cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system genes in the progression of chronic kidney disease: findings from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study

BACKGROUND We conducted single-marker, gene- and pathway-based analyses to examine the association between renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) variants and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression among Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort study participants. METHODS A total of 1523 white and 1490 black subjects were genotyped for 490 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 12 RAAS genes as part of the ITMAT-Broad-CARe array. CKD progression phenotypes included decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over time and the occurrence of a renal disease event, defined as incident end-stage renal disease or halving of eGFR from baseline. Mixed-effects models were used to examine SNP associations with eGFR decline, while Cox proportional hazards models tested SNP associations with renal events. Gene- and pathway-based analyses were conducted using the truncated product method. All analyses were stratified by race, and a Bonferroni correction was applied to adjust for multiple testing. RESULTS Among white and black participants, eGFR declined an average of 1.2 and 2.3 mL/min/1.73 m(2)/year, respectively, while renal events occurred in a respective 11.5 and 24.9% of participants. We identified strong gene- and pathway-based associations with CKD progression. The AGT and RENBP genes were consistently associated with risk of renal events in separate analyses of white and black participants (both P < 1.00 × 10(-6)). Driven by the significant gene-based findings, the entire RAAS pathway was also associated with renal events in both groups (both P < 1.00 × 10(-6)). No single-marker associations with CKD progression were observed. CONCLUSIONS The current study provides strong evidence for a role of the RAAS in CKD progression.
A New Sufficient Condition for Additive D-Stability and Application to Cyclic Reaction-Diffusion Models

Matrix A is said to be additively D-stable if A - D remains Hurwitz for all nonnegative diagonal matrices D. In reaction-diffusion models, additive D-stability of the matrix describing the reaction dynamics guarantees stability of the homogeneous steady-state, thus ruling out the possibility of diffusion-driven instabilities. We present a new criterion for additive D-stability using the concept of compound matrices. We first give conditions under which the second additive compound matrix has nonnegative off-diagonal entries. We then use this Metzler property of the compound matrix to prove additive D-stability with the help of an additional determinant condition. This result is then applied to investigate stability of cyclic reaction networks in the presence of diffusion.
Double patterning technology friendly detailed routing

Double patterning technology (DPT) is a most likely lithography solution for 32/22 nm technology nodes as of 2008 due to the delay of extreme ultra violet lithography. However, it should hurdle two challenges before being introduced to mass production, layout decomposition and overlay error. In this paper, we present the first detailed routing algorithm for DPT to improve layout decomposability and robustness against overlay error, by minimizing indecomposable wirelength and the number of stitches. Experimental results show that the proposed approach improves the quality of layout significantly in terms of decomposability and the number of stitches with 3.6x speedup, compared with a current industrial DPT design flow.
Vitamin D in the Persian Gulf: Integrative Physiology and Socioeconomic Factors

Countries of the Persian Gulf region—Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates—have become increasingly modernized, resulting in a transformation of lifestyle based on technology, sedentary activity, lack of sunlight, and unhealthy dietary patterns. These factors have led to a higher prevalence not only of vitamin D undernutrition, but also chronic obesity, insulin resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. This review explores the integrative physiologic effects of vitamin D with socioeconomic factors and propose a hypothesis-driven model for their contributions to obesity and diabetes in the Persian Gulf. Further research into these interactions may ultimately lead to novel preventive strategies and therapies for metabolic disorders in this geographic region.
Development of an assay for high-throughput energy expenditure monitoring in the zebrafish.

Abstract Energy homeostasis is maintained by balancing energy intake and expenditure. Many signals regulating energy intake are conserved between the human and teleost. However, before this work, there was no sensitive high-throughput system to monitor energy expenditure in the teleost. We exploit the nonfluorescent and fluorescent properties of resazurin and its reduced form resorufin (alamarBlue®) to monitor energy expenditure responses to drug application and genetic manipulation. We show that leptin, insulin, and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) increase energy expenditure dose dependently in the larval zebrafish. As previously established in the mouse, etomoxir, a carnitine palmitoyl transferase I inhibitor, blocks leptin-induced energy expenditure in the zebrafish. Metformin, the most commonly prescribed insulin sensitizer, increases the insulin-induced metabolic rate. Using genetic knockdown, we observed that α-MSH treatment increases the metabolic rate, as does knockdown of the melanoc...
From Abe Fortas to Zoë Baird: Why Some Presidential Nominations Fail in the Senate

