cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Initiation of rheumatoid arthritis treatments and the risk of serious infections

Objective. In clinical trials of RA patients on traditional DMARDs, the addition of TNF-a antagonists increased infections compared with addition of placebo. Our objective was to compare serious infections following initiation of different RA regimens. Prior comparative studies of DMARD initiation have yielded conflicting results. Methods. We estimated hospitalization rates for infections following initiation of TNF-a antagonists, other DMARDs and oral glucocorticoids in Tennessee Medicaid-enrolled RA patients (1995–2005). Exposure time was measured using pharmacy information and infections were identified using validated definitions. Initiation of RA regimens was compared using Cox regression models with MTX as the reference. Sensitivity analyses excluded glucocorticoid users, applied a first exposure carried forward approach, restricted observations to 2002–05 and first episodes of use and explored effects of unmeasured confounders. Results. We identified 28 906 new episodes of medication use, including TNF-a antagonists (8%), MTX alone (15%) and glucocorticoids alone (57%). Compared with MTX initiation, TNF-a antagonist initiation did not significantly increase the risk of hospitalizations for pneumonia [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.61; 95% CI 0.85, 3.03] or any infection (aHR 1.31; 95% CI 0.78, 2.19). Initiation of LEF, SSZ or HCQ did not increase serious infections, compared with MTX. Both initiation and concurrent glucocorticoid use were associated with a dose-dependent increase in serious infections. Sensitivity analyses showed consistent results. Conclusions. Compared with initiation of MTX alone, initiation of TNF-a antagonists was not associated with a large increase in the risk of serious infections. Glucocorticoid use was associated with a dosedependent increase in the risk of these infections.
SlrA/SinR/SlrR inhibits motility gene expression upstream of a hypersensitive and hysteretic switch at the level of σ(D) in Bacillus subtilis.

Exponentially growing Bacillus subtilis cultures are epigenetically differentiated into two subpopulations in which cells are either ON or OFF for σ(d) -dependent gene expression: a pattern suggestive of bistability. The gene encoding σ(D) , sigD, is part of the 31-gene fla/che operon where its location at the 3' end, 25 kb away from the strong P(fla/che) promoter, determines its expression level relative to a threshold. Here we show that addition of a single extra copy of the slrA gene in the chromosome inhibited σ(d) -dependent gene expression. SlrA together with SinR and SlrR reduced sigD transcript by potentiating a distance-dependent decrease in fla/che operon transcript abundance that was not mediated by changes in expression from the P(fla/che) promoter. Consistent with acting upstream of σ(D) , SlrA/SinR/SlrR was bypassed by artificial ectopic expression of sigD and hysteretically maintained for 20 generations by engaging the sigD gene at the native locus. SlrA/SinR/SlrR was also bypassed by increasing fla/che transcription and resulted in a hypersensitive output in flagellin expression. Thus, flagellin gene expression demonstrated hypersensitivity and hysteresis and we conclude that σ(d) -dependent gene expression is bistable.
Determination of the Consensus Binding Site for MEF2 Expressed in Muscle and Brain Reveals Tissue-specific Sequence Constraints

The myocyte-specific enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) proteins are expressed in the three major types of muscle (skeletal, cardiac, and smooth) and function as transcriptional activators of muscle-specific and growth factor-regulated genes through binding to a canonical A/T-rich cis-element. Although MEF2 proteins are also expressed in brain, MEF2-regulated muscle-specific gene products are not detected in this tissue. To gain insight into the regulation of MEF2 function in vivo, we have selected its optimal DNA targets from a library of degenerate oligonucleotides using anti-MEF2A antibodies and cell extracts from skeletal muscle, heart, and brain. The consensus binding site in these three tissues contains an indistinguishable core motif, 5′-CT(A/t)(a/t)AAATAG-3′. However, the optimal target for MEF2 expressed in the brain shows additional sequence constraints (5′-TGTTACT(A/t)(a/t)AAATAGA(A/t)-3′) that are not observed in the sequences selected with skeletal and cardiac muscle extracts. Thus, differences in DNA binding preferences of MEF2 proteins in muscle and brain may contribute to tissue-specific gene expression during myogenesis and neurogenesis.
Tomographic Reconstruction from Fan Beam Geometry Using Radon's Integration Method

Tomographic scanners of the parallel beam and fan beam type have differences in the direction of sweep, r vs. ? respectively. This leads to different options in the "fill" of the sampling space, which may be important in accurate reconstruction. These differences are denoted in reference to the Radon integrational method of reconstruction. An algorithm using source angle gating of data from a fan beam scanner is given with a reconstruction from a simulation phantom scan which used discrete source and detector apertures with rotation smearing.
Mechanisms and Mechanics Governing the Indentation of Polycrystalline Alumina

