cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Renal benefit of rapamycin in pediatric heart transplant patients

Background: Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) are effective in preventing rejection in recipients of solid organ transplants, but these agents are nephrotoxic. Rapamycin (RAPA) when used in conjunction with CNI, allows a lower dose of CNI to be used, potentially reducing renal damage. Pediatric heart transplant patients (Pts) were studied to determine if their renal function improved after initiating RAPA. Methods: RAPA was started in 15 pts with reduced (10) or no CNI (5). We studied renal and other parameters before and after RAPA was started. Pts were 4.1 5.7 yrs old (mean 1 standard deviation) at transplant (median 0.4 yrs) and 10.3 4.6 yrs old when switched to RAPA (median 9.2 yrs), 10 were male. Indications for RAPA were worsening renal function (10), to improve adherence (2), change in protocol (2), post transplant lymphoproliferative disease (1). The pre and post RAPA data were compared using a paired-samples T-test. Results: At 30 days after RAPA the calculated creatinine clearance (Schwartz formula) increased from 88 28 ml/min/1.73M to 105 27, p .008. None of the patients had rejection after RAPA.
AGRIS and AtRegNet. A Platform to Link cis-Regulatory Elements and Transcription Factors into Regulatory Networks

Gene regulatory pathways converge at the level of transcription, where interactions among regulatory genes and between regulators and target genes result in the establishment of spatiotemporal patterns of gene expression. The growing identification of direct target genes for key transcription factors (TFs) through traditional and high-throughput experimental approaches has facilitated the elucidation of regulatory networks at the genome level. To integrate this information into a Web-based knowledgebase, we have developed the Arabidopsis Gene Regulatory Information Server (AGRIS). AGRIS, which contains all Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) promoter sequences, TFs, and their target genes and functions, provides the scientific community with a platform to establish regulatory networks. AGRIS currently houses three linked databases: AtcisDB (Arabidopsis thaliana cis-regulatory database), AtTFDB (Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factor database), and AtRegNet (Arabidopsis thaliana regulatory network). AtTFDB contains 1,690 Arabidopsis TFs and their sequences (protein and DNA) grouped into 50 (October 2005) families with information on available mutants in the corresponding genes. AtcisDB consists of 25,806 (September 2005) promoter sequences of annotated Arabidopsis genes with a description of putative cis-regulatory elements. AtRegNet links, in direct interactions, several hundred genes with the TFs that control their expression. The current release of AtRegNet contains a total of 187 (September 2005) direct targets for 66 TFs. AGRIS can be accessed at http://Arabidopsis.med.ohio-state.edu.
AUTO-MUTE: web-based tools for predicting stability changes in proteins due to single amino acid replacements

Utilizing cutting-edge supervised classification and regression algorithms, three web-based tools have been developed for predicting stability changes upon single residue substitutions in proteins with known native structures. Trained models classify independent mutant test sets with accuracies ranging from 87 to 94%. Attributes representing each mutant protein are based on a computational mutagenesis methodology relying on a four-body statistical potential, illustrating a novel integration of both energy-based and machine learning approaches. The servers are written in PHP and hosted on a Linux platform, and they can be freely accessed online along with detailed data sets, documentation and performance results at http://proteins.gmu.edu/automute.
Meeting The Needs Of Business: Are We Teaching The Right Things?

It may be that business schools are not providing undergraduate business students with the competencies considered most important by company recruiters. Research from Bentley College and the University of Guelph indicates that graduates and managers find that non-technical skills such as creativity, oral and written communication, decision-making and leadership are least adequately developed in undergraduate business students. A study out of Wake Forest University indicates that recruiters consider the most important competencies for undergraduate business students to have are: Communication and interpersonal skills, Leadership skills and potential, Ability to work effectively within teams, Adaptability, including dealing with ambiguity, People and task management skills, Self-management skills. ‘Specific functional expertise’ is listed as only of ‘medium’ importance. Yet the overwhelming majority of undergraduate business courses cover the functional areas of accounting, finance, marketing, management, economics and information technology. A variety of delivery approaches from various undergraduate business programs are examined to determine the best way to cover these important topics.
Bandwidth guaranteed routing for ad-hoc networks with interference consideration

The problem of computing bandwidth guaranteed paths for given flow requests in an ad-hoc network is complicated because neighboring links share the medium. We define the path width on top of the conflict-graph based interference model, and present the ad-hoc shortest widest path (ASWP) routing problem in an ad-hoc network context. We propose a distributed algorithm to address the ASWP problem. Adopting the Bellman-Ford architecture and the k-shortest-path approach, the proposed algorithm achieves a performance close to the optimum. Numerical simulations demonstrate the performance of the algorithm, and also analyze gains achieved over prevalent shortest-path algorithms.
Current Research Findings on End-of-Life Decision Making Among Racially or Ethnically Diverse Groups

