, with progressive overgrowths in order of increasing Wo content. Enstatite may occur independently of clinoenstatite, but Ca-rich pyroxenes (pigeonite and augite) always nucleate on low-Ca pyroxene phenocrysts. Pyroxene and olivine phenocrysts may be independent of each other, or may be intergrown, and commonly show hopper morphologies indicative of rapid growth. Pyroxenes and olivines are commonly strongly zoned as a result of fractional crystallization of the chondrules. In addition, low-Ca pyroxene may contain ghost regions of slightly more FeO- and minor element-rich material in the cores of grains. These regions are partially resorbed and appear to be derived from previous crystallization of essentially the same chondrule. Oscillatory zoning is observed in enstatite in two chondrules, and is believed to be the result of disquilibrium kinetic effects. Relict grains, including a forsterite relict and a partially reduced FeO-rich relict in the same chondrule, and clinoenstatite cores of pyroxene phenocrysts in another chondrule, are evidence for recycling and mixing of chondrule material. All of the chondrules are highly disequilibrium assemblages. They appear to have cooled from essentially molten droplets, with little volatile loss or recondensation occurring during the heating event. Peak temperatures were probably close to liquidus temperatures, 1500–1700°C, and cooling rates were probably of the order of hundreds of degrees per hour. This description will serve as a basis for future interpretation of the effects of metamorphism on porphyritic, pyroxene-rich chondrules.
Accurately Characterizing the π−π Interaction Energies of Indole−Benzene Complexes

Noncovalent interactions play a significant role in determining the structures of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Among the most prevalent are π−π interactions, which occur as favorable forces between the aromatic subunits of biochemical molecules. The aromatic side chains of amino acids tryptophan and phenylalanine are commonly modeled with indole and benzene, respectively. We have utilized the MP2 and SCS-MP2 methods with the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set to compute several T-shaped interaction energies and parallel displaced (PD) three-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs) at 3.4, 3.6, and 3.8 A vertical separations. At selected minima, CCSD(T) results extrapolated to the complete-basis-set (CBS) limit were obtained. The trend of the T-shaped interactions has been rationalized by considering electrostatic potential maps and symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) results. The global minimum has been verified to be the N−H/π T-shaped configuration with a CCSD(T)/CBS interaction energy of −5.62 kcal mol−1. Fo...
Racial/ethnic disparities in contraceptive use: variation by age and women's reproductive experiences

Objective Disparities in unintended pregnancy in the United States are related, in part, to black and Hispanic women being overall less likely to use effective contraceptive methods. However, the fact that these same groups are more likely to use female sterilization, a highly effective method, suggests there may be variability in disparities in contraceptive use across a woman's life course. We sought to assess the relationship between race/ethnicity and contraceptive use in a nationally representative sample and to approximate a life course perspective by examining effect modification on these disparities by women's age, parity, and history of unintended pregnancy. Study Design We conducted an analysis of the 2006 through 2010 National Survey of Family Growth to determine the association between race/ethnicity and: (1) use of any method; (2) use of a highly or moderately effective method among women using contraception; and (3) use of a highly effective method among women using contraception. We then performed analyses to assess interactions between race/ethnicity and age, parity, and history of unintended pregnancy. Results Our sample included 7214 females aged 15-44 years. Compared to whites, blacks were less likely to use any contraceptive method (adjusted odds ratio, 0.65); and blacks and Hispanics were less likely to use a highly or moderately effective method (adjusted odds ratio, 0.49 and 0.57, respectively). Interaction analyses revealed that racial/ethnic disparities in contraceptive use varied by women's age, with younger women having more prominent disparities. Conclusion Interventions designed to address disparities in unintended pregnancy should focus on improving contraceptive use among younger women.
Compliance with zidovudine therapy in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus, type 1: a cross-sectional study in a municipal hospital clinic.