A constitutive model for the inelastic deformation of polycrystalline alumina that accounts for both microcrack growth and plastic slip is implemented into a commercial finite element code. To establish its applicability, the code is used to simulate the deformation that occurs upon spherical and conical indentation. Inelastic zones and indentation pressures are predicted over a range of grain size and compared with measurements. The model replicates the mechanism transition from plasticity control at small grain sizes to micro-crack-control at large grain sizes. It also predicts an extensive micro-crack-dominated inelastic zone at large grain size that reduces the indentation pressures.
IKAP expression levels modulate disease severity in a mouse model of familial dysautonomia

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies (HSANs) encompass a group of genetically inherited disorders characterized by sensory and autonomic dysfunctions. Familial dysautonomia (FD), also known as HSAN type III, is an autosomal recessive disorder that affects 1/3600 live births in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. The disease is caused by abnormal development and progressive degeneration of the sensory and autonomic nervous systems and is inevitably fatal, with only 50% of patients reaching the age of 40. FD is caused by a mutation in intron 20 of the Ikbkap gene that results in severe reduction in the expression of its encoded protein, inhibitor of kappaB kinase complex-associated protein (IKAP). Although the mutation that causes FD was identified in 2001, so far there is no appropriate animal model that recapitulates the disorder. Here, we report the generation and characterization of the first mouse models for FD that recapitulate the molecular and pathological features of the disease. Important for therapeutic interventions is also our finding that a slight increase in IKAP levels is enough to ameliorate the phenotype and increase the life span. Understanding the mechanisms underlying FD will provide insights for potential new therapeutic interventions not only for FD, but also for other peripheral neuropathies.
Advances in quantitative magnetic resonance imaging-based biomarkers for Alzheimer disease

A critical goal of Alzheimer disease research is to identify disease biomarkers that can be used in clinical trials to assist in the adjudication of treatment effects. While clinical validation remains a goal for many potential Alzheimer disease biomarkers, the rapid proliferation of markers has sparked comparative efforts as well. New data acquisition methods and sophisticated image-processing algorithms are poised to make a substantial impact on our ability to make precise measurements of the structure and function of regions within the living human brain and their connections and chemical composition. This commentary provides a perspective on a recently published paper and how it illustrates progress and challenges in the field.
A robust novel 4G contention-resolution protocol guaranteeing high QoS and capacity in CBR communications networks by maximal sequential partitioning to significantly resolve contention mini-slot collisions

A novel CBR CR protocol (with fundamental theories and postulates for this protocol) based on the previously proposed user-group-division method is presented here. The CR protocol is used with a divided CBR network MAC protocol that initially divides the network into groups of users, and then continuously re-distributes and regroups the data slot (ds) and contention mini-slot (cms) resources depending on the feedback received on the collision and resource (bandwidth) conditions of the network during the previous round-trip time (rtt). Subsequently, the CR protocol sequentially partitions each active group/subgroup of contending users by assigning two or more cms to each of them. The acceptable size and candidates for each partition is determined by the feedback received on the status(es) of the cms used for the corresponding region in the previous rtt. The protocol can be executed on the mobile stations (ms) or cable modems (cm) from the Base Station (BS) or Head-End (HE) without additional hardware. The advanced network simulator (ANS-1) written in MATLAB using my novel abstractions and novel Nasrin traffic generation and distribution model are used to evaluate the protocol in a flexible and reliable network simulation environment. The results show high (fair) utilization of the required cms and ds bandwidth with a record reduction in both cumulative and repetitive collisions (max. 4 rtt and avg. 2 rtt access delay, 90% cumulative and 80% repetitive cms collision reduction, 90% cms and 100% data bandwidth utilization, and 25% increase in high-data-rate and time-sensitive applications). Thus, the CR protocol guarantees high QoS and capacity by sequentially detecting and managing the contenders so that the ds and cms resource requirements and contentions can be quickly and efficiently predicted and administered by the network.
Trajectory analysis of deep‐bed filtration with the sphere‐in‐cell porous media model

This paper presents a model for the initial particle deposition in a deepbed filter with a sphere-in-cell porous media model used. The analysis includes all the relevant mechanisms, and the results indicate that deposition occurs under favorable surface interactions. A semiempirical expression relating collection efficiency and operating parameters is presented.
Challenging White Privilege In Adult Education: A Critical Review Of The Literature

The article synthesizes and critiques the social science, education, and adult education literature related to the examination of Whiteness and White privilege and offers recommendations for the field of adult education. By examining the historically changing nature of Whiteness, the major themes in this literature are discussed, along with the relevance of these themes for adult education research and practice. In reviewing the current efforts to name and challenge White privilege, the article provides recommendations for moving beyond naming and critiquing White privilege and racism in the field of adult education to challenging and transforming their impact.
THE EFFECT OF PREY DEFENSE ON THE FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE OF PODISUS MODESTUS (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) TO DENSITIES OF THE SAWFLIES NEODIPRION SWAINEI AND N . PRATTI BANKSIANAE (HYMENOPTERA: NEODIPRIONIDAE)