Why, given a strong presumption of success, do some presidential nominations fail? Of 1,464 important nominations from 1965 to 1994, less than 5% failed. Ninety-four percent of failures were rejected or withdrawn before reaching the floor, suggesting that opponents are most effective during prefloor stages. We propose a theoretical framework based on the notion that policy entrepreneurs pursue their goals within the context of a presumption of success. Logit analysis tends to support the theory that entrepreneurs can alter the presumption of success and defeat a nomination if they (1) identify negative information about a nominee to provide a rationale for changing the presumption and (2) expand the conflict through committee hearings and the media. Presidential resources—high public approval and efforts to signal that the nomination is a high priority—increase the chances of confirmation. Contrary to previous research, divided government has no independent effect on the fate of nominations.
Platelet von Willebrand factor: Comparison with plasma von Willebrand factor

Platelet von Willebrand factor (vWf) was compared to its plasma counterpart. The platelet vWf was different from plasma vWf in that the multimeric organization was different, larger multimers were present, and the ratio of vWf activity to antigen was higher. Platelet and plasma vWf were similar in their antigenic reactivity in the electroimmunoassay and by liquid phase radioimmunoassay. The amount of vWf activity in large platelets was significantly higher than in normal platelets while the antigen content, although somewhat higher, was not significant. These studies show differences between normal platelet and plasma vWf, and also suggest that platelet size must be considered when platelet vWf is measured in disease states.
Platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase decreases lung reperfusion injury.

Abstract Background . Ischemia-reperfusion injury involves free radical production, polymorphonuclear neutrophil chemotaxis/degranulation, and production of proteolytic enzymes, complement components, coagulation factors, and cytokines. Activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils, endothelial cells, and macrophages produce platelet activating factor, which further promotes these inflammatory reactions. The recently cloned plasma form of platelet activating factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) demonstrates antiinflammatory effects by degrading platelet activating factor. We evaluated the effects of PAF-AH in an isolated perfused rat lung model by adding it to the flush solutions or to the reperfusion blood. Methods . Rat lungs were isolated, flushed with Euro-Collins (EC) or University of Wisconsin (UW) solution, stored at 4°C for 6 or 12 hours, and reperfused using a cross-circulating syngeneic support rat. During reperfusion, oxygenation, compliance, and capillary filtration coefficient were calculated. There were four groups in the study; group I (control) had no PAF-AH added, group II had PAF-AH added to the flush solution, group III had PAF-AH added to reperfusion blood, and group IV had PAF-AH added to both flush solution and reperfusion blood. Results . After 6 hours of storage, oxygenation, compliance, and capillary filtration coefficient significantly improved for EC in group IV. For UW, oxygenation improved in group IV whereas compliance improved in groups II, III, and IV. After 12 hours of storage, compliance improved for EC in group IV and capillary filtration coefficient improved in groups III and IV. For UW, oxygenation and compliance improved in groups II and IV, whereas capillary filtration coefficient improved in group IV. Conclusions . Addition of PAF-AH to intracellular organ preservation solutions and to the blood reperfusate significantly improves postreperfusion oxygenation and compliance, and reduces lung capillary permeability.
Carrier Dynamics Studies of Thick GaN Grown by HVPE

We present a comparison between optical properties of two samples grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy, one directly on Sapphire substrate (non-ELO) and one epitaxial lateral overgrown (ELO) on SiO 2 patterned Sapphire substrate. The ELO material shows an improvement of the UV emission and slight decrease of the yellow emission. The band edge emission is red shifted due to the relaxation of the compressive strain. In spite of the increase in the UV emission, the lifetime of the excitons in the ELO material is more than twice lower than non-ELO material. We attribute this to screening effects of the background electron concentration.
Characteristics of copper indium diselenide nanowires embedded in porous alumina templates