Purpose We reviewed the research literature on racial or ethnic diversity and end-of-life decision making in order to identify key findings and provide recommendations for future research. Design and methods We identified 33 empirical studies in which race or ethnicity was investigated as either a variable predicting treatment preferences or choices, where racial or ethnic groups were compared in their end-of-life decisions, or where the end-of-life decision making of a single minority group was studied in depth. We conducted a narrative review and identified four topical domains of study: advance directives; life support; disclosure and communication of diagnosis, prognosis, and preferences; and designation of primary decision makers. Results Non-White racial or ethnic groups generally lacked knowledge of advance directives and were less likely than Whites to support advance directives. African Americans were consistently found to prefer the use of life support; Asians and Hispanics were more likely to prefer family-centered decision making than other racial or ethnic groups. Variations within groups existed and were related to cultural values, demographic characteristics, level of acculturation, and knowledge of end-of-life treatment options. Common methodological limitations of these studies were lack of theoretical framework, use of cross-sectional designs, convenience samples, and self-developed measurement scales. Implications Although the studies are limited by methodological concerns, identified differences in end-of-life decision-making preference and practice suggest that clinical care and policy should recognize the variety of values and preferences found among diverse racial or ethnic groups. Future research priorities are described to better inform clinicians and policy makers about ways to allow for more culturally sensitive approaches to end-of-life care.
Proliferative Radiation Retinopathy

Objectives: To compare proliferative radiation retinopathy (PRR) with nonproliferative radiation retinopathy (NPRR) and to assess the outcome of panretinal photocoagulation treatment for PRR. Methods: We reviewed the medical records, fundus photographs, and fluorescein angiograms of 10 patients (14 eyes) with PRR, which was diagnosed in a tertiary referral center during a 20-year period. The collected data included the following: the indications for radiation treatment, radiotherapy technique used, dose and fractions of radiation, visual acuity, indications for photocoagulation treatment, photocoagulation technique used, and response to treatment. Comparisons were made with data from 17 patients (27 eyes) with NPRR, which had not progressed to PRR during the course of this study. Results: The initial visual acuity of the 14 eyes with PRR ranged from 20/20 to hand motion; these eyes had a median visual acuity of 20/90. The initial visual acuity of the 27 eyes with NPRR ranged from 20/15 to 20/400; these eyes had a median visual acuity of 20/25. Five (36%) of the eyes with PRR and 4 (15%) of the eyes with NPRR ( P =.35) had a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse. After a mean follow-up time of 75 months for the eyes with PRR and 51 months for the eyes with NPRR, the median visual acuities were 20/400 and 20/50, respectively; 12 (86%) of the 14 eyes with PRR had a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse vs 7 (26%) of the 27 eyes with NPRR ( P Conclusions: Eyes with PRR have a poor prognosis for retaining and regaining good central vision. Panretinal photocoagulation seems to have long-term effectiveness in decreasing the proliferation of new vessels due to complications of radiation treatment.
Inflammatory response to histamine in atopic and nonatopic individuals

Abstract The inflammatory response to histamine was studied in ten atopic and ten nonatopic control patients by a skin-window technique. All of the atopic individuals responded in 45 minutes with the exudation of large numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and significant eosinophils. Only an occasional cell was exuded by the nonatopic individuals in the same time period, despite the fact that the whealing response in both groups was similar. This immediate inflammatory response to histamine is another evidence of the unique constitutional capacity of atopic individuals.
Differences in preschoolers’ and adults’ use of generics about novel animals and artifacts: A window onto a conceptual divide

Children and adults commonly produce more generic noun phrases (e.g., birds fly) about animals than artifacts. This may reflect differences in participants' generic knowledge about specific animals/artifacts (e.g., dogs/chairs), or it may reflect a more general distinction. To test this, the current experiments asked adults and preschoolers to generate properties about novel animals and artifacts (Experiment 1: real animals/artifacts; Experiments 2 and 3: matched pairs of maximally similar, novel animals/artifacts). Data demonstrate that even without prior knowledge about these items, the likelihood of producing a generic is significantly greater for animals than artifacts. These results leave open the question of whether this pattern is the product of experience and learned associations or instead a set of early-developing theories about animals and artifacts.
Molecular factor computing for predictive spectroscopy.