Experiments were carried out to determine the functional response of Podisus modestus (Dallas) to densities of two colonial species of jack pine sawfly, Neodiprion swainei (Middleton) and N. pratti banksianae (Rohwer). Two types of functional response curve were exhibited by the pentatomids, a domed response curve and a negatively accelerated curve.The domed response was caused by the more effective defense reactions of the sawfly larvae at higher densities.An equation is proposed for the domed response curve. The implications of the domed functional response are discussed in relation to the social behavior of these sawflies.
Cross-Border Rent Shifting in International Telecommunications

While scholars have questioned the merits of strategic trade policy, such policies have played a major role in international telecommunications. Countries have traditionally linked bilaterally their termination prices for international telephone calls. I show that this linkage can be rationalized as a mutually beneficial constraint on rent seeking. Linkage becomes more challenging to maintain with telecommunications liberalization, competition, and the growth of alternatives for terminating traffic. I consider possible policy approaches to such developments. Overall, this case study suggests that constraining cross-border rent shifting will present a major transitional challenge in international efforts to liberalize services.
Muscular and Postural Components of Foot Force during Quasi-Static Extension Efforts

The forces acting within and upon a limb are derived from three sources: postural (gravitational), inertial, and muscular. A method for decomposition has been established for free limb movements (Hoy & Zernicke, 1986); however, that method does not apply to kinematically constrained tasks whereby the limb exerts force on the environment. Presented here is a method for calculating the muscular and postural components for a quasi-static limb during a kinematically constrained task. It is a modified form of the inverse dynamic method reported by Kautz and Hull (1993) combined with the technique of Gruben and Lopez-Ortiz (2000). This method stabilizes the limb against gravity with moments at each joint of the limb. Data from quasi-static lower limb extension efforts in one individual were analyzed to compare predictions of our method with those of the Kautz and Hull (1993) method. Differences in the postural component of foot force between the two methods increased with knee extension. The novelty of the meth...
Hormonal variations in the vascularity of breast tissue.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are sonographically detectable variations in breast glandularity and vascularity due to hormonal changes during the course of a normal menstrual cycle. Methods. Gray scale and color and power Doppler sonographic evaluations were performed on 7 premenopausal patients over the course of 1 menstrual cycle. Progesterone and estradiol levels were measured from saliva collected from the patients. Vascularity was measured by mean color level, area covered by color pixels, and color-weighted fractional area. Results. Of the 5 volunteers not taking oral contraceptives, 4 had peaks in vascularity correlating with midcycle peak hormonal levels (50%‐320% from baseline) on power Doppler sonography. On color Doppler sonography, 3 of 5 patients also had peaks in vascularity (60%‐190% from baseline). The 2 patients taking oral contraceptives did not have any peaks in vascularity. Conclusions. Vascularity changes in normal breast tissue that correlated with peak hormonal levels were detected in most of the volun
Measurement of endothelial permeability.

Endothelial permeability is now well characterized as a closely regulated process of reversible structural modification which controls passage of a wide range of circulating elements. The variety of experimental methodologies presented in this review mirrors the complexity of this essential function. These recent advances in experimental technique have already greatly contributed to our understanding of basic pathophysiological processes such as sepsis, atherosclerosis, and ischemia/reperfusion injury. In the future, such methodologies will doubtless illuminate other important clinical problems such as the mechanisms of metastasis, immune deposition, and autoimmunity.
Effective Prostate Cancer Chemopreventive Intervention with Green Tea Polyphenols in the TRAMP Model Depends on the Stage of the Disease

Purpose: We have shown previously that oral feeding of green tea polyphenols (GTP) to transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate mice in a purely chemopreventive setting significantly inhibits prostate cancer development. To translate this to a human situation, the present study was designed to identify the stage of prostate cancer that is most vulnerable to chemopreventive intervention by GTP. Experimental Design: GTP infusion (0.1% in drinking water) to transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate was initiated at ages representing different stage of the disease: (a) 6 weeks (group 1, normal prostate), (b) 12 weeks (group 2, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia), (c) 18 weeks (group 3, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma), and (b) 28 weeks (group 4, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma). At age 32 weeks, subsets of animals were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and prostate weight and for serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I/IGF binding protein-3 and IGF signaling. Results: Tumor-free survival was extended to 38 weeks (P < 0.001) in group 1, 31 weeks (P < 0.01) in group 2, and 24 weeks (P < 0.05) in group 3 compared with 19 weeks in water-fed controls. Median life expectancy was 68 weeks in group 1, 63 weeks in group 2, 56 weeks in group 3, and 51 weeks in group 4 compared with 42 weeks in the control mice. IGF-I and its downstream targets including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, pAkt, and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase were significantly inhibited only when intervention was initiated early when prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia lesions were common. Conclusions: Our studies indicate that chemopreventive potential of GTP decreases with advancing stage of the disease and underscore the need to design appropriate chemoprevention clinical trails.
USE OF QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (QI) METHODOLOGY TO DECREASE LENGTH OF STAY (LOS) FOR NEWBORNS WITH UNCOMPLICATED GASTROSCHISIS