Vertically aligned nanowire arrays of copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2 or CIS) of controllable diameter and length were fabricated by simultaneously electrodepositing Cu, In, and Se from an acid bath into the pores of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) formed on top of an aluminum sheet. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed a preferential [112] orientation and the energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) measurements indicated an overall composition close to stoichiometric CuInSe2. Ohmic contact to CIS was formed by depositing a 100 nm thick of gold layer on top, and thus a Schottky diode device of the Au/CIS nanowires/Al configuration was obtained. Analysis of the current–voltage characteristics of these devices yielded diode ideality factor and reverse saturate current density values slightly higher than those reported in the literature for bulk CIS/Al junctions. Capacitance–voltage measurements were performed on the diodes to get the estimates of space charge density and the junction potential.
The Effects of Inhaled Steroids on Recurrent Wheeze After Acute Bronchiolitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 748 Patients

Background. Acute bronchiolitis infection during infancy is associated with an increased risk of asthma later in life. The objective of this study was to determine if inhaled steroids are effective in preventing the development of recurrent wheeze or asthma following acute bronchiolitis. Methods. Multiple databases and bibliographies of selected references were searched. Inclusion required (a) a randomized controlled trial of inhaled steroids and control group, (b) at least 2 weeks duration of therapy started during the acute phase of disease, and (c) identification of the rate of recurrent wheeze or asthma at least 6 months after therapy. Results. Of 1410 studies reviewed, 8 reports were included in this meta-analysis (748 patients). The overall odds ratio for developing recurrent wheeze or asthma with treatment versus without treatment was 1.02 (95% confidence interval = 0.58-1.81). Conclusions. A course of inhaled steroids after acute bronchiolitis is not effective in preventing recurrent wheeze or asthma.
New methods for antinuclear antibody testing: does it cut costs and corners without jeopardizing clinical reliability?

New methods for antinuclear antibody testing: does it cut costs and corners without jeopardizing clinical reliability?
Serum IGF-I and C-reactive protein in healthy black and white young men: The CARDIA Male Hormone Study

Objective Animal and human studies suggest that C-reactive protein (CRP) may be inversely associated with serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations. However, most human studies have not controlled adequately for confounding factors, particularly nutritional intake. This population-based study examined whether CRP is inversely associated with IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations.
Transient Erythroblastopenia of Childhood Presenting with Papilledema

A 4-year-old boy with transient erythroblastopenia of childhood (TEC) presented with papilledema and transient hemiparesis. Upon spontaneous hematologic recovery, the papilledema resolved. It is concluded that TEC, like other forms of anemia, may present with papilledema and even focal neurologic deficit, from which spontaneous recovery may be anticipated.
Multidisciplinary views toward pharmacist-delivered medication therapy management services in dialysis facilities.

Abstract Objective To determine views of staff of dialysis centers toward pharmacist-delivered medication therapy management (MTM) services. Design Focus group study. Setting Three private, nonprofit, outpatient dialysis facilities. Participants Multidisciplinary dialysis staff. Intervention Two focus group sessions were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. Main outcome measures Views of staff toward MTM services at a dialysis center. Results A total of 13 staff members of dialysis centers participated in the study. Participants included nurses, patient care technicians, a social worker, dietitian, and administrative personnel. Key themes included: the need for access to MTM services in dialysis facilities exists; services should include medication reconciliation and patient education; services should be proactive, consistent, individualized, and covered by insurance; and that pharmacists are uniquely suited to provide MTM services. Conclusion Dialysis staff support the integration of MTM services in facilities. Further research is needed to identify barriers and opportunities in the implementation process, including patient perspectives.
Customized optimal filter for eliminating operator's tremor

Remote manually operated tasks such as those found in teleoperation, virtual reality, or joystick-based computer access, require the generation of an intermediate signal which is transmitted to the controlled subsystem (robot arm, virtual environment or cursor). When man-machine movements are distorted by tremor, performance can be improved by digitally filtering the intermediate signal before it reaches the controlled device. This paper introduces a novel filtering framework in which digital equalizers are optimally designed after pursuit tracking task experiments. Due to inherent properties of the man-machine system, the design of tremor suppression equalizers presents two serious problems: (1) performance criteria leading to optimizations that minimize mean-squared error are not efficient for tremor elimination, and (2) movement signals show highly ill-conditioned autocorrelation matrices, which often result in useless or unstable solutions. A new performance indicator is introduced, namely the F-MSEd, and the optimal equalizer according to this new criterion is developed. Ill-condition of the autocorrelation matrix is overcome using a novel method which we call pulled-optimization. Experiments performed with both a person with tremor disability, and a vibration inducing device, show significant results.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Patellar Fracture After Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Surgery

