cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tofacitinib attenuates pathologic immune pathways in patients with psoriasis: A randomized phase 2 study

Background Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor being investigated for psoriasis. Objective We sought to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the clinical efficacy of tofacitinib in patients with psoriasis. Methods Twelve patients with plaque psoriasis were randomized (3:1) to receive 10 mg of tofacitinib or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. Biopsy specimens were taken from nonlesional (baseline) and lesional (baseline, days 1 and 3, and weeks 1, 2, 4, and 12) skin. Biopsy specimens were examined for psoriatic epidermal features (thickness, Ki67 + keratinocytes and keratin 16 [KRT16] mRNA expression, and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription [pSTAT] + nuclei) and T-cell and dendritic cell (DC) subsets by using immunohistochemistry, and mRNA transcripts were quantified by using a microarray. Results In lesional skin keratinocyte pSTAT1 and pSTAT3 staining was increased at baseline but reduced after 1 day of tofacitinib (baseline, median of 1290 pSTAT1 + cells/μm 2 ; day 1, median of 332 pSTAT1 + cells/μm 2 ; and nonlesional, median of 155 pSTAT1 + cells/μm 2 ). Epidermal thickness and KRT16 mRNA expression were significantly and progressively reduced after days 1 and 3 of tofacitinib administration, respectively (eg, KRT16 decreased 2.74-fold, day 3 vs baseline, P = .016). Decreases in DC and T-cell numbers were observed after weeks 1 and 2, respectively. At week 4, significant decreases in IL-23/T H 17 pathways were observed that persisted through week 12. Improvements in clinical and histologic features were strongly associated with changes in expression of psoriasis-related genes and reduction in IL-17 gene expression. Conclusions Tofacitinib has a multitiered response in patients with psoriasis: (1) rapid attenuation of keratinocyte Janus kinase/STAT signaling; (2) removal of keratinocyte-induced cytokine signaling, leading to reductions in pathologic DC and T-cell numbers to nonlesional levels; and (3) inhibition of the IL-23/T H 17 pathway.
Plasma Luteinizing Hormone, Steroid Hormones, Behavioral Role, and Nest Stage in Cooperatively Breeding Harris' Hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus)

We measured plasma levels of testosterone (T), estradiol 17fl (E), corticosterone, and luteinizing hormone (LH) in adult breeders, adult-plumaged helpers, and juvenal-plum- aged helpers of the cooperatively breeding Harris' Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) in southeastern Arizona. In the males, both adult breeders and most adult-plumaged helpers had elevated T and LH during February and March, when nest building occurs, whereas most juvenal- plumaged helpers showed no change in LH, T, or E throughout the year. Thus adult-plumaged helpers, usually not related to the breeders, are hormonally ready to breed in the spring. We suggest that these helpers attain breeding readiness because potential benefits they can derive from either occasional successful copulations or possible attainment of the breeding position make reproductive readiness advantageous. In contrast, most juvenal-plumaged helpers are aiding their own parents on their natal territory and are not hormonally ready to breed, and thus they physiologically avoid the potential for inbreeding. An exception to this was a juvenal-plumaged male helper with elevated testosterone levels who was not helping his parents. The female breeders we examined had elevated T, LH, and E during the nest-building period, whereas the helpers (both adult- and juvenal-plumaged) not show elevations at any time of the year. During the early part of the nesting cycle, the adult-plumaged female helpers weighed significantly less (ca. 10%) than the breeders. It is possible that poor body condition, subordinate status to the breeding females, or both were related to their lack of breeding readiness. In all birds, corticosterone levels increased with handling time, and were higher during the nesting periods than during non-nesting periods, but showed no consistent relation with helper or breeder status. As in other species that are relatively social, maintain long-term pair bonds, or are tropical in distribution, plasma concentrations of LH and sex steroids in Harris' Hawks, even when elevated, were relatively low. Received 10 May 1990, accepted 13 January 1991.
Oxidation of Zircaloy-4 during in situ proton irradiation and corrosion in PWR primary water

The kinetics and morphology of oxides formed during in situ proton irradiation–corrosion experiment were analyzed. Experiments were conducted in 320 °C water with 3 wt ppm H2, while irradiated by a 3.2-MeV proton beam at a current density of 2 µA/cm2 producing a damage rate at 4.4 × 10−7 dpa/s. The resulting oxide was compared with reference samples corroded in an autoclave, and literature data found on in-reactor formed oxide. The corrosion rate of the sample irradiated in situ was 10 times faster than the in-pile corrosion rate. The cracked and porous irradiated oxide consisted of monoclinic equiaxed grains of zirconia with a preferential orientation of the oxide grains. Second phase particles (SPPs) consumed by the oxidation front were rapidly oxidized, but no SPPs were amorphized or dissolved in the metal matrix of the irradiated sample.
Gendered Injustice: Navajo Livestock Reduction in the New Deal Era

