cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using electronic health record audit logs to study clinical activity: a systematic review of aims, measures, and methods.

Objective To systematically review published literature and identify consistency and variation in the aims, measures, and methods of studies using electronic health record (EHR) audit logs to observe clinical activities. Materials and methods In July 2019, we searched PubMed for articles using EHR audit logs to study clinical activities. We coded and clustered the aims, measures, and methods of each article into recurring categories. We likewise extracted and summarized the methods used to validate measures derived from audit logs and limitations discussed of using audit logs for research. Results Eighty-five articles met inclusion criteria. Study aims included examining EHR use, care team dynamics, and clinical workflows. Studies employed 6 key audit log measures: counts of actions captured by audit logs (eg, problem list viewed), counts of higher-level activities imputed by researchers (eg, chart review), activity durations, activity sequences, activity clusters, and EHR user networks. Methods used to preprocess audit logs varied, including how authors filtered extraneous actions, mapped actions to higher-level activities, and interpreted repeated actions or gaps in activity. Nineteen studies validated results (22%), but only 9 (11%) through direct observation, demonstrating varying levels of measure accuracy. Discussion While originally designed to aid access control, EHR audit logs have been used to observe diverse clinical activities. However, most studies lack sufficient discussion of measure definition, calculation, and validation to support replication, comparison, and cross-study synthesis. Conclusion EHR audit logs have potential to scale observational research but the complexity of audit log measures necessitates greater methodological transparency and validated standards.
A Cross-Sectional Examination of the Association Between Social Media Use and Sleep Among a Sample of U.S. Army Soldiers

INTRODUCTION In the United States (U.S.), approximately 35% of adults sleep less than 7 hours per night. The relationship between social media use and insufficient sleep has not thoroughly been examined among adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if social media use is associated with insufficient sleep among a sample of U.S. Army Soldiers. METHODS This study surveyed 9,052 U.S. Soldiers in 2018 via a self-administered online questionnaire. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the association between social media use (<38 hours vs. ≥38 hours per week) and insufficient sleep, controlling for demographic and behavioral covariates. RESULTS Overall, 54.9% of Soldiers reported insufficient sleep. There was no significant relationship between excessive social media use and insufficient sleep in the multivariable logistic regression (OR: 1.03; CI: 0.87-1.23). The covariates of sex, race/ethnicity, rank, hazardous alcohol consumption, anxiety, and depression were significantly associated with insufficient sleep. Soldiers who reported symptoms of anxiety were more than twice as likely (OR: 2.11; CI: 1.65-2.70) to report insufficient sleep than Soldiers without signs of anxiety. Additionally, Soldiers who reported depressive symptoms were 85% (OR: 1.85; CI: 1.44-2.37) more likely to experience insufficient sleep than Soldiers without signs of depression. CONCLUSION Sufficient sleep is essential to ensuring mission readiness and preventing accidental morbidity and mortality among Soldiers. The findings of this analysis do not suggest a link between extended social media use and insufficient sleep. However, though previously uninvestigated, Soldiers reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression were more likely to experience insufficient sleep compared to unafflicted Soldiers. Therefore developing a culture that encourages Soldiers to seek necessary behavioral health screening and care could be a key primary strategy to promote adequate sleep.
The collapsing anatomical structure is not always the primary site of flow limitation in obstructive sleep apnea

Citation: Garcia GJM, Woodson BT. The collapsing anatomical structure is not always the primary site of flow limitation in obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(3):345–346.
The RNA binding protein hnRNP-U is required for physiological hypertrophy of skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle has the remarkable ability to modulate its mass in response to physiological changes associated with nutritional input, functional utilization, systemic disease, and age. A decreased responsiveness to anabolic stimuli is thought to contribute significantly to the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength associated with sarcopenia, however the molecular mechanisms precipitating this are unclear. The signal transduction pathways that control the relative balance between anabolic and catabolic processes are tightly regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Alternative splicing produces multiple protein isoforms from a single gene in a cell-type-specific manner and in response to environmental cues. We show that sustained activation of Akt1 in Hnrnpu deficient mice leads to premature muscle wasting, in part, through impaired autophagy while providing mechanistic insights into the development of anabolic resistance.
Association of Tubular Solute Clearance with Symptom Burden in Incident Peritoneal Dialysis