The concept of molecular factor computing (MFC)-based predictive spectroscopy was demonstrated here with quantitative analysis of ethanol-in-water mixtures in a MFC-based prototype instrument. Molecular computing of vectors for transformation matrices enabled spectra to be represented in a desired coordinate system. New coordinate systems were selected to reduce the dimensionality of the spectral hyperspace and simplify the mechanical/electrical/computational construction of a new MFC spectrometer employing transmission MFC filters. A library search algorithm was developed to calculate the chemical constituents of the MFC filters. The prototype instrument was used to collect data from 39 ethanol-in-water mixtures (range 0–14%). For each sample, four different voltage outputs from the detector (forming two factor scores) were measured by using four different MFC filters. Twenty samples were used to calibrate the instrument and build a multivariate linear regression prediction model, and the remaining samples were used to validate the predictive ability of the model. In engineering simulations, four MFC filters gave an adequate calibration model (r2 = 0.995, RMSEC = 0.229%, RMSECV = 0.339%, p = 0.05 by f test). This result is slightly better than a corresponding PCR calibration model based on corrected transmission spectra (r2 = 0.993, RMSEC = 0.359%, RMSECV = 0.551%, p = 0.05 by f test). The first actual MFC prototype gave an RMSECV = 0.735%. MFC was a viable alternative to conventional spectrometry with the potential to be more simply implemented and more rapid and accurate.
A Comparison of the Frequencies of Medical Therapies for Overactive Bladder in Men and Women: Analysis of More Than 7.2 Million Aging Patients

Abstract Background The study of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms has historically focused on women. However, it is now evident that men, including those with benign prostatic hyperplasia, have OAB symptoms that respond to anticholinergic therapy. The current OAB treatment frequencies by gender are unknown. Objective The aim of the study was to compare the treatment patterns among men and women diagnosed with OAB. Design, setting, and participants Patients ≥45 yr in the IMS Health data set with more than one diagnosis code for OAB during a 12-mo period ending December 2007. Intervention Treated patients filled a prescription for either an anticholinergic or a tricyclic antidepressant medication; untreated patients did not. Measurements Frequencies of OAB diagnoses and medical therapies by age and gender were compared. Results and limitations Of the 7 244 501 patients ≥45yr with an OAB diagnosis, 24.4% of these were treated; 75.6% went untreated. Only 25.6% of those treated were men. The diagnosis and treatment frequency increased in both men and women as a function of age. However, in every age group, there was a significantly ( p Conclusions Despite OAB prevalence, many patients receive no medical treatment. Although the usefulness of OAB medications in men is becoming increasingly recognized, men are significantly less likely to be treated with OAB medications than women.
Irreducible circuits and Coxeter arrangements

We introduce the concept of irreducible circuits. In a vector arrangement @F, these are configurations consisting of one vector @[email protected][email protected] in the positive linear span of an independent set @[email protected][email protected] such that no proper subset of @D has any member of @[email protected] in its positive linear span. We show that the oriented matroid of any centrally symmetric vector arrangement is constructively determined by its irreducible circuits, and classify the irreducible circuits in root systems.
Morphotronics and Constructal Theory

The morphotronic name is composed by two terms one “morpho” means form, construction, network, organisation and so on. The second “tronic” is connected with electronics devise. Morphotronic is a generalisation of the “mechatronic” composed by mechanics and electronics. We will show that the electronic devise is a prototype system that we can use to simulate complex systems in different field as economy, logistic, biology, building construction and so on. So we will show that we can design electronic circuit beyond the tradition amplifier, oscillator, power generator, digital computation, filter and so on. Electronic devise compute general transformations in the multidimensional space of the independent source of voltages and by the network (form) connect dependent voltages with the independent voltages. In parallel we can use the current multidimensional space. The geometry in multidimensional space can be simulate by electronic devise. In fact we can create path on sphere or path on any multidimensional manifold surface. We can also create optics in multidimensional space with projections, reflections, refractions in multidimensional space. In conclusion we will show that the morpho with the electronics is a powerful instrument to create code to solve complex problems in the design and simulation. We will show also that construction theory is part of the morphotronic for which physical structure in biology or in economy are controlled by minimum principle as minimum energy, minimum time and so on. In conclusion morphotronic as electronic devise is based on two fundamental classes of variables as voltages and currents that we can generalise as effort and flow. The two classes of variables are bonded one with the other by impedances or general set of functions. Now the two class of variables are embedded in a network or form that connect dependent variables with independent variables. The two set of variables must be consistent with the network in a way to have minimum dissipation of energy. When we construct electronic devise we simulate construction of complex system as natural system where the structure or network is part of the form to obtain the best condition as minimum energy dissipation. So any form in nature is not only for beauty but is efficient to solve complex problems in adverse environment. The same philosophy is used in Morphotronic that by electronic system can solve complex problem beyond the nature necessity.
Exploring alternative methods for population surveillance