Background Gastroschisis (G), an abdominal wall birth defect, can be repaired surgically, but recovery, feeding advancement, and subsequent hospitalization (LOS) can be prolonged. Objectives We aimed to decrease LOS of G patients from a baseline of 41 days (n=26 patients) to 34 days by December 2010 and sustain for 6 months. Methods In 2009, a QI team was established to reduce LOS. Subjects were newborns >34 weeks gestation with uncomplicated G. Model for Improvement and SPC methodology were used. Rational subgroup analysis (RSA) was used to assess impact of surgical approach and other factors on LOS. Subgroup medians were compared via ANOVA of log-transformed data. Results From June 2010 to August 2015, 100 subjects were evaluated. Special cause variation in LOS was not detected until July 2014. A new baseline of 27 days was established figure 1. RSA revealed a longer LOS for patients undergoing a silicon silo procedure in the operating room (OR) for gradual reduction of abdominal contents followed by a later secondary OR abdominal closure (n=27; LOS, 44.5 days; IQR, 33.5 days) compared to patients undergoing either a primary OR closure (n=48; LOS, 29 days; IQR, 14 days) or a bedside silo placed under local anesthesia followed by secondary OR closure (n=25; LOS, 30 days; IQR, 16 days). (p<0.001). (figure 2 and 3) Conclusions Standardized care and a change in surgical approach decreased LOS 34% in newborns with G. The causal relationship between LOS, multiple anesthesia and/or excessive bowel manipulation remain to be determined.[⇓][1][⇓][2][⇓][3] ![Figure 1][4] Figure 1 ![Figure 2][4] Figure 2 ![Figure 3][4] Figure 3 [1]: #F1 [2]: #F2 [3]: #F3 [4]: pending:yes
Quantitative Measures of Swallowing Deficits in Patients With Parkinson's Disease.

Objective:Dysphagia and associated aspiration pneumonia are commonly reported sequelae of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Previous studies of swallowing in patients with PD have described prolonged phary...
The Roles of Plant Secondary Chemicals in Wet Tropical Ecosystems

Structurally diverse so called “secondary compounds” probably play a multiplicity of roles in the survival of plants within ecosystems. The occurrence, diversity and concentration of some of these chemicals appear to be greater in tropical than temperate ecosystems, and in wet than dry ecosystems. This correlates with the assumption that herbivore and pathogen selection pressures are also greater in these ecosystems. Alkaloids, non-protein amino acids, terpenes and phenolic compounds have received the most attention in the relatively few ecological investigations of these chemicals in the wet tropics. Studies are discussed of the following: 1) floral fragrances as pollination attractants, 2) legume seed toxins against insects, 3) chemical variation on contrasting soil types relative to mammalian and insect herbivory, 4) chemical defense relative to successional status, 5) allelopathy, and 6) environmental constraints on production and variation of terpenoid resins in legumes, and the role of the variability in defense against insects and fungi. Future investigations, taking the perspective of plant physiological ecology, in which the costs of these chemicals in terms of the overall economy of the plant’s fitness are determined, would probably necessitate interdisciplinary collaboration due to the inherent complexity of wet tropical ecosystems.
Sociable Tabletop Companions at “Dinner Party”

This paper describes the challenges and processes of developing a sociable interface and presents the implementation of one sociable interface, Dinner Party, in which a participant interacts with virtual creatures while dining alone. This paper explains how mundane objects can be sociable interfaces that interact with humans on a psychological level.
A project-based curriculum for algorithm design and intractability centered on the traveling salesperson problem

This paper presents an award-winning, project-based curriculum for algorithm design that includes techniques for intractable problems. This curriculum is a sequence of laboratory projects comprising increasingly sophisticated solvers for a single intractable problem. The curriculum was designed for integration into existing, one-term, undergraduate courses on algorithm design without sacrificing traditional course content. The curriculum includes feasible approaches for tackling intractable problems, such as developing approximate or probabilistic algorithms. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is supporting the development and evaluation of multiple versions of the project-based curriculum, and also of tools to facilitate their adoption. This paper presents the version of the curriculum that is centered on the Traveling Salesperson Problem, including student learning outcomes, project descriptions, many recommended project sequences, and preliminary assessment results.
Abstract 4419: Effect of sphingosine kinase 1 inhibition in validated syngeneic mouse breast cancer metastasis model