Navajo livestock reduction illuminates the gendered politics of conservation and the crucial contribution of women in resisting environmental injustice. In developing programs to halt soil erosion on the Navajo Reservation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Soil Conservation Service made matters worse, largely because they ignored the importance of women as livestock owners. Women's resistance helped bring an end to stock reduction and the conservation program.
MO-FG-BRC-03: Design and Construction of a Dielectiric Wall Accelerator

Experimental research in medical physics has expanded the limits of our knowledge and provided novel imaging and therapy technologies for patients around the world. However, experimental efforts are challenging due to constraints in funding, space, time and other forms of institutional support. In this joint ESTRO-AAPM symposium, four exciting experimental projects from four different countries are highlighted. Each project is focused on a different aspect of radiation therapy. From the USA, we will hear about a new linear accelerator concept for more compact and efficient therapy devices. From Canada, we will learn about novel linear accelerator target design and the implications for imaging and therapy. From France, we will discover a mature translational effort to incorporate theranostic nanoparticles in MR-guided radiation therapy. From Germany, we will find out about a novel in-treatment imaging modality for particle therapy. These examples of high impact, experimental medical physics research are representative of the diversity of such efforts that are on-going around the globe. J. Robar, Research is supported through collaboration with Varian Medical Systems and Brainlab AGD. Westerly, This work is supported by the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. COI: NONEK. Parodi, Part of the presented work is supported by the DFG (German Research Foundation) Cluster of Excellence MAP (Munich-Centre for Advanced Photonics) and has been carried out in collaboration with IBA.
Abstract 1751: Coffee and tea intake and risk of endometrial cancer in the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2)

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy in developed countries. Well-known risk factors for EC include obesity and elevated levels of estrogen and insulin. Coffee and tea are the most widely consumed beverages in the world, after water. Both are a complex mixture of chemicals with potential antimutagenic and antioxidant properties. Previous studies have reported an inverse association between coffee consumption and circulating levels of estrogen and C-peptide, a marker of insulin secretion, both involved in endometrial carcinogenesis. The presence of antioxidants and other chemopreventive compounds in coffee and tea may have an anticarcinogenic effect. Thus, coffee and tea drinking may decrease the risk of EC. Objective: To examine the association between coffee and tea intake and endometrial cancer risk. Patients and Methods: We combined individual-level data from 24 epidemiologic studies (10 Cohort studies, 14 Case-Control studies) from the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer (E2C2) Consortium and performed a pooled analysis of 11,424 endometrial cancer cases and 28,388 controls. Logistic regression models were used to calculate ORs and the corresponding 95% CI. All models were adjusted for potential confounders. Results and Conclusions: Increased coffee consumption was associated with a reduced risk of endometrial cancer: compared to non-coffee drinkers, the pooled OR for those who drank more than 1 cup of coffee per day was 0.79 (95%CI = 0.71-0.87, p = 5.48×10−6). The association is mainly observed in cohort studies and remains significant after adjusting for potential confounders. We found no association between tea consumption and endometrial cancer risk. Citation Format: Marta Crous-Bou, Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2), Immaculata De Vivo. Coffee and tea intake and risk of endometrial cancer in the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1751.
A Developmental Model of Interreligious Competence

This paper articulates a developmental model for how individuals relate to religious difference. We begin by reviewing scholarly work on multicultural competencies and initial research on religious...
Decomposition of methanol on Ru(001) studied using laser-induced thermal desorption

The decomposition of methanol on Ru(001) is studied as a model surface reaction system. Laser-induced thermal desorption (LITD) is used as a real-time probe of the surface reaction. The measurements yield a reaction activation barrier of 12 kcal/mole if a pre-exponential of 5 × 1011 s−1 is assumed, in the LITD experiment, the sample is prepared by saturating the Ru(001) surface at 100 K with methanol. The surface temperature is ramped linearly up to 400 K at 1.5 K/s.
Overview of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees

The National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) has transformed the majority of the Scientific Working Groups (SWGs) into the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). The OSAC...
Acute and Chronic Micro- and Macrovascular Lesions in Pancreas Transplants: Implications for the Diagnosis of T Cell-Mediated and Antibody-Mediated Allograft Rejection

T cell-mediated and antibody-mediated rejections are recognized as the main rejection pathways in pancreas transplantation. In comparison to other organs, rejection-related vascular lesions have not been described systematically yet. Tissue involvement in acute and chronic T cell-mediated and antibody-mediated rejections are very distinctive with respect to the epithelial components and the microvasculature, but have overlapping features regarding larger arterial branches. More specifically, the microvasculature (predominantly represented by the interacinar capillaries) which is targeted and potentially destroyed rapidly in acute antibody-mediated rejection is largely uninvolved in acute T cell-mediated rejection. In larger arteries, intimal arteritis and even arterial necrosis may be present in both types of rejection in the acute phase. Similarly in the chronic phase, both types of rejection can lead to transplant arteriopathy. Recognition of the distinctive, as well as common lesions is essential for accurate diagnosis. Future molecular studies will provide additional insight in mechanisms of vascular rejection in the pancreas.
Distributed air conditioning control in commercial buildings based on a physical-statistical approach