Swine disease surveillance is of great importance to the swine industry in order to raise and provide healthy animal populations. In order to insure timely disease intervention for optimal animal health, surveillance methods and sampling options need to be readily available. Many of our diagnostic sample collections are based on individual animal samples, i.e. serum, blood swabs, nasal swabs, etc. These individual sample diagnostics are then commonly used to infer information on the population level. In order to understand population status from a collection of individual samples, diagnostic and sampling methods require evaluation. As reviewed in Chapter 1, the pooling of individual samples is commonly place in various fields of veterinary medicine. In order to properly utilize this diagnostic strategy all the factors that affect pooling results need to be understood. Pooled diagnostics are influenced by the type of analyte, stage of infection, sample dilution, matrix components, the prevalence of disease, and laboratory differences. In order to attain accurate diagnostics and to properly pooling interpret results, these factors must be accounted for. In continuation of the study of disease surveillance methods, the objective of the first research paper (Chapter 2) was to evaluate different sample collection techniques for the early detection Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) in a boar stud population based in individual sampling techniques. Diagnostic specimens analyzed in this study included serum, oral fluid, blood swabs, frothy saliva, and semen. Semen samples were centrifuged and the seminal supernatant and cell fractions were tested separately. All samples were randomly ordered and tested for PRRSV by real-time quantitative reverse-
Economic Stability Under Alternative Banking Systems

In this paper we show that in a world where productive investment is allocated according to the CAPM, a fractional reserve banking system that facilitates investing and money creation is not Pareto efficient and leads to excessive productive investment that in turn amplifies future business cycles. These results follow from a model based on CAPM, rational expectations and a linear homogenous production function. The regulatory process should consider going even further than the Volcker rule by restricting bank investments to currency in vault and deposit accounts on the central bank. Nonbank financial institutions should then carry out the risky financial intermediation function and trading now carried out by banks.
Is the Stock Market More Profitable with the Uptick Rule than Without It? Testing the Steady Gain Hypothesis

In 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) removed rule 10a-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from stock trading. Rule 10a-1, commonly referred to as the “uptick rule,” is a stock trading rule that had been in place since 1938. The uptick rule put price restrictions on short selling in order to protect investors from heavy losses in the stock market. The SEC had conducted an experiment in 2005 to determine the effects of removing the uptick rule, and the results of the SEC experiment had suggested that the stock market would be three times more profitable with the uptick rule than without it. The problem was that this finding had no theory to explain it. In this analysis, another test is made of the expected increase in profitability with the addition of price restrictions on short selling, and it was found that the market could be expected to be 2.5 to 2.66 times more profitable with the uptick rule than without it. The increase in profitability would amount to a gain of over one half of one Trillion dollars per year if the uptick rule were reinstated. The problem with a lack of theory to explain this difference still remains.
Inhibition of germination, outgrowth, and vegetative growth of Clostridium botulinum 67B by spice oils

The oils of clove, thyme, black pepper, pimenta, origanum, garlic, onion, and cinnamon were tested for their activity on germination, outgrowth, and vegetative growth of Clostridium botulinum 67B in broth media. Garlic, onion, cinnamon, thyme, origanum, and black pepper oils at a concentration of 100 ppm prevented germination of C. botulinum 67B spores. Clove and pimenta oils at a concentration of 150 ppm prevented germination. The effect of spice oils on spore germination was reversible. The oils of black pepper and clove had a greater inhibitory effect on vegetative growth than the other oils. None of the oils had a significant effect on outgrowth.
Structure and Evaluation of the Process for Origin Determination in Compartment Fires

The science behind the formation of fire patterns and their ensuing use in the forensic analysis of fire scenes has been questioned since their introduction in the 1940s. This paper provides an overview of a prototype method for determining the area of origin based on fire patterns analysis, named the process for origin determination (POD). The POD is a seven step reasoning process for evaluating fire damage, which starts by identifying the value in further analysis of each surface and compartment of a structure and then procedurally evaluates each surface for use within the overall determination. This paper outlines the application of the POD with test subjects and presents an analysis of the outcomes showing its benefits. To facilitate testing the POD, numerical simulations and physical experiments were employed. The numerical simulations were completed through the use of fire dynamics simulator simulating a single compartment measuring 3.66 m × 3.66 m × 2.44 m with a single ventilation opening. The physical experiments were tests conducted specifically for fire patterns where accuracy rates had been previously identified in the literature. Sixty test subjects participated in the evaluation of thirty-two different origin scenarios. A decrease in variability, which indicates an increase in reliability, was noted in 21 of the 32 scenarios (66%) when participants used the POD. Three accuracy measurements were employed, all three of which illustrated an increase in accuracy when participants used the POD. The accuracy was shown to increase between 50% and 94% when participants used the POD.
Hemodialysis or Transplantation