Abstract purpose: To determine the extent of and clinical variables associated with zidovudine compliance. patients and methods: A survey of 83 patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) followed in a municipal hospital clinic was performed. Compliance histories were validated by serum and urine zidovudine levels. Patient characteristics included 46% white, 63% with a history of intravenous drug use, and 59% reporting a diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex (ARC). The main outcome measure was greater than 80% compliance with prescribed doses of zidovudine over the previous week. results: Sixty-seven percent of the study patients reported greater than 80% compliance with prescribed doses of zidovudine over the previous week. The most common explanations given for missing a dose were "forgot to take zidovudine" and "did not have the medication with me." Five variables were independently associated with greater than 80% compliance as determined by stepwise multiple logistic regression: patient belief that zidovudine prolongs life (odds ratio [OR] 9.3, [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.4, 36.7]), a diagnosis of AIDS or ARC (OR 5.5, [CI 1.5, 20.4]), use of a medication timer (OR 4.4, [CI 1.0, 19.1]), no history of intravenous drug use (OR 3.7, [CI 1.0, 14.2]), and taking one to three other medications with zidovudine. conclusions: High compliance with zidovudine was achieved by HIV-infected patients in a municipal hospital clinic, many of whom had a history of intravenous drug use. Compliance with zidovudine may be enhanced by a patient's belief that it prolongs life and the use of a medication timer for proper dosing.
The effect of brief restricted environmental stimulation therapy in the treatment of essential hypertension

Abstract This pilot project investigated the effects of controlled frequent brief REST relaxation sessions on the blood pressure of three subjects with borderline essential hypertension. A flotation REST system was used, and subjects had 2 or 3 sessions weekly for 2 months. All three subjects had blood-pressure reductions of a clinically significant magnitude across the treatment and follow-up periods.
Importance of enolate anions in the high-pressure kinetics of nitroalkanes and nitroaromatics

We review and systematize experimental evidence concerning the extreme high-pressure kinetics of condensed phase nitroalkanes and nitroaromatics. This systematization suggests that enolate aci anions of the nitroalkanes and enolate aci-quinone anions of the nitroaromatics are important in the initial high-pressure kinetics of such systems. Kinetic data from experiments which observed the effect of: (1) small amounts of chemical additives, (2) substitution for protons, (3) difference in chemical isomer, (4) exposure to ultra-violet light, and (5) application of very high pressure can all be rationalized within the framework of our hypothesis. We suggest a static high-pressure ultra-violet absorption spectroscopy experiment on nitromethane that would test the proposed hypothesis.
Diencephalic gustatory connections in the channel catfish

Vertebrate gustatory systems include a tertiary ascending pathway from a secondary gustatory nucleus in the hindbrain to several forebrain nuclei. This connection is prominent in catfish, corresponding to their highly developed sense of taste. Iontophoretic injections of horseradish peroxidase were used to identify the specific target nuclei of the tertiary gustatory pathway in channel catfish and to characterize those nuclei by their respective connections. Efferents from the secondary gustatory nucleus (nGS) ascend in the tertiary gustatory tract to the caudal inferior lobe, where they terminate caudally in the nucleus lobobulbaris (nLB) and nucleus centralis (nCLI), and rostrally in the nucleus diffusus (nDLI). Secondary projections from the facial lobe (FL) also terminate in the nLB and in the nucleus subglomerulus (nSG). The nLB forms three cell groups (caudal-nLB, rostrolateral-rl nLB, parvicellular-nLBp), which project to the facial lobe, vagal lobe, and telencephalon, respectively. Cells from the nCLI project throughout the caudal inferior lobe and to the acousticolateral torus semicircularis and telencephalon, while the nDLI and nSG have intrinsic connections within the inferior lobe. The lateral thalamic nucleus projects from this region back to the nGS. Through these identified connections several mechanisms for the processing of gustatory information can be proposed. The descending projections from the nLB and nLT could provide feedback to the primary and secondary gustatory nuclei, and could modulate feeding-related motor circuits in the medulla. The connections of nCLI and nLBp with the telencephalon allow for the involvement of gustation in learning processes and other complex behaviors. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Optimal trace scheduling using enumeration

This article presents the first optimal algorithm for trace scheduling. The trace is a global scheduling region used by compilers to exploit instruction-level parallelism across basic block boundaries. Several heuristic techniques have been proposed for trace scheduling, but the precision of these techniques has not been studied relative to optimality. This article describes a technique for finding provably optimal trace schedules, where optimality is defined in terms of a weighted sum of schedule lengths across all code paths in a trace. The optimal algorithm uses branch-and-bound enumeration to efficiently explore the entire solution space. Experimental evaluation of the algorithm shows that, with a time limit of 1 s per problem, 91p of the hard trace scheduling problems in the SPEC CPU 2006 Integer Benchmarks are solved optimally. For 58p of these hard problems, the optimal schedule is improved compared to that produced by a heuristic scheduler with a geometric mean improvement of 3.2p in weighted schedule length and 18p in compensation code size.
The descending chain condition in modular lattices