Abstract This paper presents a method to optimally control a commercial building air conditioning operation based on building thermal physics and human behavior. Control plans are developed for zone cooling and according to occupancy patterns at zone levels, and using a novel response model developed in this paper. The thermal response model is a statistical model, which is built on the basis of insights gained from physics-based model of zone thermal behavior. The control model attempts to optimize cooling system scheduling on the basis of occupancy patterns, price signal from utilities and human comfort and productivity. The optimization follows an on-demand routine, such that zone level air conditioning starts at a time epoch that is optimal according to zone thermal response and cooling requirements. We toss the term “pre-occupy” control. We also develop, what we call, “post-occupy” control, where the system shutdown follows thermal inertia and cooling requirements at the time that the zone is expected to become unoccupied. The thermal response modeling of a zone and the two control modes are considered major contributions of this article. EnergyPlus reference models are used to train our models and illustrative examples are presented.
The Diabetes Strengths and Resilience Measure for Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes (DSTAR-Teen): Validation of a New, Brief Self-Report Measure

Objective Despite the challenges of managing type 1 diabetes, many adolescents achieve optimal outcomes. A validated measure of diabetes-specific strengths is needed to measure adaptive behaviors and attitudes associated with overcoming challenges and achieving "resilient" outcomes. Methods Baseline data from 260 adolescents (age 14-18 years, M = 15.7 ± 1.1, 60% female, 33% Non-Caucasian, M A1c = 9.1 ± 1.9%) and caregivers in a behavioral intervention trial were analyzed to evaluate psychometric properties of the 12-item self-report Diabetes Strengths and Resilience measure for adolescents (DSTAR-Teen). Reliability and validity were examined in relation to measures of related constructs, regimen adherence, and glycemic outcomes, and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. Results Reliability was good (internal consistency: α = .89; item-total correlations: r range = .55-.78). Significant correlations demonstrated construct and criterion validity. A two-factor structure reflecting intrapersonal and interpersonal processes fit the data better than a one-factor solution. Conclusions The DSTAR-Teen has strong psychometric properties, captures adaptive aspects of adolescents' diabetes management (i.e., "strengths"), and is related to clinical outcomes.
Energy resolution experiments of conical organic scintillators and a comparison with Geant4 simulations

Abstract An increase in light-collection efficiency (LCE) improves the energy resolution of scintillator-based detection systems. An improvement in energy resolution can benefit detector performance, for example by lowering the measurement threshold and achieving greater accuracy in light-output calibration. This work shows that LCE can be increased by modifying the scintillator shape to reduce optical-photon reflections, thereby decreasing transmission and absorption likelihood at the reflector boundary. The energy resolution of four organic scintillators (EJ200) were compared: two cones and two right-circular cylinders, all with equal base diameter and height (50 mm). The sides of each shape had two surface conditions: one was polished and the other was ground. Each scintillator was coupled to the center of four photomultiplier tube (PMT) configurations of different diameters. The photocathode response of all PMTs was assessed as a function of position using a small cube (5 mm height) of EJ200. The worst configuration, a highly polished conical scintillator mated to a PMT of equal base diameter, produced a smeared energy spectrum . The cause of spectrum smearing is explored in detail. Results demonstrate that a ground cone had the greatest improvement in energy resolution over a ground cylinder by approximately 16.2% at 478 keVee, when using the largest diameter (127 mm) PMT. This result is attributed to the greater LCE of the cone, its ground surface, and the uniform photocathode response near center of the largest PMT. Optical-photon transport simulations in Geant4 of the cone and cylinder assuming a diffuse reflector and a uniform photocathode were compared to the best experimental configuration and agreed well. If a detector application requires excellent energy resolution above all other considerations, a ground cone on a large PMT is recommended over a cylinder.
Retrospective analysis of estrogen receptor 1 and N‑acetyltransferase gene expression in normal breast tissue, primary breast tumors, and established breast cancer cell lines