Background and objectives Residual kidney function is important to the health and wellbeing of patients with ESKD. We tested whether the kidney clearances of proximal tubular secretory solutes are associated with burden of uremic and heart failure symptoms among patients on peritoneal dialysis with residual kidney function. Design, setting, participants, & measurements We enrolled 29 patients on incident peritoneal dialysis with residual urine output >250 ml daily. We used targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to quantify plasma, 24-hour urine, and peritoneal dialysate concentrations of ten tubular secretory solutes. We calculated the kidney and peritoneal dialysis clearances of each secretory solute, creatinine, and urea, and we estimated a composite kidney and peritoneal secretion score. We assessed for uremic symptoms using the Dialysis Symptom Index and heart failure–related symptoms using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. We used linear regression to determine associations of composite secretory solute clearances and GFRurea+Cr with Dialysis Symptom Index symptom score and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire summary score. Results Mean residual kidney clearances of creatinine and urea were 8±5 and 9±6 ml/min per 1.73 m2, respectively, and mean GFRurea+Cr was 8±5 ml/min per 1.73 m2. The residual kidney clearances of most secretory solutes were considerably higher than creatinine and urea clearance, and also, they were higher than their respective peritoneal dialysis clearances. After adjustments for age and sex, each SD higher composite kidney secretion score was associated with an 11-point lower Dialysis Symptom Index score (95% confidence interval, −20 to −1; P=0.03) and a 12-point higher Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score (95% confidence interval, 0.5- to 23-point higher score; P=0.04). Composite peritoneal dialysis secretion score was not associated with either symptom assessment. Conclusions Residual kidney clearances of secretory solutes are higher than peritoneal dialysis clearances. Kidney clearances of secretory solutes are associated with patient-reported uremic and heart failure–related symptoms.
On-balance-sheet duration hedging and firm value

Abstract In this study we consider the determinants and effects of on-balance-sheet duration hedging for non-financial US firms. The difference between the duration of assets and liabilities, or duration gap, is negatively related to growth opportunities, and positively related to profitability, corporate cash holdings, and managerial ownership. We find that both a lower duration gap and a lower absolute value of duration gap are associated with higher firm values. Moreover, we find some evidence that firms with larger duration gaps performed worse during the market-wide liquidity shock accompanying the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy.
Y-chromosome haplotypes drive variation in size and age at maturity in male Chinook salmon

ABSTRACT Variation in size and age at maturity is an important component of life history in salmon that is influenced both by environmental and genetic factors. Large size confers a direct reproductive advantage through increased fecundity and egg quality in females, while larger males gain a reproductive advantage by monopolizing access to females. In addition, variation in size and age at maturity in males can be associated with different reproductive strategies; younger smaller males may gain reproductive success by sneaking in among mating pairs. In both sexes there is a trade-off between older age and increased reproductive success and increased risk of mortality by delaying reproduction. We used RADseq data for 21 populations of Alaska Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and identified four Y-chromosome haplotypes that showed regional and population-specific variation in frequency. These haplotypes exhibited associations with size at maturity in multiple populations suggesting that the lack of recombination between X and Y-chromosomes have allowed Y-chromosome haplotypes to capture different alleles that influence size at maturity. Ultimately, conservation of life history diversity in Chinook salmon may require conservation of Y-chromosome haplotype diversity.
Forward Genetic ENU Mutagenesis Screen for Mouse Models of Chronic Fatigue Identifies a Novel Mutation in Slc2a4 (GLUT4)

In a screen of voluntary wheel-running behavior designed to identify genetic mouse models of chronic fatigue in ENU mutagenized C57BL/6J mice, we discovered two lines that showed aberrant wheel-running patterns. These lines both stem from a single original founder identified as a low body-weight candidate in a recessive screen. Progeny from both of these lines showed the abnormal wheel-running behavior, with affected mice showing significantly lower daily activity levels than unaffected mice. They also exhibited low amplitude circadian rhythms, consisting of lower activity levels during the normal active phase, and increased levels of activity during the rest or light phase, but only a modest alteration in free-running period. Their activity is not consolidated into longer bouts, but is frequently interrupted with periods of inactivity throughout the dark phase of the light-dark (LD) cycle. As seen with the low body weight, expression of the behavioral phenotypes in offspring of strategic crosses was consistent with a recessive heritance pattern. Mapping of these phenotypic abnormalities showed linkage to a single locus on chromosome 11, and whole exome sequencing (WES) identified a single point mutation in the Slc2a4 gene encoding the GLUT4 insulin-responsive glucose transporter. The single nucleotide change (A to T) was found in the distal end of exon 10, and results in a premature stop (Y440*). To our knowledge, this is the first time a mutation in this gene has been shown to result in extensive changes in general behavioral patterns.
Cardiac Surgery Utilization Across Vulnerable Persons After Medicaid Expansion.