The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) has been identified as the primary medial restraint to prevent lateral patellar displacement; it contributes up to 80% of the medial restraining forces on the patella1,2. Anatomically, the MPFL originates from the superior two-thirds of the medial patellar border and runs posteriorly toward the medial femoral epicondyle to insert in close relation to the origin of the superficial medial collateral ligament and slightly distal to the adductor tubercle3-5. Several techniques of MPFL repair and reconstruction have been described, with various graft options, tunnel placements, and fixation options, with or without concomitant procedures such as lateral retinacular release or tibial tuberosity osteotomy. Most techniques for patellar attachment of a reconstructed MPFL use patellar tunnels6-8, while some use suture anchors or soft-tissue fixation7,9,10. The potential complications of MPFL surgery include iatrogenic medial instability, persistent or recurrent lateral instability, patellofemoral arthrosis, loss of knee motion, and patellar fracture. In 1992, in a series of thirty patients, Ellera Gomes11 reported the first patellar fracture after MPFL reconstruction with use of a transverse patellar tunnel that traversed the entire width of the patella. Since then, eight patellar fractures have been reported after MPFL reconstruction with use of patellar bone tunnels. Four fractures in three series7,12,13 were attributed to technical errors associated with patellar tunnel placement. The other four fractures14,15 were medial rim avulsion fractures of the patella after MPFL reconstruction as the treatment for recurrent patellar dislocation. Fractures of the superior pole of the patella (superior pole sleeve avulsions) have been reported after medial soft-tissue imbrication and lateral retinacular release16-18; to our knowledge, similar proximal patellar fractures have not …
Overshooting convection in tropical cyclones

[1] Using infrared satellite imagery, best-track data, and reanalysis data, tropical cyclones are shown to contain a disproportionate amount of the deepest convection in the tropics. Although tropical cyclones account for only 7% of the deep convection in the tropics, they account for about 15% of the deep convection with cloud-top temperatures below the monthly averaged tropopause temperature and 29% of the clouds that attain a cloud-top temperature 15 K below the temperature of the tropopause. This suggests that tropical cyclones could play an important role in setting the humidity of the stratosphere.
Sterile Hemopneumothorax Caused by Softening and Perforation of a Pulmonary Infarct

A case of chronic rheumatic heart disease with decompensation is reported, in which embolization and pulmonary infarction were followed by softening of an infarct, perforation into the pleural cavity, and sterile hemopneumothorax.
Why do users speak more positively about Mac OS X but are more loyal to Windows 7

Software provides users with two kinds of values - Hedonic Value (HV) and Utilitarian Value (UV).The study finds that UV impacts User Loyalty (UL)And HV impacts positive Word-of-Mouth (WOM).These distinctive impacts of UV and HV on UL and WOM respectively has implications for software design and development.Retaining existing users requires focus on UV while attracting new users requires focus on HV. Users seek a more complete experience with software products, an experience that not only achieves well-defined goals, but also involves the senses and generates affective response. There is therefore a need to develop product characteristics that provide both instrumental and hedonic value to users of even utilitarian software products. But software product development organizations will be motivated to provide these features only if enhances business outcomes such as User Loyalty (UL) and positive Word-of-Mouth (WOM). Keeping this context in view, this study investigates how utilitarian product characteristics, as measured by perceived usefulness, and hedonic product characteristics, that generate perceived enjoyment and playfulness, impact UL and WOM. The results of the study show that hedonic and utilitarian product characteristics have distinctive impacts on UL and WOM with hedonic characteristics positively and significantly impacting WOM while utilitarian characteristics positively and significantly impacting UL. The reasons for this rather unexpected findings are discussed.
3-D Depth Reconstruction from a Single Still Image

We consider the task of 3-d depth estimation from a single still image. We take a supervised learning approach to this problem, in which we begin by collecting a training set of monocular images (of unstructured indoor and outdoor environments which include forests, sidewalks, trees, buildings, etc.) and their corresponding ground-truth depthmaps. Then, we apply supervised learning to predict the value of the depthmap as a function of the image. Depth estimation is a challenging problem, since local features alone are insufficient to estimate depth at a point, and one needs to consider the global context of the image. Our model uses a hierarchical, multiscale Markov Random Field (MRF) that incorporates multiscale local- and global-image features, and models the depths and the relation between depths at different points in the image. We show that, even on unstructured scenes, our algorithm is frequently able to recover fairly accurate depthmaps. We further propose a model that incorporates both monocular cues and stereo (triangulation) cues, to obtain significantly more accurate depth estimates than is possible using either monocular or stereo cues alone.
On the Theory of Learnining with Privileged Information