The expression levels of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), arylamine N‑acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1), and arylamine N‑acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) are implicated in breast cancer; however, their co-expression profiles in normal breast tissue, primary breast tumors and established breast cancer cell lines are undefined. NAT1 expression is widely reported to be associated with ESR1 expression and is frequently investigated in breast cancer etiology. Furthermore, the NAT2 phenotype has been reported to modify breast cancer risk in molecular epidemiological association studies. Understanding the relationships between the expression levels of these genes is essential to understand their role in breast cancer etiology and treatment. In the present study, NAT1, NAT2 and ESR1 expression data were accessed from repositories of RNA‑Seq data covering 57 breast cancer cell lines, 1,043 primary breast tumors and 99 normal breast tissues. The relationships between gene expression, and between NAT1 activity and RNA expression in breast cancer cell lines were evaluated using non-parametric statistical analyses. Differences in gene expression in each dataset, as well as gene expression differences in normal breast tissue compared to primary breast tumors, and stratification by estrogen receptor status were determined. NAT1 and NAT2 mRNA expression were detected in normal and primary breast tumor tissues; NAT1 expression was much higher than NAT2. NAT1 and ESR1 expression were strongly associated, whereas NAT2 and ESR1 expression were not. Although NAT1 and NAT2 expression were associated, the magnitude was moderate. NAT1, NAT2, and ESR1 expression were increased in primary breast tumor tissue compared with normal breast tissue; however, the magnitude and significance of the differences were lower for NAT2. Analysis of NAT1, NAT2, and ESR1 expression in normal and primary breast tissues and breast cancer cell lines suggested that NAT1 and NAT2 expression are regulated by distinctive mechanisms, whereas NAT1 and ESR1 expression may have overlapping regulation. Defining these relationships is important for future investigations into breast cancer prevention.
Estimates of state-level health-care expenditures associated with disability.

Objectives.We estimated state-level disability-associated health-care expenditures (DAHE) for the U.S. adult population.Methods.We used a two-part model to estimate DAHE for the noninstitutionalize...
Subsurface Soil Absorption Systems used in the United States

Methods of onsite wastewater treatment and disposal which utilize the soil for ultimate disposal of the liquid phase, must rely on the soil matrix to absorb and purify the wastewater. If the soil is not sufficiently permeable to absorb all the wastewater, surface seepage will occur, creating nuisances, public health hazards and surface water contamination. If the soil is too rapidly permeable or the unsaturated thickness of the soil is too thin, groundwater contamination will occur, leading to unsafe water supplies. Therefore, the soils must meet strict criteria if both absorption and purification are to be achieved.
Genomic analysis of an unknown pap genotype from uropathogenic Escherichia coli 4030 strain

Objective To investigate the differences between the sequences of papA and papG of UPECA030 strain and the related genes, to better understand the genetic variation of UPEC4030 papA and its combination forms with papG so as to identify if it was a new genotype. Methods Cloning and sequencing methods were used to analyze the sequences of papG and papA of UPEC4030 strain and to compare their related sequences. Results Through sequence analysis of papA, it was revealed that there was a 722 bp gene,encoding 192 amino acid polypeptide. The overall homology of the papa genes between UPEC4030 and the standard strains of ten F types were 36.11%-77.95 % and 22.20%-78.34% at nueleotide and deduced amino acid levels. Homology between the sequences of reverse primers and the corresponding sequence of UPEC4030 papA was 10.00%-66.67%. The results confirmed that UPECA030 strain contained a novel papA variant. Through sequence analysis of UPEC4030 papG, we revealed a 1100 bp gene, encoding 337 amino acid polypeptide. The homology of the papG genes between UPEC4030 and UPEC IA2, the standard strain, was 99.00 % at nucleotide level and 99.11% at deduced amino acid and UPEC4030 strain carried class I] genotype of papG. Conclusion UPEC4030 strain contained an unknown papA variant or the new genotype and carried class II genotype of papG. The pathogenic mechanism and epidemiology call for further study. Key words: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli ; Gene sequencing; Unkown genotype
Fellowship Training in Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia: History, Maturation, and Current Status

Pediatric cardiac anesthesia as a discipline has evolved over the years to become a well recognized sub-specialty. Education and training in the field has also continued to change and develop. In this review, the author outline the changes in the field over the years and suggest a structure for an organized fellowship training process.
Emergence of soil bacterial ecotypes along a climate gradient

The high diversity of soil bacteria is attributed to the spatial complexity of soil systems, where habitat heterogeneity promotes niche partitioning among bacterial taxa. This premise remains challenging to test, however, as it requires quantifying the traits of closely related soil bacteria and relating these traits to bacterial abundances and geographic distributions. Here, we sought to investigate whether the widespread soil taxon Curtobacterium consists of multiple coexisting ecotypes with differential geographic distributions. We isolated Curtobacterium strains from six sites along a climate gradient and assayed four functional traits that may contribute to niche partitioning in leaf litter, the top layer of soil. Our results revealed that cultured isolates separated into fine-scale genetic clusters that reflected distinct suites of phenotypic traits, denoting the existence of multiple ecotypes. We then quantified the distribution of Curtobacterium by analysing metagenomic data collected across the gradient over 18 months. Six abundant ecotypes were observed with differential abundances along the gradient, suggesting fine-scale niche partitioning. However, we could not clearly explain observed geographic distributions of ecotypes by relating their traits to environmental variables. Thus, while we can resolve soil bacterial ecotypes, the traits delineating their distinct niches in the environment remain unclear.
Characterization of Bile Acid homeostasis in Germ-free Mice

Gut bacteria metabolize primary bile acids (BAs) in bile, to form secondary BAs. Changes in gut bacteria will alter BA composition in the host. The purpose of this study was to characterize BA comp...
Malpractice Litigation Following Traumatic Fracture.