BACKGROUND Medicaid expansion (ME) under the Affordable Care Act has reduced the number of uninsured patients, although its preferential effects on vulnerable populations have been mixed. This study examined whether ME preferentially improved cardiac surgery use by insurance strata, race, and income level. METHODS Non-elderly adults (aged 18-64 years) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement, or mitral valve repair were identified in the State Inpatient Databases for 3 expansion states (Kentucky, New Jersey, and Maryland) and 2 non-expansion states (North Carolina and Florida) from 2012 to the third quarter of 2015. We used adjusted Poisson interrupted time series to determine the impact of ME on cardiac surgery use for Medicaid or uninsured (MCD/UIS) patients, racial and ethnic minorities, and individuals from low-income areas. RESULTS In expansion states, use among non-White MCD/UIS patients had a positive trend after ME (2.3%/quarter; P = .156), whereas use for White MCD/UIS patients fell (-1.7%/quarter; P = .117). In contrast, use among non-White MCD/UIS in non-expansion states decreased by 4.4% (P < .001) which was a greater decline than among White MCD/UIS patients (-1.8%/quarter; P = .057). There was no substantial effect of ME on cardiac surgery use for MCD/UIS patients from low- versus high-income areas. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that the use of cardiac surgical procedures was generally unchanged after ME; however, nonsignificant trend differences suggest a narrowing gap between vulnerable and non-vulnerable groups in ME states. These preliminary findings help describe the association of insurance coverage as a driver of cardiac surgery use among vulnerable patients.
Interplay between Intrinsic Thermal Stability and Expansion Properties of Functionalized UiO-67 Metal–Organic Frameworks

The UiO family of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has been extensively studied for several applications owing to their high stability rendered by their robust secondary building units. The efficien...
Cultural transmission and contraceptive use: evidence from USA–Mexico migration

We estimate the impacts of international migration on modern contraceptive use of women in Mexico. We find that women belonging to migrant families or who had past migration experience had a higher propensity to use modern contraceptives. We obtain these effects after controlling for traditional economic variables such as income and access. To establish a causal effect, we use historic municipality level return migration as instruments for the current decision to migrate. We argue that these results are robust to different specifications and estimation strategies and are not driven by individual or spatial omitted variables.
Head trauma

Society continues to pay a high price for the toll taken by head trauma. Attention must be paid to preventing these injuries, especially involving motor vehicle accidents and bicycle accidents. Current treatment of serious head injuries demands skilled airway management in the field; rapid transfer to Pediatric Trauma Centers; meticulous attention to oxygenation, ventilation, and systemic perfusion during the resuscitation phase; rapid identification and early surgical management of mass lesions; and aggressive control of intracranial pressure. Our hopes lie in better programs for prevention, improved understanding of the dynamics of the ongoing neurologic injury both at the organ system and cellular levels, and improved programs in neurorehabilitation.
Finite Element Bond Models for Seven-Wire Prestressing Strands in Concrete Crossties

Seven-wire strands are commonly used in pretensioned concrete ties, but its bonding mechanism with concrete needs further examination to provide a better understanding of some concrete tie failure modes. As a key component in the finite element (FE) analysis of concrete crossties, macro-scale or phenomenological FE bond models are developed for seven-wire strands in this paper. The strand-concrete interfaces are homogenized with a thin layer of cohesive elements applied between the strand and concrete elements. Further, the cohesive elements are assigned traction-displacement constitutive or bond relations that are defined in terms of normal and shear stresses versus interfacial dilation and slip. The bond relations are developed within an elasto-plastic framework that characterizes the adhesive, frictional and/or dilatational bonding mechanisms in the interface. The yield functions and plastic flow rules specific for the seven-wire strands are presented. The bond parameters are calibrated from untensioned pullout tests and pretensioned prism tests conducted on concrete specimens. The bond models are then verified with (1) the surface strain data measured on actual concrete crossties made at a tie manufacturing plant, and (2) the force-displacement relation obtained in a center negative moment test conducted also on concrete crossties.
- ScCK2: Casein kinase II (S. cerevisiae) (Cka1, Cka2)

Casein kinase II (CK2) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase of broad substrate specificity that is widely distributed among eukaryotic organisms. The structure and properties of CK2 are highly conserved, but the physiological role of the enzyme is poorly understood. ScCK2 has been characterized both biochemically and genetically. CK2 is essential for viability in S. cerevisiae, and the catalytic subunit of Drosophila melanogaster CK2 (DmCK2) can functionally substitute for the yeast catalytic subunits in vivo. ScCK2 is composed of two catalytic subunits, α and a, and two regulatory subunits, β and β'. The α and a subunits are encoded by the CKA1 and CKA2 genes and the β and β' subunits by the CKB1 and CKB2 genes, respectively. Disruption of either CKA1 or CKA2 yields no overt phenotype, but simultaneous disruption of both is lethal. The molecular mass of native ScCK2 is 150000 Da, consistent with a tetramer consisting of two catalytic and two regulatory subunits. Whether every tetramer has αaββ' composition is not known. Free catalytic subunit has not been observed in vivo. Like its vertebrate counterpart, ScCK2 is moderately stimulated by polyamines, particularly spermine, and strongly activated by large polycations such as protamine and polylysine. The enzyme is inhibited by a variety of polyanions, particularly heparin.
Environmental Aesthetics: The Environment as a Source of Affect