In Learning Using Privileged Information (LUPI) paradigm, along with the standard training data in the decision space, a teacher supplies a learner with the privileged information in the correcting space. The goal of the learner is to find a classifier with a low generalization error in the decision space. We consider a new version of empirical risk minimization algorithm, called Privileged ERM, that takes into account the privileged information in order to find a good function in the decision space. We outline the conditions on the correcting space that, if satisfied, allow Privileged ERM to have much faster learning rate in the decision space than the one of the regular empirical risk minimization.
Microplatforms for avian malaria studies

This work demonstrates a microfluidic platform to study and differentiate avian red blood cells infected to various degrees by the malaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum. The preliminary finding points to the feasibility of using the morphological changes on the surface of the malaria infected avian RBC (miaRBC) as biomarkers for diagnosis. By embedding a glass substrate with a controlled surface roughness in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channels, the surface lesions and furrow-like structures on the miaRBC surfaces could interact with the substrate and be separated at 3.2%, 3.9%, 9.1%, 13.4%, and 20.1% infections. It was estimated that the miaRBCs could be selectively captured under a wall shear rate between 2.1 to 3.2 s−1, and could be improved by increasing the channel length and finer flow control.
IMPROVEMENT OF STIFF‐MUD CLAYS THROUGH PH CONTROL *

Clays, when given a correct alkali treatment, show a marked improvement in working qualities. They become more plastic, require less power to extrude the clay through the die, and, when dried, have greater strength and are less pervious to water. The tendency of clays to laminate is reduced. The fired ware is stronger and has a lower moisture absorption. Both acid and calcareous clays are susceptible to improvement by this process. The amount of reagents must be carefully controlled by pH measurement for best results. The method of testing for pH. and the limits within which the two type clays must be held are described.
Infinitely Many Syzygies

We show that any bounded zero-angular-momentum solution of the Newtonian three-body problem suffers infinitely many syzygies (collinearities) provided that it does not suffer a triple collision. Our motivation comes from the dream of building a symbolic dynamics for the three-body problem. The proof relies on the conformal geometry of the shape sphere.
Fabrication of Poly-silicon Thin Films on Glass and Flexible Substrates using Laser Initiated Metal Induced Crystallization of Amorphous Silicon

Poly-silicon thin films on glass and Kapton® substrates are fabricated using laser initiated metal induced crystallization method. Amorphous silicon films of 200 nm thickness were deposited on the two substrates. The films were capped with 200 nm aluminum films. The annealing laser was a cw Argon-ion laser system. Laser power densities ranging from 4 to 9 W/cm2 were used in the annealing process. The samples were irradiated for various periods of time. X-ray diffraction patterns from the initial results indicated the crystallization of the films. Scanning electron microscopy showed dendritic growth in the annealed samples. The composition analysis of the samples indicated aluminum-silicon alloy regions in the films.
Traumatic injuries to anterior teeth in children

Abstract The decision to watch and wait as regards traumatized permanent anterior teeth in children or to routinely sedate these teeth with zine oxide-eugenol preparations is potentially dangerous and does not follow scientifically established precepts. An exhaustive diagnostic procedure will promote accurate evaluation of both tooth and pulp prognosis. A good understanding of inflammation and of the healing process will contribute immeasurably toward intelligent therapeutic management. Immobilization of injured teeth using a minimal-manipulation technique will, in a great number of cases, improve the prognosis for both pulp and tooth.
Altered neuronal density and neurotransmitter expression in the ganglionated region of Ednrb null mice: implications for Hirschsprung's disease