INTRODUCTION: Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) is one of the two enzymes that generate sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which promotes cancer growth, migration and angiogenesis. S1P is also known to have important roles in immune responses. Therefore, we utilized syngeneic models which better recapitulate the involvement of the host immune response to examine the role of SphK1 in breast cancer progression in vivo. The aims of this study are i) to critically evaluate syngeneic models to determine which is most appropriate for metastatic breast cancer drug development, and ii) to investigate the effect of inhibition of SphK1 on cancer progression using that model. METHODS: One of the major challenges in preclinical cancer research is the identification of animal models that adequately mimic the human disease. Three commonly used syngeneic (implantation of 4T1-luc2 luciferase-tagged murine breast cancer cells into immune-competent mice) models were compared: cells implanted subcutaneously (Sq); cells implanted Orthotopically under direct vision with Surgery (OS); cells implanted Orthotopically with Percutaneous injection blindly into the area under a nipple (OP). Bioluminescence was used for macroscopic analysis, together with pathological analysis, and genome-wide microarrays for gene expression profiling, with confirmation by qPCR. An isozyme-specific inhibitor of SphK1 (SK1-I) was administered intraperitoneally. Tumor burden were quantified using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS 200). RESULTS: Orthotopic implantation under direct vision with Surgery produced significantly more consistent tumors with less variability, more rapid cancer progression and metastasis, faster mortality, and more relevant clinical endpoints than OP or Sq models. There were significant differences between the genetic profiles of the tumors from OS compared to Sq tumors. Three fourth of the differentially expressed genes between OS and Sq are relevant to cancer biology. Using this OS model, we found that SK1-I treatment decreased tumor burden significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the OS model, in place of more commonly used Sq model, may improve the efficiency of cancer drug development. Our results support the notion that SphK1 play a critical role in breast cancer progression and suggest that SK1-I is a promising candidate for breast cancer targeted therapy. This work was supported by Sumitomo Life Social Welfare Services Foundation grant to MN, NIH (K12HD055881) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure (KG090510) to KT, and NCI (R01CA61774) to SS. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4419. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4419
Algebraic approximation of sub-grid scales for the variational multiscale modeling of transport problems

Abstract Variational Multiscale (VMS) Finite Element Methods (FEMs) are robust for the development of general formulations for the solution of multiphysics and multiscale transport problems. To obtain a tractable and computationally efficient model, VMS methods often rely on a residual-based algebraic approximation of the sub-grid scales (small or unresolved features of the solution field not captured by the discretization) using a so-called intrinsic time scales matrix, which depends on the problem’s overall differential operator and represents the main model parameter. A novel technique for approximating the intrinsic time scales matrix for generic transport problems in a relatively inexpensive manner (e.g., does not rely on eigenvalue computations) is presented. The method is denoted Transport-Equivalent Scaling (TES) and is based on the monolithic casting of the transport problem as a system of transient–advective–diffusive–reactive (TADR) equations and a subsequent scaling of the coefficient matrices such to preserve each type of transport flux. An algebraic VMS formulation incorporating the TES method is complemented with a discontinuity-capturing (DC) approach and implemented within a FEM solver for the solution of TADR problems. The solution of the global discrete system is accomplished using a generalized-alpha time-stepper together with a globalized inexact Newton–Krylov nonlinear solver. The effectiveness of the TES formulation is verified with the simulation of benchmark incompressible, compressible, and magnetohydrodynamic flow problems. The results demonstrate that the TES method seamlessly handles incompressible–compressible flows in a unified manner (e.g., without assessing the compressibility of the flow). The convergence process using the TES approach and a more standard approximation for the intrinsic time scales, as well as the effect of the DC approach, are also investigated. Analysis of the intrinsic time scales for a one-dimensional incompressible flow model reveals the similitudes and differences between the TES formulation and other conventional methods.
The Authority-Influence Role of the Functional Specialist in Management

Management literature is just beginning to explore in depth the uncertain and amorphous relationships that exist in organizations among people who are not in a direct chain of command. Increasing s...
Analysis on public health emergencies in Nanjing city during 2006～2010

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristic of public health emergencies in Nanjing city,and to provide evidences for outlining prevention and control strategies.Methods: Descriptive epidemiology method was used to analyze the data of public health emergencies from National Public Health Emergency Reporting System during 2006~2010 in Nanjing.Results: Seventy four public health emergencies were reported in Nanjing city from 2006 to 2010.The major types of events were respiratory infectious diseases including chickenpox,mumps and influenza,and there were two peak seasons occurred in spring and in winter.It was shown that 82.43% of public health emergencies were found in school.Reporting time in an average was 12.9 days and lasting time in an average was 29 days.Conclusion: Respiratory contagion events were the major public health emergencies in Nanjing with delayed reporting and lasting for a long time,so it is difficult to prevent and control.Comprehensive prevention and control measures about strengthening the public health in schools and improving the monitoring and reporting system of public health emergencies should be emphasized.
The Bioluminescent Imaging of Spontaneously Occurring Tumors in Immunocompetent ODD-Luciferase Bearing Transgenic Mice