One might be tempted to dismiss the preceding statement, made at a Pennsylvania Governor’s Conference on Natural Beauty, by the Conference Chairman, Frank Masland, Jr., as the sort of rhetoric expected of a keynote speaker at such a gathering. Yet, though there may be no scientific evidence whatsoever to support the rather sweeping assertion concerning the power of beauty and ugliness to exert such profound effects on human beings (and this writer knows of none), it may well reflect commonly held beliefs about the impact of the aesthetic quality of the environment on the individual. Such convictions have, of course, been expressed for centuries by philosophers, naturalists, writers, etc., and are certainly not limited to laymen, or politicians, even today, as reflected in the following quote from an environmentally concerned biologist in a letter in Science: ...has there been, or will there soon be sufficient selection by polluted metropolitan environments to erase man’s unspoken needs for open spaces, wild mountains, clean lakes, or small towns? Does Dobzhansky mean it is desirable to permit (let alone encourage) adaptation to New York-type cities, their bleak lifeless canyons of stone crawling with humanity, their noisy streets and overcrowded subways?... I don’t know whether Dobzhansky has forgotten what it was like to walk the dunes in solitude or to swim in the ocean, but to most humans... it is pleasanter than basking in 5 P.M.traffic on Fifth Avenue (Iltis, 1967).*
Carbon stocks in Harran Plain soils, Sanliurfa, Turkey.

Soils are an important component of the global carbon cycle and can be net sources or sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The goals of the present study were to analyze the soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) content of Harran Plain soil in Sanliurfa, Turkey, part of the Southeast Anatolia region (SAR), and to estimate carbon stocks (CSs) in soil series that are representative of arid and semiarid lands. To this end, soil samples were collected from 16 profiles in the Harran Plain at depths of 100, 120, and 160 cm of the genetic horizons, and the SOC stocks in the three soil depths were estimated. The carbon stock was 56.41 Tg of C in the 0-100 cm layer, 67.80 Tg of C in the 0-120 cm layer and 87.91 Tg of C in the 0-160 cm layer. For the three soil depths 100, 120, and 160 cm, the SOC content ranged from 6.33 to 11.04, 7.11 to 11.98 and 8.72 to 16.53 kg of C m-2, respectively, and the soil inorganic carbon content ranged from 8.83 to 19.26, 11.00 to 23.34 and 14.82 to 32.64 kg of C m-2, respectively.
Dipolarization and turbulence in the plasma sheet during a substorm: THEMIS observations and global MHD simulations

[1] Spacecraft in the magnetotail have observed fluctuations in velocity and magnetic field that have the characteristics of fluid turbulence. We investigated the properties of these fluctuations during a substorm on 7 February 2009. During this event several spacecraft were observing the magnetotail. By using upstream observations performed by Wind, we conducted a global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of the substorm. The simulation results were compared to time series of Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) observations in the magnetotail, and it performed well as the spacecraft encountered dipolarizations and strong flows. Further, the power spectral densities and probability distribution functions observed in the magnetotail by THEMIS and in the MHD simulations were similar. Notable features of the event include a large dipolarization growing by accreting smaller earthward moving dipolarization fronts. The dipolarizations were associated with a strong channel of earthward flow and a large vortex. In the MHD simulation results, which are supported by the observations, strong narrow flow channels are a clear and persistent feature of magnetotail convection which exist at the driving scales for the turbulent spectra.
Changes in the Distribution of Earnings Volatility

Recent research has documented a rise in the volatility of individual labor earnings in the United States since 1970. Existing measures of this trend abstract from within-group latent heterogeneity, effectively estimating an increase in average volatility for observable groups. We decompose this average and find no systematic rise in volatility for the vast majority of individuals. Increasing average volatility has been driven almost entirely by rising earnings volatility of those with the most volatile earnings, identified ex ante by large past earnings changes. We characterize dynamics of the volatility distribution with a nonparametric Bayesian stochastic volatility model from Jensen and Shore (2011).
The Value-Relevance of Changes in Financial Leverage Beyond Growth in Assets and GAAP Earnings

The economic performance of a firm is not directly observable. Prior research has shown that accounting earnings and cash flows measure the otherwise unobservable economic performance. However, the...
Evaluation of linear and revolute underactuated grippers for steel foundry operations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop an automated industrial robotic system for handling steel castings of various sizes and shapes in a foundry. Design/methodology/approach – The authors first designed a prismatic gripper for pick-and-place operations that incorporates underactuated passive hydraulic contact (PHC) phalanges that enable the gripper to easily adapt to different casting shapes. The authors then optimized the gripper parameters and compared it to an adaptive revolute gripper using two methods: a planar physics based quasistatic simulation that accounts for object dynamics and validation using physical prototypes on a physical robot. Findings – Through simulation, the authors found that an optimized PHC gripper improves grasp performance by 12 per cent when compared to an human-chosen PHC configuration and 60 per cent when compared to the BarrettHand™. Physical testing validated this finding with an improvement of 11 per cent and 280 per cent, respectively. Originality/value – Th...
(Di-2-pyridyl-amine)-(methanol)sulfato-copper(II).