In a recent paper Kovacs [1] studied join-continuous modular lattices which satisfy the following conditions: (i) every element is a join of finitely many join-irredicibles , and, (ii) the set of join-irreducibles satisfies the descending chain condition . He was able to prove that such a lattice must itself satisfy the descending chain condition. Interest was expressed in whether or not one could obtain the same result without the assumption of modularity and/or of join-continuity. In this paper we give an elementary proof of this result without the assumption of join- continuity (which of course must then follow as a consequence of the descending chain condition). In addition we give a suitable example to show that modularity may not be omitted in general.
On the Solution of Large EM Problems using a Fast Geometrically Non-Conforming Domain Decomposition Method

This paper implements a fast geometrically non-conforming dual primal-finite element tearing interconnecting (DP-FETI) DDM to help alleviate these problems. The present method is largely composed of three major ingredients; 1) decoupling of the geometrically conforming and non-conforming domains by the use of the FETI algorithm; 2) solution of the resulting finite element matrix equation with multiple right-hand-sides using the state-of-art pMUS preconditioner; 3) compression of the numerical Green's function via an efficient rank-revealing SVD algorithm
Translation factors promote the formation of two states of the closed-loop mRNP

Efficient translation initiation and optimal stability of most eukaryotic messenger RNAs depends on the formation of a closed-loop structure and the resulting synergistic interplay between the 5' m(7)G cap and the 3' poly(A) tail. Evidence of eIF4G and Pab1 interaction supports the notion of a closed-loop mRNP, but the mechanistic events that lead to its formation and maintenance are still unknown. Here we use toeprinting and polysome profiling assays to delineate ribosome positioning at initiator AUG codons and ribosome-mRNA association, respectively, and find that two distinct stable (resistant to cap analogue) closed-loop structures are formed during initiation in yeast cell-free extracts. The integrity of both forms requires the mRNA cap and poly(A) tail, as well as eIF4E, eIF4G, Pab1 and eIF3, and is dependent on the length of both the mRNA and the poly(A) tail. Formation of the first structure requires the 48S ribosomal complex, whereas the second requires an 80S ribosome and the termination factors eRF3/Sup35 and eRF1/Sup45. The involvement of the termination factors is independent of a termination event.
Haemophilus influenzae type b disease and vaccine booster dose deferral, United States, 1998-2009.

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of effective vaccines, the incidence of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease among children METHODS: We reviewed national passive and active surveillance (demographic and serotype) and vaccination status data for invasive H. influenzae disease in children aged RESULTS: From 1998 to 2007 and 2008 to 2009, the annual average incidence of Hib disease per 100 000 population was 0.2 and 0.18, respectively; no significant difference in incidence was found by age group, gender, or race. Among Hib cases in both time periods, most were unvaccinated or too young to have received Hib vaccine. During 2001 to 2009, there were CONCLUSIONS: The booster deferral did not have a significant impact on the burden of invasive Hib disease in children
Comparative effectiveness of statin plus fibrate combination therapy and statin monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes: use of propensity-score and instrumental variable methods to adjust for treatment-selection bias.

Purpose Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The comparative effectiveness of statin plus fibrate combination therapy and statin monotherapy in reducing risk of cardiovascular disease in real-world settings is unknown. Methods A retrospective database analysis was performed using a large managed care claims database of patients identified with type 2 diabetes based on diagnosis codes from January 2002 through December 2003 and continuously enrolled for the entire study period, 5.5 years. A statin plus fibrate combination therapy group (patients who used statins less than 6 months and augmented with fibrates for more than 6 months) and a statin monotherapy group (patients who used statins persistently) among patients with type 2 diabetes were followed for 3 years to examine the relationship between the intervention and cardiovascular events using a multivariable logistic regression model, propensity score method, and instrumental variable approach. Results The statin plus fibrate combination therapy group of 318 and the statin monotherapy group of 9928 were identified from 75 515 diabetics. After adjusting for factors that can impact cardiovascular outcomes, the combination therapy group did not significantly experience a reduction in cardiovascular disease, as compared with the statin monotherapy group (OR = 0.77; p = 0.083). The statin plus fibrate combination therapy group was significantly associated with a reduction in cardiovascular events after propensity matching (OR = 0.53; p = 0.002). Using the physician prescribing preference instrument to adjust for unmeasured confounding, we did not find evidence that subjects in the statin plus fibrate combination therapy group versus stain monotherapy group experienced a significant reduction in cardiovascular events (p = 0.124). Conclusions We did not find a difference in effectiveness regarding cardiovascular outcomes between the statin plus fibrate combination therapy and the statin monotherapy after controlling for hidden bias. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of curved inlet tubes on air flow and particle deposition in bifurcating lung models.