The imaging of spontaneously occurring tumors in mice poses many technical and logistical problems. Recently a mouse model was generated in which a chimeric protein consisting of HIF-1α oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODD) fused to luciferase was ubiquitously expressed in all tissues. Hypoxic stress leads to the accumulation of ODD-luciferase in the tissues of this mouse model which can be identified by noninvasive bioluminescence measurement. Crossing this transgenic mouse with tumorigenic mice yields solid tumors with hypoxic cores that may be successfully imaged and characterized using the technique described herein.
CCTV and Campus Crime Challenging a Technological “Fix”

Universities using closed circuit television (CCTV) systems often tout its deterrent role when justifying the use of this technology. Using a sample of 336 U.S. universities, we examine the relationship between CCTV and reported crime rates using Clery Act crime data to discern whether CCTV has a deterrent impact on campus crime, controlling for other variables. We find that CCTV appears to have little to no impact. Rather, crime rates are associated with location (suburban, urban, rural), institutional control (public, private), student population density, level of tuition and fees, student-body demographics (e.g., gender, race), and crime control practices other than CCTV (e.g., scheduled security patrols, student transportation/escort services). These relationships differ by type of crime (e.g., property vs. violent). Implications for policy and future research are discussed.
The human experience of ethics: a review of a decade of qualitative ethical decision‐making research

Qualitative studies are an important component of business ethics research. This large amount of research covers a wide array of factors and influences on ethical decision making published between 2004 and 2014. Following the methodology of past critical reviews, this work provides a synopsis of the diverse array of qualitative studies in ethical decision making within the business ethics literature. We highlight the distinct and investigative nature of qualitative research, synthesize and summarize findings, and suggest opportunities for future research. We conclude with a recommendation for developing qualitative studies in business ethics and a call for an increased openness when considering this valuable and underrepresented strategy of inquiry.
Interactions Between Nonionic Surfactant Monomers, Hydrophobic Organic Compounds and Soil

Nonionic surfactant at aqueous-phase concentrations less than the CMC can affect the distribution of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in soil/aqueous systems. Sub-CMC levels of nonionic surfactant can enhance the apparent aqueous-phase HOC solubility, increase the soil organic carbon content due to surfactant sorption, and modify the value of the HOC soil/aqueous distribution coefficient. Experimental data quantifying these effects are presented for several HOCs and nonionic surfactants. A method is proposed for predicting the distribution of HOC between soil and bulk solution with sub-CMC aqueous-phase concentrations of nonionic surfactant.
Electronic structures of β - and α -silicon nitride

The electronic energy bands of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}$ phases of silicon nitride have been calculated using a first-principles orthogonalized linear combination of atomic orbitals method. The potential is constructed from a superposition of atomic charge densities. The basis functions are the atomiclike wave functions contracted from the site-decomposed atomiclike potentials. For $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}{\mathrm{N}}_{4}$, detailed studies of augmenting the basis functions with Si $d$ orbitals and additional single Gaussian orbitals for both Si and N atoms, and for the pressurized structure are also performed. The valence bands are composed of mainly N orbitals and the conduction bands are dominated by Si orbitals. It is found that the inclusion of Si $d$ orbitals in the basis has little effect on the valence-band structures, but changes conduction bands substantially. The electronic structure of $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}{\mathrm{N}}_{4}$ under pressure up to 29.1 kbars has no appreciable difference from that of ordinary $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}{\mathrm{N}}_{4}$. Furthermore, the density of states of $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}{\mathrm{N}}_{4}$ is very similar to that of $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}{\mathrm{N}}_{4}$. All these indicate that the electronic structure of silicon nitride is completely determined by the local short-range atomic structures.
Fourier optics and computational imaging, by Kedar Khare

I can still vividly remember the moment when I learned that the far-field diffraction pattern of an optical imaging system is equivalent to the Fourier transform of the optical field at the object ...
Intimate standards: Medical knowledge and self-making in digital transgender groups:

Although recent scholarship focuses on the increasing significance of processes of standardization in contemporary social life, much less attention has been given to how standardization impacts int...
SELECTIVE CULTURE OF SPOILAGE AND INDICATOR ORGANISMS1,2

Methodology for detection and enumeration of microorganisms has involved an increasing awareness of the role of cellular injury on analytical microbiology. Injury has been shown to result from heat, freezing, chemicals, irradiation, and similar treatments. All of these treatments are commonly used in the processing and preservation of foods. Since injured microorganisms can recover and cause food spoilage or since injured pathogens can recover and become infective, the detection of injured pathogens or of injured index microorganisms is imperative in order to assure the safety of foods. The detection of injured microorganisms becomes more difficult with the use of selective media. Environmental conditions or added inhibitors which are used to allow only the development of the types being sought may exert unsuspected inhibition. This shortcoming in our methodology appears to occur in the use of selective media in quantitative determinations, as well as in enrichment media that are designed to promote the g...
Maternal Preeclampsia and Odds of Childhood Cancers in Offspring: A California Statewide Case-Control Study.