The title complex, [Cu(SO4)(C10H9N3)(CH3OH)], is a mononuclear species with the CuII ion in a Jahn–Teller-distorted `4 + 1' square-pyramidal geometry. The basal plane is defined by the pyridyl N-atom donors of the bipyridyl­amine (bpa) ligand and two O-atom donors of the sulfate ligand. The coordination geometry is completed by the axial coordination of a methanol O-atom donor. The axial bond length displays the usual elongation: Cu—O(axial) = 2.168 (2), Cu—O(basal) = 2.016 (2) (average) and Cu—N(basal) = 1.951 (3) A (average). In the crystal structure, the complex mol­ecules are linked through N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into chains along [100].
Orientation of the Tetranuclear Manganese Cluster and Tyrosine Z in the O2-Evolving Complex of Photosystem II: An EPR Study of the S2YZ• State in Oriented Acetate-Inhibited Photosystem II Membranes†

Inhibitory treatment by acetate, followed by illumination and rapid freezing, is known to trap the S2YZ• state of the O2-evolving complex (OEC) in photosystem II (PS II). An EPR spectrum of this state exhibits broad split signals due to the interaction of the tyrosyl radical, YZ•, with the S = 1/2 S2 state of the Mn4 cluster. We present a novel approach to analyze S2YZ• spectra of one-dimensionally (1-D) oriented acetate-inhibited PS II membranes to determine the magnitude and relative orientation of the S2YZ• dipolar vector within the membrane. Although there exists a vast body of EPR data on isolated spins in oriented membrane sheets, the present study is the first of its kind on dipolar-coupled electron spin pairs in such systems. We demonstrate the feasibility of the technique and establish a rigorous treatment to account for the disorder present in partially oriented 1-D membrane preparations. We find that (i) the point-dipole distance between YZ• and the Mn4 cluster is 7.9 ± 0.2 A, (ii) the angle be...
A Compendium on the NIST Radionuclidic Assays of the Massic Activity of (63)Ni and (55)Fe Solutions Used for an International Intercomparison of Liquid Scintillation Spectrometry Techniques.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology recently participated in an international measurement intercomparison for {sup 63}Ni and {sup 55}Fe, which was conducted among principal national radionuclidic metrology laboratories. The intercomparison was sponsored by EUROMET, and was primarily intended to evaluate the capabilities of liquid scintillation (LS) spectrometry techniques for standardizing nuclides that decay by low-energy {beta}-emission (like {sup 63}Ni) and by low-Z (atomic number) electron capture (like {sup 55}Fe). The intercomparison findings exhibit a very good agreement for {sup 63}Ni among the various participating laboratories, including that for NIST, which suggests that the presently invoked LS methodologies are very capable of providing internationally-compatible standardizations for low-energy {beta}-emitters. The results for {sup 55}Fe are in considerably poorer agreement, and demonstrated the existence of several unresolved problems. It has thus become apparent that there is a need for the various international laboratories to conduct rigorous, systematic evaluations of their LS capabilities in assaying radionuclides that decay by low-Z electron capture.
Market-based transmission expansion planning under uncertainty

This paper presents a market-based transmission expansion planning model, which seeks to find investment opportunities that will bring more economic benefits than the costs. Benders decomposition method is used to decompose the whole planning problem into a master problem, which makes investment decisions, and a slave problem, which simulates the operation of the electric market. Uncertainties appearing in the planning process are analyzed systematically and classified into random and non-random uncertainties. Monte Carlo simulation method is applied to simulate random uncertainties, while robustness testing method is employed to incorporate nonrandom uncertainties. The case study illustrates the application of the proposed model in a competitive electricity market with double-sided auctions.
Overexpression of FABP3 inhibits human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell proliferation but enhances their survival in hypoxia

Studying the proliferative ability of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells in hypoxic conditions can help us achieve the effective regeneration of ischemic injured myocardium. Cardiac-type fatty acid binding protein (FABP3) is a specific biomarker of muscle and heart tissue injury. This protein is purported to be involved in early myocardial development, adult myocardial tissue repair and responsible for the modulation of cell growth and proliferation. We have investigated the role of FABP3 in human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells under ischemic conditions. MSCs from 12 donors were cultured either in standard normoxic or modified hypoxic conditions, and the differential expression of FABP3 was tested by quantitative (RT)PCR and western blot. We also established stable FABP3 expression in MSCs and searched for variation in cellular proliferation and differentiation bioprocesses affected by hypoxic conditions. We identified: (1) the FABP3 differential expression pattern in the MSCs under hypoxic conditions; (2) over-expression of FABP3 inhibited the growth and proliferation of the MSCs; however, improved their survival in low oxygen environments; (3) the cell growth factors and positive cell cycle regulation genes, such as PCNA, APC, CCNB1, CCNB2 and CDC6 were all down-regulated; while the key negative cell cycle regulation genes TP53, BRCA1, CASP3 and CDKN1A were significantly up-regulated in the cells with FABP3 overexpression. Our data suggested that FABP3 was up-regulated under hypoxia; also negatively regulated the cell metabolic process and the mitotic cell cycle. Overexpression of FABP3 inhibited cell growth and proliferation via negative regulation of the cell cycle and down-regulation of cell growth factors, but enhances cell survival in hypoxic or ischemic conditions.
Comparison of Mexican and Mexican American College Students on the Spanish (American) Version of the Depression Adjective Check List