Abstract In vivo bifurcating airways are complex and the airway segments leading to the bifurcations are not always straight, but curved to various degrees. How do such curved inlet tubes influence the motion as well as local deposition and hence the biological responses of inhaled particulate matter in lung airways? In this paper steady laminar dilute suspension flows of micron-particles are simulated in realistic double bifurcations with curved inlet tubes, i.e., 0°⩽ θ ⩽90°, using a commercial finite-volume code with user-enhanced programs. The resulting air-flow patterns as well as particle transport and wall depositions were analyzed for different flow inlet conditions, i.e., uniform and parabolic velocity profiles, and geometric configurations. The curved inlet segments have quite pronounced effects on air-flow, particle motion and wall deposition in the downstream bifurcating airways. In contrast to straight double bifurcations, those with bent parent tubes also exhibit irregular variations in particle deposition efficiencies as a function of Stokes number and Reynolds number. There are fewer particles deposited at mildly curved inlet segments, but the particle deposition efficiencies at the downstream sequential bifurcations vary much when compared to those with straight inlets. Under certain flow conditions in sharply curved lung airways, relatively high, localized particle depositions may take place. The findings provide necessary information for toxicologic or therapeutic impact assessments and for global lung dosimetry models of inhaled particulate matter.
Selecton 2007: advanced models for detecting positive and purifying selection using a Bayesian inference approach

Biologically significant sites in a protein may be identified by contrasting the rates of synonymous (Ks) and non-synonymous (Ka) substitutions. This enables the inference of site-specific positive Darwinian selection and purifying selection. We present here Selecton version 2.2 (http://selecton. bioinfo.tau.ac.il), a web server which automatically calculates the ratio between Ka and Ks (u) at each site of the protein. This ratio is graphically displayed on each site using a color-coding scheme, indicating either positive selection, purifying selection or lack of selection. Selecton implements an assembly of different evolutionary models, which allow for statistical testing of the hypothesis that a protein has undergone positive selection. Specifically, the recently developed mechanisticempirical model is introduced, which takes into account the physicochemical properties of amino acids. Advanced options were introduced to allow maximal fine tuning of the server to the user’s specific needs, including calculation of statistical support of the u values, an advanced graphic display of the protein’s 3-dimensional structure, use of different genetic codes and inputting of a pre-built phylogenetic tree. Selecton version 2.2 is an effective, user-friendly and freely available web server which implements up-to-date methods for computing site-specific selection forces, and the visualization of these forces on the protein’s sequence and structure.
Time variations of solar UV irradiance as measured by the Solstice (UARS) instrument

An analysis is presented of solar ultraviolet irradiance measurements made by the SOLSTICE spectrometers on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Reported observations cover the wavelength interval 119-420 nm, and the analysis discussed here is for the time period 26 Nov 1991 to 31 Dec 1992, during which time solar activity decreased in intensity. At the time of peak activity, the average 27-day variation had a relative amplitude of about 8 percent at Ly-alpha, tailing off to about 0.6 percent at 260 nm. It is shown that over the spectral interval 119-260 nm, the relative 27-day harmonic was about a factor of two larger during the strongly disturbed as compared with the moderately disturbed period.
Sustaining manufacturing assets through smarter utilization of information and communication technologies

Over the past few years, enterprise asset management (EAM) has emerged as an important activity in industry. It is strongly supported by EAM software and other communication systems that ease the tasks of maintenance, repair, operations and overhaul of physical assets after these assets have been purchased and installed in an enterprise. This paper outlines how manufacturing assets can be sustained through smarter utilization of such information and communications technologies. Utilizing these technologies has a direct impact on the financial performance of a firm by reducing waste and cost; it also leads to environmentallyfriendly manufacturing infrastructure and practices.
Theoretical evaluation and experimental investigation of microencapsulated phase change materials (MPCM) in electronics cooling applications