Background Poor clinical outcomes and adverse events following orthopaedic trauma are common, which may lead to litigation. To our knowledge, factors associated with litigation following fracture care have not previously been evaluated. Methods A retrospective review of fracture-related malpractice lawsuits from 1988 to 2015 was completed utilizing VerdictSearch (ALM Media Properties), a medicolegal database. Defendant and plaintiff characteristics along with fracture type, allegations, litigation outcomes, and the association of case characteristics with outcomes were analyzed. Results A total of 561 cases were evaluated; 360 cases were excluded, resulting in a total of 201 cases that were analyzed in detail. The mean age of the plaintiff was 43.1 years (standard deviation [SD],19.4 years). Twenty-four fracture types were represented among the analyzed cases. The most common fractures were of the radius (44), the femur (32), the tibia (30), the ulna (29), the humerus (26), the spine (24), the hip (17), and the fibula (15). Overall, 129 (64.2%) cases resulted in a defense verdict, 41 (20.4%) cases resulted in a plaintiff verdict, and 31 (15.4%) cases resulted in a settlement. For plaintiff verdicts, the mean indemnity payment was $3,778,657 (median, $753,057; range, $89,943 to $27,926,311). For settlements, the mean indemnity payment was $1,097,439 (median, $547,935; range, $103,541 to $9,445,113). The mean indemnity for plaintiff verdicts was significantly greater than the mean indemnity for settlements (p = 0.03). The presence of a neurological deficit was associated with a significantly greater likelihood of a favorable outcome for the plaintiff (52.8% for plaintiffs with neurological deficit versus 32.1% for plaintiffs without neurological deficit; p = 0.019). Conclusions This study examined malpractice litigation following traumatic orthopaedic injuries. In cases with decisions for the plaintiff, indemnity payments were on average more than $2.5 million larger than payments for settlements. In fracture cases with neurological deficit, malpractice cases were more likely to result in a favorable outcome for the plaintiff.
Automatic Content Analysis with Topic Modeling

This workshop provides guidance on how to conduct topic modeling studies for content analysis. Topic modeling is a highly popular and efficient artificial intelligence (AI) technique for extracting themes from large volumes of text data, and digital government scholars have shown great interest in adopting this technique for content analysis. However, there are serious barriers to adoption, which especially impact digital government scholars without strong computer science backgrounds. An articulation of best practice for overcoming the various technical difficulties involved in implementing these complex algorithms would be extremely helpful. Through hands-on activities, this session will provide best practices for training topic models, and further provide tools for visualizing the topic modeling results. We will be using R programming for this session. However, participants are not required to be proficient in R programming.
Quantitative Evaluation of the Structure of Neonatal Referral Networks in California

Purpose: Assessments of neonatal regionalization to date have relied on identification of hospital characteristics and the distances between them. Such an approach fails to take into account the overall linkage of hospitals in a coordinated system of communication, learning and response. In contrast, network analysis provides a set of analytic techniques that consider not only individual patients and hospitals, but can also quantify the relationships between them at the system level. The objective of the current study is to use quantitative network analysis to describe the pattern of neonatal transfers in the state of California, …
Deep Learning For Denoising Hi-C Chromosomal Contact Data

Abstract Motivation The three-dimensional (3D) organization of an organism’s genome and chromosomes plays a significant role in many biological processes. Currently, methods exist for modeling chromosomal 3D structure using contact matrices generated via chromosome conformation capture (3C) techniques such as Hi-C. However, the effectiveness of these methods is inherently bottlenecked by the quality of the Hi-C data, which may be corrupted by experimental noise. Consequently, it is valuable to develop methods for eliminating the impact of noise on the quality of reconstructed structures. Results We develop unsupervised and semi-supervised deep learning algorithms (i.e. deep convolutional autoencoders) to denoise Hi-C contact matrix data and improve the quality of chromosome structure predictions. When applied to noisy synthetic contact matrices of the yeast genome, our network demonstrates consistent improvement across metrics for contact matrix similarity including: Pearson Correlation, Spearman Correlation and Signal-to-Noise Ratio. Positive improvement across these metrics is seen consistently across a wide space of parameters to both gaussian and poisson noise functions. Contact mrh8x5@mail.missouri.edu and chengji@missouri.edu
OpenCeres: When Open Information Extraction Meets the Semi-Structured Web