To study the utility of the Spanish (American) version of the Depression Adjective Check Lists with a Mexican sample, comparisons of means and reliability of Mexican American and Mexican samples we...
Single-stage operation without temporary colostomy for persistent cloaca with a short common channel.

Colorectal decompression with a catheter was performed for evacuation of stool before definitive surgery in two patients with a persistent cloaca. Two newborn female infants with persistent cloaca received placement of a silicone balloon-tipped catheter in the rectum via the cloacal orifice under fluoroscopic guidance at the time of diagnosis. The length of the cloaca was 2 and 1.5 cm, respectively. The diameter of the catheter was matched to the patients’ rectal size and the open end was wrapped in a diaper to allow continuous drainage of stool. The infants underwent bowel irrigation with warm saline thrice a day, at home. Total urogenital mobilization was carried out in the infants at the age of 7 and 8 months, respectively. Both infants had no abdominal distension, colorectal dilatation, or urinary tract infection while the catheter was in situ. The postoperative course was uneventful, except for minimal wound dehiscence in one patient. At present, both infants can void spontaneously without any urological problems. In infants with a persistent cloaca less than 3 cm long and normal urinary tract function, adequate evacuation of stool may be achieved by colorectal decompression with a catheter, thus avoiding the need for a colostomy.
Contemporary Plasma Physics

The manifold aspects of plasma physics are briefly described. The basic science and advanced technology embodied in this interdisciplinary field are delineated following an identification of what constitutes a plasma. With regard to the former, such highlights as the evolution of the method of adiabatic invariants to deal with highly nonlinear properties of plasmas are offered. Hypersonics, high impulse fuel systems, the Sherwood program, nuclear explosives, and microwave tubes represent key areas in modern technology demanding more basic knowledge of plasma interactions.
Radiation across a spherical cavity having both specular and diffuse reflectance components

Etablissement d'une equation du transfert radiatif de chaleur dans une cavite spherique avec reflexions en partie speculaire et en partie diffuse
A Parametric Study of Electron Backscatter Diffraction based Grain Size Measurements

Abstract Polycrystalline microstructures can be well imaged using maps reconstructed from orientation data collected by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). These maps are very helpful for delineating grain boundaries in such microstructures and are thus well suited for grain size analysis. However, for these analyses to be as accurate as possible it is important to understand the effect of various parameters relevant to grain size measurements via EBSD in order to achieve accurate estimations of grain size. In particular, this work addresses the sensitivity of the grain tolerance angle and minimum number of measurement points per grain to the end results as well as considers other relevant parameters. Guidelines are proposed for making appropriate value selections for these parameters.
Symmetry of the superconducting gap function from electron scattering by interacting tunneling units

Abstract The symmetry of the gap function is derived for a system in which the conduction electrons are scattered by elastically interacting tunneling units, causing pairing and superconductivity. For specific examples of tunneling units found in experiments on a number of high T c materials we obtain; (i) a strongly anisotropic effective electron-electron interaction due to the anisotropic coupling to the tunneling units; (ii) a strongly anisotropic gap in k -space even for a spherical fermi surface; (iii) a high transition temperature; (iv) a gap function with nodes and a combination of s and d x 2 − y 2 symmetry.
Integrating human and robot decision-making dynamics

Humans and robots each have strengths and weaknesses associated with making good decisions to address complex tasks in uncertain, changing environments. We investigate how humans and robots can best jointly contribute to decision making so that strengths are exploited and weaknesses compensated. Our approach to this integration problem is to leverage experimental and modeling work of psychologists on human decision making. We seek commonality between the kinds of decisions humans make in complex tasks and the kinds of decisions humans make in psychology experiments; when commonality conditions are met, the psychology results can be used to predict how humans will behave in the complex task. A problem well studied in the psychology literature is the two-alternative forced-choice task, in which the human subject chooses between two options at regular time intervals and receives a reward after each choice. Interestingly, experiments show convergence of the aggregate behavior to rewards that are often suboptimal. We introduce a decision-making problem associated with a complex task that integrates human and robotic decision-making dynamics with feedback. The setting is a human-supervised collective robotic foraging problem, where the human decision-making takes the form of a two-alternative forced-choice task and the reward report is a feedback from the robots. Using a popular, experimentally verified, decision-making model, we prove convergence of the human behavior to the observed aggregate decision making for reward structures with matching points. Since behavior converges to suboptimal performance, we show how adaptive laws for the robot feedback, which use only local information, can be applied to help the human make optimal decisions.
Global tropospheric and total ozone monitoring with a double-etalon Fabry–Perot interferometer. I. Instrument concept