With the implementation of new health legislation to cover a significant proportion of the costs of chronic intermittent hemodialysis and renal transplantation, the nephrologist is feeling the pressures of ‘cost effectiveness’ in planning a course of treatment for his patients. However, the methods of treatment which are advocated as being most economical (transplantation and home hemodialysis as opposed to center hemodialysis) are, under certain circumstances, less effective in terms of patient survival. Factors the physician should consider in planning a treatment program for his patients are presented and technological developments which have contributed to the success of hemodialysis are reviewed.
A computational model of cardiac fibroblast signaling predicts context-dependent drivers of myofibroblast differentiation

Cardiac fibroblasts support heart function, and aberrant fibroblast signaling can lead to fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction. Yet how signaling molecules drive myofibroblast differentiation and fibrosis in the complex signaling environment of cardiac injury remains unclear. We developed a large-scale computational model of cardiac fibroblast signaling in order to identify regulators of fibrosis under diverse signaling contexts. The model network integrates 10 signaling pathways, including 91 nodes and 134 reactions, and it correctly predicted 80% of independent previous experiments. The model predicted key fibrotic signaling regulators (e.g. reactive oxygen species, tissue growth factor β (TGFβ) receptor), whose function varied depending on the extracellular environment. We characterized how network structure relates to function, identified functional modules, and predicted cross-talk between TGFβ and mechanical signaling, which was validated experimentally in adult cardiac fibroblasts. This study provides a systems framework for predicting key regulators of fibroblast signaling across diverse signaling contexts.
2-Chloro-N-(2-chloro-benzo-yl)-N-(2-ethyl-4-oxo-3,4-di-hydro-quinazolin-3-yl)benzamide.

In the title compound, C24H17Cl2N3O3, the quinazolinone ring system is close to planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0132 A), with the imide unit almost perpendicular to it, subtending a dihedral angle of 89.1 (1)°. However, the imide unit itself is not planar, the dihedral angle between the two O=C—N components being 34.6 (1)°. The dihedral angle between the two chlorobenzene rings is 40.50 (7)°, while the angles between these rings and the imide moiety are 54.6 (1) and 58.2 (1)°, respectively. The dihedral angles between the 2-chloro­phenyl rings and the quinazolinone ring system are 48.77 (5) and 32.92 (7)° for rings A and B, respectively. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯O inter­actions link the mol­ecules into a three-dimensional array.
Child and Parent Perceptions of Interparental Relationship Conflict Predict Preschool Children's Adjustment

Interparental relationship conflict has consistently been linked to child adjustment problems, with children's perceptions of such conflict particularly predictive of their outcomes. Despite mounting evidence that preschool children can provide reliable and valid accounts of family functioning, little research has examined preschool children's perceptions of interparental conflict. The present study employed a multi-informant design for both reports of interparental conflict (preschool children and their mothers and fathers) and reports of child adjustment (preschool children, their mothers and fathers, and their preschool teachers). Children completed pictorial measures of interparental conflict and of self-esteem that paralleled questionnaires completed by adult respondents. For both child behavior problems and child self-esteem, preschool children's perceptions of interparental conflict predicted their adjustment. Preschool children's reports of interparental conflict were significantly associated with their self-esteem and with both parents' and teachers' reports of child behavior problems, and this association remained significant when controlling for parents' reports of interparental conflict. Further, the interaction between parents' reports and children's reports of interparental conflict added unique variance to the prediction of preschool teachers' reports of children's behavior problems.
Astrocyte-specific expression of CDK4 is not sufficient for tumor formation, but cooperates with p53 heterozygosity to provide a growth advantage for astrocytes in vivo

The development of malignant gliomas (astrocytomas) involves the accumulation of multiple genetic changes, including mutations in the p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) cell cycle regulatory pathways. One Rb pathway alteration seen in high-grade astrocytomas is amplification of cyclin dependent kinase-4 (CDK4). To define the function of CDK4 amplification/overexpression in astrocytoma pathogenesis, we generated three transgenic mouse lines that overexpress human CDK4 (hCDK4) in astrocytes using the human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. GFAP-hCDK4 mice do not develop brain tumors, but exhibit a small increase in astrocyte number. Cultured astrocytes from these mice do not demonstrate a cell-autonomous growth advantage in vitro and lack properties of transformed cells. To determine whether cdk4 overexpression provides a cooperative growth advantage in vitro, CDK4-overexpressing C6 glioma cell lines were generated and found to exhibit increased cell growth. In addition, GFAP-hCDK4; p53+/- as well as p53+/-; Rb+/- mice exhibited increased numbers of astrocytes compared to GFAP-hCDK4, p53+/-, or Rb+/- mice in vivo. No cooperative effect was observed with GFAP-hCDK4; Rb+/- mice. These results support the hypothesis that cdk4 overexpression alone is not sufficient for astrocytoma formation, but can provide a cooperative growth advantage in concert with genetic alterations in the p53 pathway.
Likeology: modeling, predicting, and aggregating likes in social media