Background Preeclampsia is a major cause of adverse effects on fetal health. We examined associations between fetal exposure to preeclampsia and subsequent odds of childhood cancers. Methods We obtained childhood cancer cases (n = 13 669) diagnosed at 5 years old or younger between 1988 and 2012 from the California Cancer Registry and linked them to birth certificates. Controls (n = 271 383) were randomly selected from all California births and frequency matched to cases by birth year. We obtained data regarding preeclampsia during pregnancy, labour, and delivery from the medical worksheet of the electronic birth record. We used unconditional logistic regression models with stabilised inverse probability weights to estimate the effect of preeclampsia on each subtype of childhood cancer, taking into account potential confounding by pregnancy characteristics. Marginal structural models were fitted to assess the controlled direct effects of preeclampsia, independent of preterm delivery and NICU admission. Results Although a null association was observed for all cancer subtypes combined (odds ratio (OR) 1.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9, 1.2), preeclampsia was found to be associated with increased odds of two histological subtypes of germ cell tumours: seminomas (OR 8.6, 95% CI 1.9, 38.4) and teratoma (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.7, 5.4), but not yolk sac tumours in children. Odds remained elevated after adjusting for preterm delivery and NICU admission. Increases in odds were also observed for hepatoblastoma, however this association was attenuated in marginal structural models after accounting for NICU admission. Conclusions These findings suggest that maternal preeclampsia is associated with higher odds of some rare childhood cancers and may shed light on new aetiological factors for these cancers.
Maintaining the Integrity of Storage Sites

Maintaining the integrity of overlying caprock(s) and reservoir rock as well as the integrity of wellbores penetrating the caprock(s) and reservoir rock(s) is essential for long-term and safe storage of injected CO2. The presence of a normally pressured caprock and maintaining a reservoir pressure below 50% of lithostatic pressure appears to be a good strategy for maintaining the integrity of caprocks in engineered CO2 containment. Conservative approaches such as that the reservoir pressure does not exceed greatly the initial reservoir pore pressure and the CO2 injection pressure remains below the maximum sustainable overpressure can help in minimizing the risk of irreversible mechanical damages to the reservoir rocks. Periodic integrity (pressure testing) of the well, leak testing of wellbore seals (packers, wellhead, and Xmas Tree) as well as chemical analysis of any fluids sampled from well annuli can also assist in maintaining the well integrity.
A 1.5-Sided Matching Problem: The Cost-Efficient House Allocation Problem with Existing Tenants

In this paper, we consider a house allocation with existing tenants model in which each transaction is costly for the central authority, a housing office. We compare two widely studied mechanisms, deferred acceptance (DA) and top trading cycles (TTC), based on their costs for the housing offices. A mechanism in which more existing tenants are assigned to their current house is preferred for the housing offices due to the costs of moving. We show that although there is no dominance between the two mechanisms, DA has more desirable features in terms of the cost efficiency for the housing offices. Then we include the welfare of the housing office in the welfare analysis and redefine the Pareto efficiency notion. We show that every fair matching is Pareto efficient. Based on the extended Pareto efficiency definition, the DA mechanism is the unique Pareto efficient, fair, and strategy-proof mechanism.
The Sunshine Act and oncology: Lessons learned from urology

Abstract Introduction The Physician Payment Sunshine Act was enacted to increase the transparency of financial relationships between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry. These financial relationships are prevalent in the field of oncology, as they are in other fields of medicine. We explored the relationship between industry and urologists for compensations associated with the treatment of urologic malignancies. Methods The publicly available Open Payments database was obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. We performed a descriptive analysis of payments made to urologists for drugs associated with urologic malignancies. Results In total, 44,334 payments, summing to $ 4,638,856, were made to 5,666 urologists for drugs used to treat urologic cancers. The median payment per transaction was $14, and most (74.3%) were £ $20. Of the transactions, 39,368 (88.8%) were associated with drugs for prostate cancer, 3,475 (7.8%) for bladder cancer, and 1,491 (3.4%) for kidney cancer. Most payments were made the form of food or beverage (89%), equating to $826,667. Conclusions For urologists, industry payments associated with cancer treatment are prevalent. Treatments for prostate cancer are associated with the most financial relationships, followed by bladder cancer and kidney cancer. Payments are small in amount, and are commonly in the form of food or beverage.
Transaction Planning Using Rules on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments; Chapter 1, Introduction