Background Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a congenital condition in which enteric ganglia, formed from neural crest cells (NCC), are absent from the terminal bowel. Dysmotility and constipation are common features of HSCR that persist following surgical intervention. This persistence suggests that the portion of the colon that remains postoperatively is not able to support normal bowel function. To elucidate the defects that underlie this condition, we utilized a murine model of HSCR. Methods Mice with NCC-specific deletion of Ednrb were used to measure the neuronal density and neurotransmitter expression in ganglia. Key Results At the site located proximal to the aganglionic region of P21 Ednrb null mice, the neuronal density is significantly decreased and the expression of neurotransmitters is altered compared with het animals. The ganglia in this colonic region are smaller and more isolated while the size of neuronal cell bodies is increased. The percentage of neurons expressing neuronal nNOS and VIP is significantly increased in Ednrb nulls. Conversely, the percentage of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) expressing neurons is decreased, while Substance P is unchanged between the two genotypes. These changes are limited to the colon and are not detected in the ileum. Conclusions & Inferences We demonstrate changes in neuronal density and alterations in the balance of expression of neurotransmitters in the colon proximal to the aganglionic region in Ednrb null mice. The reduced neuronal density and complementary changes in nNOS and ChAT expression may account for the dysmotility seen in HSCR.
Optimizing the performance of the multiconfiguration molecular mechanics method.

Multiconfiguration molecular mechanics (MCMM) is a general algorithm for constructing potential energy surfaces for reactive systems (Kim, Y.; Corchado, J. C.; Villa, J.; Xing, J.; Truhlar, D. G. J. Chem. Phys. 2000, 112, 2718). This paper illustrates how the performance of the MCMM method can be improved by adopting improved molecular mechanics parameters. We carry out calculations of reaction rate constants using variational transition state theory with optimized multidimensional tunneling on the MCMM PESs for three hydrogen transfer reactions, and we compare the results to direct dynamics. We find that the MCMM method with as little as one electronic structure Hessian can describe the dynamically important regions of the ground-electronic state PES, including the corner-cutting-tunneling region of the reaction swath, with practical accuracy.
Germinal centre localization of bovine viral diarrhoea virus in persistently infected animals

Immunohistochemical analysis of peripheral lymph nodes from gnotobiotic calves persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) revealed extensive deposition of Erns and localization of the viral genome in the light zone of germinal centres. Viral antigen co-localized with immunoglobulin in the germinal centres and was shown to be extracellular. Despite the presence of viral antigen in germinal centres, circulating anti-BVDV antibody was not detected. These findings provide evidence that calves persistently infected with BVDV, in the absence of adventitious infection, can generate a B cell response to the persisting virus. The nature of the tolerance in calves persistently infected with BVDV is discussed in light of these findings.
Welfare-Benefit Dissipation Due to Lack of a Common Currency

Except perhaps for the lead countries of global finance that may maintain a useful degree of monetary independence from each other, joining a regional monetary union boosts financial development. It enhances liquidity and depth of financial markets through the provision of sound money used over a wide area and provides implicit insurance against macroeconomic risks. This paper shows that, for Mexico unlike Canada, macroeconomic volatility is much greater during periods when the nominal exchange rate with USD changes appreciably than when it is quasi-pegged. This finding suggests that the benefits of monetary union are greatest for emerging-market countries inside an economically integrating region.
A pentacyclic building block containing an azepine-2,7-dione moiety for polymer solar cells

A pentacyclic building block containing an azepine-2,7-dione moiety, TTA, was developed. Two D–A copolymers (PTTABT and PTTABDT) using TTA as the acceptor unit were synthesized, showing good solubility and medium bandgaps. The PTTABT film exhibits a broad absorption with a FWHM of 205 nm, while PTTABDT:PC71BM solar cells gave a higher PCE of 5.46%, resulting from its higher Voc and ideal phase separation in the active layer.
Is Clinton Doomed? An Early Forecast for 1996

curiosity value. This paper proposes a model for forecasting U.S. presidential elections that has two simple, but compelling advantages: it is long-range, permitting a forecast four years ahead of time; and it is cheap, requiring no information on variables influencing electoral choices. What is the magic formula that everyone has been looking for? Ruling out the help of astrology, this effort relies on the power of autoregressive models. The basic premise is that the outcomes of presidential elections are not independent random events, like successive coin flips. Instead, they exhibit regularities useful for forecasting. To give away the plot, the forecast of the model developed below is for the Democrats to retain control of the
Envelope Protection and Control Adaptation in Icing Encounters

The goal of this research was to improve the envelope protection capabilities of an aircraft in icing conditions. To accomplish this goal, open and closed loop envelope protection algorithms were developed to ensure the safe operation of an iced aircraft during both manual and autopilot modes of flight. The Iced Aircraft Envelope Protection system (IAEP), developed as a part of the Smart Icing Systems (SIS) research project at the University of Illinois, was based on data from wind tunnel tests, flight tests and iced aircraft simulations obtained from a six-degreeof-freedom computational flight dynamics model. The system consisted of estimative and predictive methods for approximating, and avoiding the envelope boundaries. Simulation results demonstrated that IAEP was capable of successfully avoiding incidents and accidents during flight in icing conditions. This paper includes a summary of the basic scheme of the longitudinal iced aircraft envelope protection system and a discussion of results obtained through simulation.
Yoga: Potential Benefits for Persons Who Stutter.