The recent dramatic increase in the usage and prevalence of social media has led to the creation and sharing of a significant amount of user-generated contents (UGCs) in various formats (e.g., photos, videos, blogs). Users not only generate and access UGCs in social media, but also actively evaluate and interact with them by adding comments or expressing their preferences toward the UGCs. In particular, recently, user preferences by means of a "Like" button have prevailed. Such a Like button appears in different names too (e.g., Like in Facebook, +1 in Google+, re-pin in Pinterest, and favorite in Flickr). Despite such massive social media data with rich Like-like relationships therein, however, there has not been a dedicated tutorial that covered the diverse aspects of Likes in a comprehensive and cohesive manner. As understanding user preferences (via Likes) and providing further personalized services such as recommendation thereof in social media has keen implications in businesses, the topic of Likes has become increasingly important in recent years. In this tutorial, as such, to address this important and timely topic, we aim to provide a 3-hour tutorial, named as "Likeology" that presents a comprehensive overview of Likes in social media and covers mainly 3 topics: (1) how to model Likes, (2) how to predict the evolution of Likes, and (3) how to aggregate Likes. This tutorial is partially based on our earlier version [9].
Rates of Hydroxyl Radical Production from Transition Metals and Quinones in a Surrogate Lung Fluid.

Hydroxyl radical (•OH) is the most reactive, and perhaps most detrimental to health, of the reactive oxygen species. •OH production in lungs following inhalation of particulate matter (PM) can resu...
Response Surface Methodology

Experiments for fitting a predictive model involving several continuous variables are known as response surface experiments. The objectives of response surface methodology include the determination of variable settings for which the mean response is optimized and the estimation of the response surface in the vicinity of this good location. The first part this chapter discusses first-order designs and first-order models, including lack of fit and the path of steepest ascent to locate the optimum. The second part of the chapter introduces second-order designs and models for exploring the vicinity of the optimum location. The application of response surface methodology is demonstrated through a real experiment. The concepts introduced in this chapter are illustrated through the use of SAS and R software.
The curious case of the self-refuting straw man: Trafimow and Earp’s response to Klein

In their critique of Klein (2014b), Trafimow and Earp present two theses. First, they argue that, contra Klein, a well-specified theory is not a necessary condition for successful replication. Second, they contend that even when there is a well-specified theory, replication depends more on auxiliary assumptions than on theory proper. I take issue with both claims, arguing that (a) their first thesis confuses a material conditional (what I said) with a modal claim (Trafimow and Earp’s misreading of what I said) and (b) their second thesis has the unfortunate consequence of refuting their first thesis.
Solution-Processed BiI3 Thin Films for Photovoltaic Applications: Improved Carrier Collection via Solvent Annealing

We report all-inorganic solar cells based on solution-processed BiI3. Two-electron donor solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and dimethylformamide were found to form adducts with BiI3, which make them highly soluble in these solvents. BiI3 thin films were deposited by spin-coating. Solvent annealing BiI3 thin films at relatively low temperatures (≤100 °C) resulted in increased grain size and crystallographic reorientation of grains within the films. The BiI3 films were stable against oxidation for several months and could withstand several hours of annealing in air at temperatures below 150 °C without degradation. Surface oxidation was found to improve photovoltaic device performance due to the formation of a BiOI layer at the BiI3 surface which facilitated hole extraction. Nonoptimized BiI3 solar cells achieved the highest power conversion efficiencies of 1.0%, demonstrating the potential of BiI3 as a nontoxic, air-stable metal-halide absorber material for photovoltaic applications.
In-Hospital Outcomes and Complications of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in the United States Between 2008 and 2012.

Objective To investigate the frequency and predictors of in-hospital complications among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the United States. Design Retrospective national database analysis Settings United States hospitals. Participants A weighted sample of 1,910,236 patients undergoing CABG surgery identified from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample from 2008 to 2012. Interventions CABG surgery Measurements and Main Results The number of CABG surgeries decreased from 436,275 in 2008 to 339,749 in 2012. The Deyo comorbidity index showed a steady increase from 2008 to 2012. The rate of in-hospital mortality decreased from 2.7% in 2008 to 2.2% in 2012 (p Conclusion The annual number of CABG surgeries is declining in the United States. While the burden of comorbidities is increasing, the rates of mortality and most in-hospital complications are improving. The increasing rate of postoperative bleeding necessitates the need to develop strategies to improve the risk of bleeding in this patient population.
Energy Management in Heterogeneous Wireless Health Care Networks