Open Information Extraction (OpenIE), the problem of harvesting triples from natural language text whose predicate relations are not aligned to any pre-defined ontology, has been a popular subject of research for the last decade. However, this research has largely ignored the vast quantity of facts available in semi-structured webpages. In this paper, we define the problem of OpenIE from semi-structured websites to extract such facts, and present an approach for solving it. We also introduce a labeled evaluation dataset to motivate research in this area. Given a semi-structured website and a set of seed facts for some relations existing on its pages, we employ a semi-supervised label propagation technique to automatically create training data for the relations present on the site. We then use this training data to learn a classifier for relation extraction. Experimental results of this method on our new benchmark dataset obtained a precision of over 70%. A larger scale extraction experiment on 31 websites in the movie vertical resulted in the extraction of over 2 million triples.
Heart Transplantation After Ventricular Assist Device Therapy: Benefits, Risks, and Outcomes:

Heart transplantation is an established treatment for end-stage heart failure. Due to the increase in demand and persistent scarcity of organ, mechanical circulatory devices have played a major role in therapy for advanced heart failure. Usage of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has gone up from 6% in 2006 to 43% in 2013 as per the United Network of Organ Sharing database. Majority of patients presenting for a heart transplantation are often bridged with an assist device prior for management of heart failure while on wait-list. On one hand, it is well established that LVADs improve survival on wait-list; on the other hand, the effect of LVAD on morbidity and survival after a heart transplantation is still unclear. In this article, we review the available literature and attempt to infer the outcomes given the risks and benefits of heart transplantation with prior LVAD patients.
Delays in publishing systematic review registrations in PROSPERO are hindering transparency and may lead to research waste.

PROSPERO is an international prospective registry of systematic reviews.1 Registering a systematic review prospectively is considered a good research practice for multiple reasons, including transparency of the planned methods and prevention of unnecessary duplication of effort. Solla et al 2 recently reported concerns that PROSPERO registration may not prevent double review on the same topic because the PROSPERO search engine is apparently failing in finding similar review projects. Another pertinent current problem of PROSPERO may hinder intended transparency and promote research waste and duplication efforts, namely, major delays in checking and publishing registrations that the PROSPERO is experiencing.1 …
IoT Traffic Flow Identification using Locality Sensitive Hashes.

Systems get smarter with computing capabilities, especially in the form of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. IoT devices are often resource-limited as they are optimized for a certain task. Hence, they are prone to be compromised and have become a target of malicious activities. Since IoT devices lack computing power for security software, network administrators need to isolate such devices and limit traffic to the device based on their communication needs. To this end, network administrators need to identify IoT devices when they join a network and detect anomalous traffic when they are compromised. In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to identify the IoT device based on the Nilsimsa hash of its traffic flow. Different from previous studies, the proposed approach does not require feature extraction from the data. In our evaluations, our approach has an average precision and recall of 93% and 90%, respectively.
Estimated Veterans Health Administration costs for Alzheimer's disease treatment with aducanumab

The approval of aducanumab for the treatment of Alzheimer9s disease has been met with significant public concern. Projections of annual cost across United States Medicare beneficiaries are in the tens of billions of dollars. Here, we performed an electronic health record review of Veterans Affairs beneficiaries, identifying 151,921 individuals (1.7%) with diagnosis codes for Alzheimer9s disease. We estimate that treatment for this cohort will cost in excess of $4 billion annually with further expenditures for associated screening, consultations, imaging, and therapeutic monitoring. The magnitude of projected expenditures necessitates early assessment of drug cost effectiveness.
Machine learning assisted prediction of the Young's modulus of compositionally complex alloys.

We identify compositionally complex alloys (CCAs) that offer exceptional mechanical properties for elevated temperature applications by employing machine learning (ML) in conjunction with rapid synthesis and testing of alloys for validation to accelerate alloy design. The advantages of this approach are scalability, rapidity, and reasonably accurate predictions. ML tools were implemented to predict Young’s modulus of refractory-based CCAs by employing different ML models. Our results, in conjunction with experimental validation, suggest that average valence electron concentration, the difference in atomic radius, a geometrical parameter λ and melting temperature of the alloys are the key features that determine the Young’s modulus of CCAs and refractory-based CCAs. The Gradient Boosting model provided the best predictive capabilities (mean absolute error of 6.15 GPa) among the models studied. Our approach integrates high-quality validation data from experiments, literature data for training machine-learning models, and feature selection based on physical insights. It opens a new avenue to optimize the desired materials property for different engineering applications.
The role of maternal high fat diet on mouse pup metabolic endpoints following perinatal PFAS and PFAS mixture exposure.

Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of chemicals that are ubiquitous in the environment. Some of these chemicals, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are found in human sera and have been shown to cause liver steatosis and reduce postnatal survival and growth in rodents. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the impact of diet and PFAS exposure to mouse dam (mus musculus) on the risk to pup liver and metabolism endpoints later in life, as well as evaluate PFAS partitioning to pups. Timed-pregnant dams were fed a standard chow diet or 60 % kcal high fat diet (HFD). Dams were administered either vehicle, 1 mg/kg PFOA, 1 mg/kg PFOS, 1 mg/kg PFHxS, or a PFAS mixture (1 mg/kg of each PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS) daily via oral gavage from gestation day 1 until postnatal day (PND) 20. At PND 21, livers of dams and 2 pups of each sex were evaluated for lipid changes while remaining pups were weaned to the same diet as the dam for an additional 10 weeks. Dam and pup serum at PND 21 and PND 90 were also evaluated for PFAS concentration, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), leptin and adiponectin, and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c. Perinatal exposure to a HFD, as expected, increased pup body weight, maternal liver weight, pup liver triglycerides, pup serum ALT, and pup serum leptin. PFOA and the PFAS mixture increased liver weights, and. treatment with all three compounds increased liver triglycerides. The maternal HFD increased dam and pup serum PFAS levels, however, was protective against PFOA-induced increase in serum ALT and observed increases in liver triglycerides. The PFAS mixture had very distinct effects when compared to single compound treatment, suggesting some cumulative effects, particularly when evaluating PFAS transfer from dam to pup. This data highlights the importance of diet and mixtures when evaluating liver effect of PFAS and PFAS partitioning.
Research Implications of Electronic Filing of Nonprofit Information: Lessons from the United States’ Internal Revenue Service Form 990 Series

Increased electronic filing, or e-filing, of nonprofit data in the United States and abroad quickens public availability, eliminates dependence on third-party proprietary datasets, and broadens access to information offering insight into previously neglected topics. On the other hand, increasingly open data require researchers to independently ensure data quality, understand limitations, and consider how data availability shapes research questions. As electronic filing becomes mandatory in the United States and more widespread elsewhere, this research considers how expanded e-filer data impact nonprofit research approaches and opportunities while assessing the generalizability and limits of existing e-filed data in the United States. While the data suggest increasing compliance with e-filing, analyses show that older nonprofits with greater capacity and sophisticated financial characteristics are historically more likely to e-file. Further, particular subsectors are more likely to e-file than others. Therefore, using existing e-filed IRS Form 990s for panel data analysis presents some generalizability concerns, although this will improve over time. Moving forward, e-filing and machine-readable access requirements bode well for both quantitative and qualitative nonprofit research, while the United States’ experience provides helpful lessons for other research settings.
The role of adipocytokines in fetal growth

Cumulative evidence suggests that the origins of obesity may occur during fetal development. In this respect, the concept of "developmental programming" was introduced and supported by experimental and epidemiological data. This concept supports the idea that the nutritional and hormonal status during pregnancy could irreversibly interfere in metabolism control. The mechanisms responsible for this developmental programming remain poorly documented. However, recent research indicates that adipocytokines may play a critical role in this process. Thus, leptin, adiponectin, and the recently identified resistin, visfatin, and apelin, all exert effects on fat, muscle, and liver cells early in life. The aforementioned adipocytokines are secreted by adipocytes and human placenta during fetal life and may play a major role in the etiopathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. This review will focus on the intrauterine expression of adipocytokines, their contribution to the hormonal control of fetal growth, and their role in restricted and exaggerated intrauterine growth.
Pretransplant donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies as predictors of early allograft rejection in ABO-compatible liver transplantation.

The significance of preexisting donor-specific HLA antibodies (HLA-DSAs) for liver allograft function is unclear. Our previous studies have shown that humoral alloreactivity frequently accompanies acute cellular rejection (ACR). In the present study, we set out to determine whether pretransplant HLA-DSAs correlate with clinically significant ACR in the first 90 days after transplantation and, if so, to determine their predictive values. Class I HLA-DSAs and class II HLA-DSAs were determined by single-antigen bead flow cytometry for 113 consecutive adult transplants. A statistical analysis was performed for data from 109 consecutive patients with graft survival greater than or equal to 90 days. All patients who developed biochemical graft dysfunction underwent liver biopsy for hematoxylin-eosin and complement component 4d staining. Cox proportional hazards models and associated hazard ratios revealed a significant association of pretransplant HLA-DSAs with clinically significant ACR: this association started with a mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) as low as 300 for both class I (hazard ratio = 2.7, P < 0.01) and class II (hazard ratio = 6.0, P < 0.01). Pretransplant HLA-DSAs were associated with an increased risk of ACR: P < 0.01 for class I (42% versus 18%), P < 0.001 for class II (37% versus 7%), and P < 0.001 for either class I or II (36% versus 3%). Class I or II HLA-DSAs with an MFI ≥ 1000 had the best positive predictive value for clinically significant ACR at 46%, whereas class I or II HLA-DSAs with an MFI ≥ 300 had the best negative predictive value at 97.1%. Although our study was based on consecutive patients, it was limited by the relatively low number of single-center subjects. In conclusion, the present study indicates that pretransplant HLA-DSAs, even at low levels of allosensitization, correlate with the risk of clinically significant ACR. Our findings suggest that anti–human leukocyte antigen antibodies could serve as donor-specific markers of immunoreactivity to the liver graft. Liver Transpl 19:1132-1141, 2013. © 2013 AASLD.
Interference characteristics and success probability at the primary user in a cognitive radio network

We analyze a cognitive radio network where the primary users (PUs) and cognitive radio (CR) devices are distributed over the two-dimensional plane according to two independent homogeneous Poisson processes. Any CR that lies within the detection region of some PU switches to a different channel in order to prevent causing harmful interference at the PU. Using the concepts of stochastic geometry, we study the characteristics of the interference caused by the PUs and the CRs to a given PU. Further, these results are used to obtain tight upper and lower bounds for the success probability at the PU; defined as the probability that the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) is beyond a certain operating threshold.
Home parenteral nutrition for the short bowel syndrome. Psychological issues.