In many liquid-cooled applications, the bulk temperature of the coolant, rather than the surface heat flux, limits the amount of cooling achieved. In such applications, the coolant flow path is often characterized by significant pressure losses, thus limiting the overall mass flow rate within the system. As a remedy, the idea of increasing the heat capacity of the cooling fluid by adding microencapsulated phase change material (MPCM) to the fluid has been lately explored. Firstly, this increase in the heat capacity comes at the cost of higher pressure-drop due to the increased viscosity of the slurry. Thus, the benefit of adding MPCMs to the coolant can only be realized if the increase in the latent heat capacity due to these materials is substantially more than the heat capacity lost due to the reduction in the mass flow rate. Secondly, it is expected that the conduction of heat through the plastic encapsulate from the coolant to the MPCM might tend to be a limiting factor at high flow rates. As a result, the latent capacity might get under-utilized at higher flow rates if the MPCMs do not completely fuse while the coolant undergoes heat absorption in the system to be cooled. In the present work, a theoretical performance metric is developed to assess the benefit margins obtainable with the use of MPCM slurries. The theoretical predictions on the effective specific heat of the slurry have been assessed against experimental measurements. The figures of merit proposed in this paper serve as design guidelines for liquid-cooled applications employing MPCM slurries.
The new worlds observer: The astrophysics strategic mission concept study

We present some results of the Astrophysics Strategic Mission Concept Study for the New Worlds Observer (NWO). We show that the use of starshades is the most effective and affordable path to mapping and understanding our neighboring planetary systems, to opening the search for life outside our solar system, while serving the needs of the greater astronomy community. A starshade-based mission can be implemented immediately with a near term program of technology demonstration.
THE ULTIMATE CAUSES OF PHENOTYPIC INTEGRATION: LOST IN TRANSLATION1

Since Darwin's time we have come to recognize two major proximate causes of genetic correlation within populations (pleiotropy and linkage disequilibrium). Today's challenge, taken up by Phenotypic Integration, is to understand the ultimate causes of phenotypic and genetic correlation. A major advance on this front was made by Olson and Miller (1958) who proposed that phenotypic correlations between morphological structures may often reflect functional interactions. Olson and Miller' s insight reverberates today as the first clear proposal for an ultimate cause of correlation. Olson and Miller coined the term morphological integration to describe character correlations that are shaped by selection. The first genetic model of morphological integration was constructed by Lande (1980). Lande was unable to derive a general expression for how genetic correlations evolve from generation to generation. Nevertheless, he was able to characterize the additive genetic variance-covariance matrix (G-matrix) at equilibrium as it pulsates and wobbles under the opposing forces of mutation, recombination, and selection. Among other things, the resulting expression identifies correlational selection (selection that directly changes the covariance between two traits) as the major selective force shaping the evolution of genetic correlation and hence morphological integration. In an important early implementation of Lande's (1980) results, Cheverud (1982) showed how morphological integration could be pursued in a quantitative genetic framework. For many years, Cheverud and his colleagues seemed to be the only modern champions of morphological integration. Thus, Pigliucci and Preston's book, Phenotypic Integration, brings welcome attention to empirical laws of correlation that remain, in many ways, mysterious. Phenotypic Integration brings together contributions from empiricists and theoreticians, botanists and zoologists, and carries a strong multivariate theme throughout its 19 chapters. The term phenotypic integration is a welcome broadening of morphological integration to include behavior and other kinds of nonmorphological traits. Does this volume introduce a new theory of phenotypic integration? Not only is the answer "No!", in several chapters this volume steps backward more than two decades, as the authors create new conceptual muddles and needlessly fret over issues that have long enjoyed
Black hawk down?: Establishing helicopter parenting as a distinct construct from other forms of parental control during emerging adulthood

The purpose of the current study was to establish a measure of helicopter parenting that was distinct from other forms of parental control, and to examine parental and behavioral correlates of helicopter parenting. Participants included 438 undergraduate students from four universities in the United States (M(age) = 19.65, SD = 2.00, range = 18-29; 320 women, 118 men), and at least one of their parents. Analyses revealed that helicopter parenting loaded on a separate factor from both behavioral and psychological control, and that helicopter parenting was positively associated with behavioral and psychological control, but not at levels suggesting complete overlap. Results also revealed that helicopter parenting was positively associated with parental involvement and with other positive aspects of the parent-child relationship; but negatively associated with parental autonomy granting and school engagement. Discussion focuses on the implications of helicopter parenting for healthy development during emerging adulthood.
Atmospheric Processes Associated with Summer Floods and Droughts in the Central United States