The global distribution of tropospheric ozone (O(3)) can be observed from a satellite-based instrument by spectrally isolating the pressure-broadened wings of strong O(3) lines. The Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) provides high spectral resolution and high-throughput capabilities that are essential for performing such a measurement. Through proper selection of channel spectral regions, the FPI optimized for tropospheric O(3) measurements can simultaneously observe a stratospheric component and thus the total O(3) column abundance. We present a conceptual instrument design that involves a double-etalon fixed-gap series configuration FPI along with an ultranarrow bandpass filter to achieve single-order operation with an overall spectral resolution of approximately 0.068 cm(-1), sampling the narrow 1054.2-1055.2 cm(-1) spectral region within the strong 9.6-mum ozone infrared band from a nadir-viewing satellite configuration.
Isolation of parasorbic acid from the cranberry plant, Vaccinium macrocarpon

Abstract Parasorbic acid, 5,6-dihydro-6(S)-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one, has been isolated from whole plant extracts of the cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon. This antibiotic lactone, which also inhibits seed germination, has been reported previously only from the fruit of the mountain ash, Sorbus aucuparia.
A study of the uniqueness of the R-matrix parameters when fitting cross-section data using a least-square search routine

Abstract A study of the uniqueness of the R-matrix parameters using the least-squares search routine MULTI has been made on mock two-, three-, five-resonance 1-spin-state data, and on ten-resonance 2-spin-state data. The study shows that the parameters Eλ, Γγλ, Γnλ, and Γfλ = Γf1λ + Γf2λ are unique and that the phase angles θλλ, obtained from a least-squares fit to data are not unique. The conclusion arrived at in the 2-spin-state study cautions against interpreting the results of a 2-channel, 1-spin-state fit to 2-spin-state data in terms of the possible spins of the resonances.
Equitable list-coloring for graphs of maximum degree 3

Given lists of available colors assigned to the vertices of a graph G, a list coloring is a proper coloring of G such that the color on each vertex is chosen from its list. If the lists all have size k, then a list coloring is equitable if each color appears on at most ⌈|V(G)|-k⌉ vertices. A graph is equitably k-choosable if such a coloring exists whenever the lists all have size k. Kostochka, Pelsmajer, and West introduced this notion and conjectured that G is equitably k-choosable for k > Δ (G). We prove this for Δ(G) = 3. We also show that every graph G is equitably k-choosable for k ≥ Δ(G)(Δ(G)-1)-2 + 2. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 47: 1–8, 2004
IgG4 Levels in Bile for Distinguishing IgG4-Associated Cholangiopathy from Other Biliary Disorders: A Single Blinded Pilot Study

Background/aims Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-associated cholangiopathy (IAC) is an inflammatory disease and may mimic primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), or pancreatic cancer on cholangiography. We investigated whether IgG4 levels in bile aspirated during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can distinguish IAC from PSC, CCA, and pancreatic cancer. Methods Bile was aspirated directly from the common bile duct during ERCP in patients with IAC prior to steroid therapy. For control purposes, bile was obtained from patients with PSC, CCA, pancreatic cancer, and benign biliary conditions (sphincter of oddi dysfunction/choledocholithiasis). Results Biliary IgG4 levels were measured in 54 patients. The median bile IgG4 levels were markedly elevated in patients with IAC (5.5 mg/dL; interquartile range [IQR], 5.1 to 15.6) as compared to patients with benign biliary conditions (0 mg/dL; IQR, 0 to 0.1; p=0.003). The median biliary IgG4 levels in PSC, CCA, and pancreatic cancer were 1.2 (IQR, 0.2 to 3.8), 0.9 (IQR, 0.2 to 3.4), and 0.2 mg/dL (IQR, 0.1 to 0.8), respectively. A cutoff value of 3.8 mg/dL distinguished IAC from PSC and CCA patients with 100% and 76.9% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Conclusions The results of this pilot study suggest that measurement of biliary IgG4 levels may have clinical value in distinguishing patients with IAC from biliary disorders that can mimic IAC.
The acardiac twin: a case report using color Doppler ultrasonography.