Abstract Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for the short bowel syndrome represents a treatment modality that raises issues about prolonged machine dependency for living. Psychological reactions are described for patients with inflammatory bowel disorders and anatomical loss of small bowel. Liaison psychiatry involvement with 50 patients in the HPN program has identified such problems as grief reactions, depression, organic brain syndromes, drug dependency, and body image changes as they influence the initial adjustment to the in-hospital phase of HPN learning for patient and family. The importance of family and mental status examination are emphasized in the evaluation of the patient before and during the institution of an HPN program. Outlined are psychological parameters that need to be considered when assessing what factors might impede or enhance the acquisition and use of HPN information.
A test for equality of multinomial distributions vs increasing convex order

Recently Liu and Wang derived the likelihood ratio test (LRT) statistic and its asymptotic distribution for testing equality of two multino- mial distributions vs. the alternative that the second distribution is larger in terms of increasing convex order (ICX). ICX is less restrictive than stochastic order and is a notion that has found applications in insurance and actuarial science. In this paper we propose a new test for ICX. The new test has sev- eral advantages over the LRT and over any test procedure that depends on asymptotic theory for implementation. The advantages include the following: (i) The test is exact (non-asymptotic). (ii) The test is performed by conditioning on marginal column totals (and row totals in a full multinomial model for a 2 × C table). (iii) The test has desirable monotonicity properties. That is, the test is monotone in all practical directions (to be formally defined). (iv) The test can be carried out computationally with the aid of a computer program. (v) The test has good power properties among a wide variety of possible alternatives. (vi) The test is admissible. The basis of the new test is the directed chi-square methodology developed by Cohen, Madigan, and Sackrowitz.
Physics design guidelines for estimating plasma performance in a burning plasma experiment (FIRE)

The physics design guidelines for a next step, high-field tokamak, burning plasma experiment (FIRE, Fusion Ignition Research Experiment) have been developed as an update of the ITER Physics Basis (IPB). The plasma performance attainable in FIRE (or any next-step device) is affected by many physics issues, including energy confinement, L-to-H-mode power transition thresholds, MHD stability/beta limit, density limit, helium accumulation/removal, impurity content, sawtooth effects, etc. Design basis and guidelines are provided in each of these areas, along with sensitivities and/or uncertainties involved. The overall basic device parameters and features for FIRE (R = 2 m, a = 0.525 m, κ 95 ∼ 1.8, δ 95 ∼ 0.4, q 95 > 3, B = 10-12 T, I = 6.45-7.7 MA, P fus ∼ 100-200 MW, Q 5-10) are consistent with these guidelines and uncertainties if the potential design upgrade option (12 T, 8 MA) is considered as part of the main design option.
Leisure, recreation, tourism: a symbolic interactionism view.

Abstract After a brief description of basic tenets of symbolic interactionism, research on leisure, recreation, and tourism (LRT) is examined using this perspective. Attention is given to demonstrating the utility of Symbolic Interactionism in understanding LRT as forms of learned and symbolically transmitted social action. Symbolic interactionism is based on the premise that human society is characterized by the use of symbols and meanings, meanings are derived through social interaction with “others” but can be modified by an individual. Situations, roles, and audiences, including “others” and reference groups, have meanings and provide the context in which the action or behavior occurs. Research findings in leisure, recreation, and tourism fit the symbolic interactionism paradigm.
The Libro de los ejemplos del Conde Lucanor and the Panchatantra: Translatio, Power, and Comparison

This article compares the Castilian Medieval Libro del Conde Lucanor alongside its eldest predecessor in the storytelling tradition, the Sanskrit Panchatantra, attributed to the Indian sage Viṣṇu Śarma and dated around the eighth century. Observing how the Conde Lucanor and the Panchatantra dwell upon questions of governance, trust, and textual ambiguity makes evident that both works represent the transferring of knowledge as means to support imperial power. The comparison examines the dynamics of auctoritas – concerning authorship – and authority – concerning power – through which Don Juan Manuel appropriated the stories of the Panchatantra and integrated them into his own cultural domain, thus complying with the demands of conquest and colonization at play in the thirteenth and fourteenth-centuries Christian Kingdom of Castile.