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction System Model Collaborative Distributed Environmental Sensing Task Assignment in a Body Area Network Results Conclusion References ]]>
Pore-Forming Proteins as Mediators of Novel Epigenetic Mechanism of Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures. In the last two decades, numerous gene defects underlying different forms of epilepsy have been identified with most of these genes encoding ion channel proteins. Despite these developments, the etiology of majority of non-familial epilepsies have no known associated genetic mutations and cannot be explained by defects in identified ion channels alone. We hypothesize that de novo formation of ion channels by naturally unfolded proteins (NUPs) increases neuronal excitability. Altered ionic homeostasis may initiate/contribute to cellular cascades related to epileptogenesis in susceptible individuals. Here we consider two small proteins, namely, alpha-synuclein and stefin B, as prototypical candidates to illustrate the underlying mechanism(s). Previous work points to an association between epilepsy and alpha-synuclein or stefin B, but the mechanism(s) underlying such association remains elusive. We review the evidence to link the structure-function of these proteins with disease processes. Epigenetic mechanisms unrelated to altered DNA sequence(s) that may affect epileptogenesis include transcriptional or post-transcriptional regulation. Such epigenetic mechanisms or their combination(s) enhance the levels of these proteins and as a result the ability to form annular structures, which upon incorporation into membrane form novel ion channels and disturb intracellular ion homeostasis. Alternative epigenetic mechanisms may change amyloidogenic proteins by post-translational modifications, increasing their propensity to form channels. Further research elucidating the details about the formation of ion channels through these mechanisms and their role in epileptogenesis may define new molecular targets and guide the development of new drug targets.
Intraperitoneal (IP) port cytology after IP cisplatin therapy for ovarian cancer: A simple test to predict platinum resistance and outcome?

e16537 Background: Disease status at completion of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer is a determinant of recurrence and predictor of survival. PET/CT and CA125 lack sensitivity as predictors of disea...
Stimulation of neural stem cell self-renewal via NADPH oxidase-generated ROS and inactivation of the tumor suppressor PTEN

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 1261 Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor gene that is frequently mutated or deleted in various human cancers, including glioblastoma multiforme. In addition, germline mutations in the PTEN gene have been associated with autism and other related diseases in which patients develop macrocephaly of the brain. Previously, we have found that conditional deletion of PTEN in neural stem/progenitor cells results in an increased self-renewal capacity, a potentially important mechanism for brain tumorigenesis and the etiology of autism with macrocephaly. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generally thought of as damaging by-products of aerobic metabolism. However, ROS also play important regulatory roles in eukaryotic cells. For example, many growth factors stimulate the production of oxidants which can contribute to the cellular proliferative response to these factors. Several studies have established the physiological regulation of some protein tyrosine phosphatases by endogenous ROS produced in response to growth factors, including the reversible inactivation of PTEN. Thus ROS such as hydrogen peroxide can function physiologically to regulate PTEN activity. However, little is known of the role of ROS in the proliferation of neural stem and/or progenitor cells, nor of the fundamental cellular mechanisms underlying ROS-dependent signaling processes in normal and neoplastic cells. In the current study, we have examined the influence of ROS on neural stem and progenitor cells from E14 mouse cortex. We have found that low, non-toxic levels of ROS produces a modest increase in the overall proliferation rate of neurosphere cultures (15-21% increases over controls). However, the neural stem cell pool of cells is more significantly effected with ROS stimulation generating large increases (>250%) in self-renewing divisions in a clonal assay. We next examined the role of PTEN in mediating this response. Embryonic mouse cortical progenitors with a conditional PTEN deletion and a human glioblastoma PTEN-null cell line (U87MG) do not respond to mild oxidative stress, whereas their wild-type and PTEN-over-expressing counterparts are stimulated by the low levels of cellular oxidants. Additionally, we have shown that inhibitors of endogenous, NADPH oxidase-produced ROS completely attenuates stem cell self-renewal in clonal assays only when PTEN is intact (e.g. in the wild-type and PTEN-overexpressing U87MG). We propose that this may be an important and novel signaling pathway in neural stem and progenitor cell proliferation during development, which could become dysregulated by higher levels of oxidative stress or a failure of antioxidant defenses in the pathophysiology of brain disorders with macrocephaly and in tumorigenesis.
MMOD impact of pressurized vessels: Review of design criteria and response prediction equations

Most spacecraft have at least one pressurized vessel on board. For robotic spacecraft, it is usually a liquid propellant tank or battery. Manned spacecraft use these elements as well, and there are also pressurized living quarters and life-support systems. One of the design considerations of such spacecraft is the possible damage that might occur in the event of an on-orbit impact by a micro-meteoroid or orbital debris (MMOD) particle. While considerable energy and effort has been expended in the study of the response of non-pressurized spacecraft components to these kinds of impacts, relatively few studies have been conducted on the pressurized elements of such spacecraft. In addition, the design criteria currently used by NASA for pressurized tanks operating in the MMOD environment have not been tested or scrutinized since they were first proposed nearly 50 years ago. In this paper we review current NASA design criteria for pressurized vessels and offer suggestions for next steps in their development. We also review the development of rupture limit equations that can be used to differentiate between impact conditions that would result in only a small hole or crack in a pressurized tank, from those that would cause catastrophic tank failure. This information would be useful to a design engineer who might be able to select tank materials and tailor operating conditions to avoid catastrophic tank failure in the event of a perforating on-orbit MMOD particle impact.
Short Aβ peptides attenuate Aβ42 toxicity in vivo