The use of color Doppler sonography has expanded our understanding of the normal and abnormal pregnancy. A case is presented here in which color Doppler imaging was utilized to confirm a long-held theory concerning the strikingly abnormal dynamics of arterial flow to an acardiac twin and observations are also presented concerning the possible route of venous return contrary to presumed theories established within the literature. Copyright © 1992 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Influences on What Consumers Know and What They Think They Know Regarding Marketer Pricing Tactics

Although a considerable amount of research has investigated consumer knowledge of individual prices, consumer knowledge of marketer pricing tactics (e.g., partitioned prices, pennies a day) has received only limited attention. In the current research, a model depicting hypothesized antecedents of consumer knowledge (both accurate and self-perceived) regarding pricing tactics marketers use is proposed and then investigated in two studies. Tests of the model provided support for the hypothesized antecedents of both objective and subjective pricing tactic knowledge and suggested that experience is a key moderator of the objective pricing tactic knowledge‐subjective pricing tactic knowledge relationship. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sellers have considerable flexibility in terms of how to present pricerelated information and claims in the marketplace. Indeed, sellers often
Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis as the first evidence of locally recurrent breast carcinoma.

Background. Carcinoma of the breast infrequently presents initially as axillary adenopathy. In such cases, after biopsy proves the presence of metastatic carcinoma, the primary tumor generally is assumed to be in the ipsilateral breast, despite negative mammographic findings and the lack of a clinically palpable breast mass. Methods. The authors recently studied a case of a 50-year-old woman in whom recurrent neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast presented as a contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis. After mastectomy ipsilateral to the metastasis proved negative for tumor, a histologic, comparison of the previous contralateral tumor with that in the lymph node was performed, followed by biopsy of the clinically and mammographically negative original lumpectomy site. Results. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies proved that the original, metastatic, and locally recurrent tumors were identical, sharing unusual neuroendocrine features. The patient is currently disease free after chemotherapy. Conclusion. Contralateral mammary carcinoma should be considered in the workup of a patient who presents with evidence of an axillary lymph node metastasis. Locally recurrent breast carcinoma may be clinically and mammographically occult. Histologic review of prior biopsy material and comparison with current tissue is essential in proper patient management. Cancer 1995;75:2875–8.
Spin Resonance of Free Electrons Polarized by Exchange Collisions

An experiment is described in which thermal electrons, ${t}_{e}\ensuremath{\approx}400\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K, become polarized in detectable numbers by undergoing exchange collisions with oriented sodium atoms during which the atom orientation is transferred to the electrons. The collisions establish interrelated equilibrium values for the atom and electron polarizations which depend upon the balance between the polarizing agency acting upon the atoms (optical pumping) and the disorienting relaxation effects acting both on atoms and electrons. When now the electrons are furthermore artificially disoriented by gyromagnetic spin resonance, an additional reduction of the atom polarization ensues which is detected by an optical monitoring technique, thereby allowing a determination of the free-electron spin $g$ factor, ${g}_{s}$. Since it was experimentally convenient, at this stage only the ratio $\frac{{g}_{J}(\mathrm{Na})}{{g}_{s}}=1.000026\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.00003$ was determined, showing no significant difference between ${g}_{s}$ and ${g}_{J}(\mathrm{Na})$, the $g$ factor of the $^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}$ sodium ground state. From the experimental strength and width of the electron disorientation signal a lower limit was obtained for the sodium exchange cross section with thermal electrons: $Qg2.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. This may be compared with a theoretical exchange cross section, $Q=2.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, which is derived under the assumption that the $3{s}^{2}{S}_{0}$ state of the ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ion has essentially zero binding energy, thereby causing strong singlet scattering while the triplet scattering is negligible in comparison. Spin-orbit coupling during collisions of the electrons with the atoms of the inert argon buffer employed to slow down wall diffusion is discussed as the chief cause for the shortness of the observed free-electron spin relaxation time, ${T}_{e}\ensuremath{\approx}6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ sec.
Depression, distress, and immunity: Risk factors for infectious disease

Immunological findings from studies of depressed populations are reviewed, and selected methodological issues are addressed related to the area of human behavioral immunology. Of particular interest here is the role of natural killer (NK) cell activity in health risk, and the possible effects of negative mood or distress as a modifier of natural immunity in normal populations. Results from a longitudinal study of community volunteers suggested that individuals who were currently healthy, but who exhibited a persistently low pattern of basal natural immunity and who perceived their environment as more stressful, were at risk for development of infectious disease over follow-up. The results also suggested that plasma beta endorphin might be playing some moderating role in affecting the observed pattern of NK activity in the sample.
Principles of Japanese Discourse: A Handbook

Principles of Japanese Discourse offers the first detailed description in English of the structure and rhetorical effects observed in various genres of Japanese discourse. Drawing on Japanese bunshooron and incorporating results of Western discourse studies, the book covers principles of overall rhetorical organisation including ki-shoo-ten-ketsu, topic structure, danraku, and sentence chaining, and presents a variety of rhetorical strategies frequently used in contemporary Japanese texts. After presenting these principles in thirty compact entries, Professor Maynard invites the reader to apply the knowledge gained to the comprehension of contemporary authentic Japanese text. Seven selected readings are presented with vocabulary lists, discourse notes, and other tasks. Translations are provided in the appendix. In this book Professor Maynard has created a new category in the area of Japanese language learning and provided an excellent reference source not only for students but for instructors of the Japanese language worldwide.