This book is the publication of the 2011 Special Course given by the author at the Hague Academy of International Law. It is published here in the Hague Academy Pocketbook Series, making it available at a reasonable price for students, professors, and practitioners. The first chapter, which may be downloaded, describes the approach to the topic found in the book. While traditional discussions of private international law generally begin with a focus on the litigation context, this book looks at it from a transactions perspective, looking primarily at the contract drafting lessons resulting from those rules. Parties to cross-border contractual relationships (and their lawyers) must consider jurisdiction, applicable law, and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in structuring their transactions. Similarly, legislatures and courts should give careful consideration to transaction planning interests when creating and applying rules of private international law. The book begins with consideration of existing rules of jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments, using the United States and the European Union as examples of approaches to these two parts of the private international law trilogy. Throughout the discussion of these approaches, it considers the interests of private parties to cross-border transactions and the importance of private international law rules to the structuring of their relationships. That discussion leads logically to a comparison of some of the differences that define the U.S. and European systems of private international law, as well as to a discussion of state interests reflected in the choices that lead to those differences.
Prebiotic Oligosaccharides Potentiate Host Protective Responses against L. Monocytogenes Infection

Prebiotic oligosaccharides are used to modulate enteric pathogens and reduce pathogen shedding. The interactions with prebiotics that alter Listeria monocytogenes infection are not yet clearly delineated. L. monocytogenes cellular invasion requires a concerted manipulation of host epithelial cell membrane receptors to initiate internalization and infection often via receptor glycosylation. Bacterial interactions with host glycans are intimately involved in modulating cellular responses through signaling cascades at the membrane and in intracellular compartments. Characterizing the mechanisms underpinning these modulations is essential for predictive use of dietary prebiotics to diminish pathogen association. We demonstrated that human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) pretreatment of colonic epithelial cells (Caco-2) led to a 50% decrease in Listeria association, while Biomos pretreatment increased host association by 150%. L. monocytogenes-induced gene expression changes due to oligosaccharide pretreatment revealed global alterations in host signaling pathways that resulted in differential subcellular localization of L. monocytogenes during early infection. Ultimately, HMO pretreatment led to bacterial clearance in Caco-2 cells via induction of the unfolded protein response and eIF2 signaling, while Biomos pretreatment resulted in the induction of host autophagy and L. monocytogenes vacuolar escape earlier in the infection progression. This study demonstrates the capacity of prebiotic oligosaccharides to minimize infection through induction of host-intrinsic protective responses.
Unconditional or Conditional Logistic Regression Model for Age-Matched Case-Control Data?

Matching on demographic variables is commonly used in case-control studies to adjust for confounding at the design stage. There is a presumption that matched data need to be analyzed by matched methods. Conditional logistic regression has become a standard for matched case-control data to tackle the sparse data problem. The sparse data problem, however, may not be a concern for loose-matching data when the matching between cases and controls is not unique and one case can be matched to other controls without substantially changing the association. Data matched on a few demographic variables are clearly loose matching data and we hypothesize that unconditional logistic regression is a proper method to perform. To address the hypothesis, we compare unconditional and conditional logistic regression models by precision in estimates and hypothesis testing using simulated matched case-control data. Our results support our hypothesis; however, the unconditional model is not as robust as the conditional model to the matching distortion that the matching process not only makes cases and controls similar for matching variables but also for the exposure status. When the study design involves other complex features or the computational burden is high, matching in loose-matching data can be ignored for negligible loss in testing and estimation if the distributions of matching variables are not extremely different between cases and controls.
Development of a new fine particle dry separator

Dry coal cleaning has generated renewed interest in scientific and coal mining communities alike due to water scarcity in many parts of the world and the numerous tailings ponds that have resulted from traditional wet coal preparation methods. Commercially available dry separation technologies such as air tables and air jigs are mostly effective in cleaning coarse coal with particle size larger than 6.35 mm. The smaller-than-6.35 mm fraction, which might be up to 20 to 40 percent of raw coal, is sent to the clean coal or tailings streams in a dry separation plant without any cleaning. The main objective of this study is to develop, design and fabricate a new density-based dry separator to effectively clean fine coal in the size range of smaller than 6.35 mm to larger than 1 mm. A difficult-to-clean coal sample with particle size smaller than 6.35 mm and flat-shaped shales as main rocks were used in this study. Using a laboratory-scale fluidization bed, the optimum air flow rate for fluidization of fine particles in air tables was found, which was much less than that for coarse coal. The perforations diameter and open area of the separating deck of the air table were also found to be critical for fine particle separation. These findings led to the development of a new air table named SIU Airtable for cleaning fine coal sized smaller than 6.35 mm and larger than 1 mm. The new air table has a unique air distribution and fluidization system for fine particles, along with adjustable vibration frequency and direction. It also has an optional extended section to lower the moisture content of high-moisture fine coal using part of the fluidization air. The experiments showed that an ash rejection of about 49 percent could be achieved with a combustible recovery of around 89 percent, indicating suitable separation. Furthermore, increasing ash rejection to 70 percent gives a combustible recovery of 72 percent, indicating that the separation performance of the new air table is close to the fine coal washability data.