Processing of amyloid-β (Aβ) precursor protein (APP) by γ-secretase produces multiple species of Aβ: Aβ40, short Aβ peptides (Aβ37-39), and longer Aβ peptides (Aβ42-43). γ-Secretase modulators, a class of Alzheimer's disease therapeutics, reduce production of the pathogenic Aβ42 but increase the relative abundance of short Aβ peptides. To evaluate the pathological relevance of these peptides, we expressed Aβ36-40 and Aβ42-43 in Drosophila melanogaster to evaluate inherent toxicity and potential modulatory effects on Aβ42 toxicity. In contrast to Aβ42, the short Aβ peptides were not toxic and, when coexpressed with Aβ42, were protective in a dose-dependent fashion. In parallel, we explored the effects of recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated expression of Aβ38 and Aβ40 in mice. When expressed in nontransgenic mice at levels sufficient to drive Aβ42 deposition, Aβ38 and Aβ40 did not deposit or cause behavioral alterations. These studies indicate that treatments that lower Aβ42 by raising the levels of short Aβ peptides could attenuate the toxic effects of Aβ42.
Teaching Abroad: How to Develop a Summer International Accounting Program

Publisher Summary This chapter elaborates the development of a summer international accounting program. Development of an overseas accounting program begins with a well-thought-out proposal, which should include information regarding the targeted audience, and course, and program descriptions. It is found that because the program is business oriented, proximity to the business community is important. Major international accounting firms are excellent resources for lectures, office visits, and the arranging of visits to manufacturers. The firms are eager to assist the academic community, and a call to the local domestic office will begin the process. Visits to business, or accounting offices will be easier to arrange if the program is in a major business center. Along with proximity to business, proximity to cultural activities is also important. It is found that if students do not have access to cultural events, or if they must travel long distances to the events, then a study abroad program loses much of its appeal.
Optimizing Cluster-based Randomized Experiments under Monotonicity

Cluster-based randomized experiments are popular designs for mitigating the bias of standard estimators when interference is present and classical causal inference and experimental design assumptions (such as SUTVA or ITR) do not hold. Without an exact knowledge of the interference structure, it can be challenging to understand which partitioning of the experimental units is optimal to minimize the estimation bias. In the paper, we introduce a monotonicity condition under which a novel two-stage experimental design allows us to determine which of two cluster-based designs yields the least biased estimator. We then consider the setting of online advertising auctions and show that reserve price experiments satisfy the monotonicity condition and the proposed framework and methodology apply. We validate our findings on an advertising auction dataset.
SXR and the xenobiotic response

We previously identified and characterized a nuclear receptor, SXR (steroid and xenobiotic receptor) that is the primary mediator of the xenobiotic response. SXR responds to the presence of endogenous hormones, bioactive dietary compounds, and xenobiotic chemicals by activating transcription of several P450 and drug transporter genes. The pharmacology of SXR differs considerably between rodents and humans in that a number of species-specific activators exist. Activation of SXR is thus a direct molecular assay for the potential of chemicals to exhibit divergent effects in different species. SXR-mediated differences in metabolism provide much of the mechanistic basis underlying the differential susceptibility of humans and laboratory animals to environmental chemicals. Understanding the molecular biology of SXR will enable the derivation of a commonly accepted set of principles that connect laboratory experiments, wildlife exposure data, and human risk. In turn, this will reduce the uncertainty about whether or not the underlying mechanisms of response to chemical exposure are universal, providing important new tools with which to undertake comparative studies of chemical effects between species or individuals in a population.
Biophysical Analysis of Neutrophil Motility

Neutrophils are the most motile of mammalian cells endowed with the ability to migrate in an amoeboid fashion and phagocytose large quantities. These cells may be stimulated in-vitro to exhibit a wide range of cell activites, from simple pseudopod projection to chemotaxis or phagocytosis. The key element that drives cell motion and deforms the cytoplasm is the active motion of the cytomatrix. Intracellular motility is frequently manifest in the form of cytoplasmic streaming. Numerous studies have attempted to unravel the mechanism of motility at the cytoskeletal level. Ultrastructural studies have shown the cytomatrix to consist of a motile microfilament system associated with pseudopods and ingested particles (Valerius et al, 1981). Actin is the most abundant protein in leukocytes. Proteins that have been found to interact with actin are myosin, actin-binding protein and filament regulatory and binding proteins.