Abstract Persistent wet and dry events over the central United States are examined during summer. Composites based on selected persistent wet and dry events reveal common atmospheric processes and circulation features. During summer, heavy precipitation in the central United States is accompanied by less precipitation to the south, in a band that extends from the tropical eastern Pacific through the Gulf of Mexico into the western Atlantic. Dry conditions also occur along the western coasts of Canada and Mexico during persistent wet episodes in the central United States. This rainfall pattern is supported by an inverse temperature–rainfall relationship over North America. During dry events, high pressure extends throughout a vertical column in a pattern that covers North America from 30° to 60°N. In contrast, during wet events, the high pressure is confined to the eastern half of North America, with low pressure prevailing in the western half. Increased northward meridional winds are found between this cy...
CD8+ T cell responses in metastatic melanoma patients receiving an adenovirally antigen engineered dendritic cell vaccine +/- IFN-α.

Dendritic cells (DC), the primary antigen presenting cells and stimulators of naive immune cells, are uniquely positioned to promote anti-tumor immunity. We developed a DC vaccine which expresses three full length melanoma antigens tyrosinase, MART-1, and MAGE-A6 engineered with an Ad type 5 adenovirus “AdVTMM2” which can activate CD8+ and CD4+ T cells as well as natural killer (NK) cells. A clinical trial testing this vaccine as well as the potential effects of IFN-α administration post-vaccination has enrolled 36 patients to date (NCT01366144). Peripheral blood banked at baseline, post-DC vaccination, and after either observation or one month of high dose IFN-α was tested for anti-tumor immunity. Here, we present initial immune response testing of the 12 HLA-A2+ patients who were able to be assessed for circulating CD8+ T cell frequencies by HLA-A2-peptide dextramers. Patient PBMCs were analyzed by MHC dextramer binding assay to determine 1) the frequency of CD8+ cells specific to vaccine encoded antigens in the subset of HLA-A2+ patients and 2) potential determinant spreading to antigens not in the vaccine, 3) frequency and co-expression of the checkpoint inhibitor molecules CTLA-4, PD-1, and TIM-3 on CD8+ T cells, and 4) to characterize three NK cell subpopulations. On the CD8+ T cells, PD-1 was the checkpoint molecule most commonly expressed, while CTLA-4 was minimally expressed. TIM-3 was the checkpoint molecule most commonly expressed on all three subpopulations of NK cells. We observed that most patients developed vaccine-encoded antigen-specific responses, and a subset demonstrated determinant spreading to non-vaccine encoded antigens gp100 and/or NY-ESO-1. Expression of checkpoint molecules changed on both T and NK cells through the treatment periods, and the function (by IFNγ ELISPOT) was also assessed. This study will aid in the design of more effective dendritic cell vaccines and adjuvants for metastatic melanoma patients.
Evidence and Argumentation in Educational Research

Researchers have generally stood in a ‘trust me’ relation, in between their readers and the information they analyze. (‘Information’ here can mean quantitative or qualitative data, textual information, multimedia resources, and so on – the bases of analysis or interpretation that underlie the knowledge claims made by the research itself.) While researchers might be quite explicit about their methods of data collection and analysis, the typical situation is that the only ‘raw’ data the reader sees are those samples or summaries the author chooses to use to illustrate particular claims – and this process is by definition selective. This selectivity even pertains to results or quotations cited from other research; we assume that they represent the other work accurately, but unless we are familiar with it ourselves we can never be sure. Such selectivity is not the only area in which the reader must implicitly trust the honesty and integrity of the researcher, but it is one of the most important because we must assume that the samples are representative and not simply chosen tendentiously to buttress specific conclusions.
Biomedical sensor packaging failures: Regulations are not design standards

Design of biomedical sensors and probes are limited by failure analysis tools that are unable to prediction product life, partially due to the absence of time-dependant materials property databases. “Design for reliability” lags “test for reliability,” thus less than optimal product designs reach the market. Regulatory agencies have identified several critical path design projects that could alleviate the situation. An argument is made that design standards are the province of Industry and an initiative for collaboration on pre-competitive material design data should be undertaken.
Evaluation of Triflate Displacement by Water in CH2Cl2 Solution: Comparison of trans-[Rh(CO)(PPh3)2(OSO2CF3)] and the Crystalline Salt trans-[Rh(CO)(PPh3)2(OH2)][OTf]

Although trans-[Rh(CO)(PPh3)2(OH2)][OSO2CF3] crystallizes from H2O-saturated CH2Cl2, trans-[Rh(CO)(PPh3)2(OSO2CF3)] is the only detectable complex in solution. The OSO2CF3- ligand is shown to be a ...