Yoga has been demonstrated to modulate autonomic nervous system activity, decreasing anxiety and stress, and improving quality of life. This preliminary study sought to examine the use of yogic tec...
Proceedings of the hypertext 2008 workshop on Creating out of the machine: hypertext, hypermedia, and web artists explore the craft

I'd like to welcome you to Creating out of the Machine, a workshop for ACM SIGWEB's Hypertext 2008 conference. This workshop explores the process behind the creation of complex and interesting works of digital narratives. How do writers manage the link? What's underneath the cortex of a realized hypertext or hypermedia work? This workshop is about how hypertext and hypermedia artists create, what decisions they make, how ideas are realized, and how problems are solved. I'd like to thank the artists and developers who submitted proposals for this workshop: Alan Bigelow, Charles Deemer, Chris Crawford, Susan Gibb, Dene Grigar, Juan Gutierrez, and Mark Marino. I'd also like to thank David Millard and Mark Bernstein for their assistance with organization and for their advice. The presenters for this workshop come from a vast range of contexts. They work with hypertext systems, vector graphics technology, mathematics, drama and programming. In many ways this workshop aims at a basic infinitive: to make. A series of difficult questions follow: make what and make how?
Determination of the juvenile hormone-active compound Altosid and its stability in stable fly medium.

A method was devised for determininp; the concentration of juvenile hormone-active compound Altosid® (isopropyl-11-methoxy-3,7, 11-trimethyl dodeca-2, 4-dienoate) in the medium used to rear Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) by using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector. The treated stable fly larval medium was extracted under an atmosphere of nitrogen with benzene-methanol, and the extract was cleaned up in a glass column containing sodium sulfate, alumina, and silicagel. The percentage recovery was 100% after 6 hours of extraction. Detectable residues of Altosid were present at 22 days post treatment at and above the treatment level of 0.005%
Amplified fragment length polymorphism: Studies on plant development

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technology. It focuses on AFLP technology as a tool to address important questions in plant developmental biology. It describes the basic AFLP protocol, which can be divided into four steps. During the first step deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) s are isolated from the sources one wishes to compare. As second step, specific double-stranded (ds) oligodeoxynucleotide adapters are ligated to the ends of the digested DNAs. This is done to generate chimeric molecules of known and unknown sequence. The third step is the PCR phase. And during the last step PCR products are resolved on polyacrylamide sequencing gels and subsequently analyzed for fingerprints of interest. The chapter provides a flow diagram to present a clear picture of the process. The chapter concludes by providing the amazing variety of applications where the AFLP technology has been used. AFLP has been used for bacterial and pathogen genotyping, and for immunological and epidemiological studies. It has also found an important role in ecological, evolutionary, and biodiversity studies of organisms from a wide range of taxa. This amazing variety of uses for AFLP technology is a testament to its inventors, who proposed many of the broad uses in their original patent proposal, (well before AFLP had been put to the tests. This technology is bound to be a major player in answering a wide range of questions being asked in biology, including those questions related to the plant development biology.
Mechanisms for pole piece erosion in a 6-kW magnetically-shielded Hall thruster

The mechanisms contributing to the erosion of the inner magnetic pole of a 6-kW magnetically shielded Hall thruster are experimentally and numerically investigated. Sputtering from ion bombardment is believed to be the cause of this wear, but the nature and source of the responsible ions remains unknown. Laser induced fluorescence and translating and surface-mounted probes are employed to characterize the flux and energy distribution of ions incident at the inner pole. It is found that the bulk population is comprised of ions originating from the cathode plume and the near field immediately adjacent to the inner pole. These ions have a low average kinetic energy, 150 V) to cause high sputtering but too low density to be detected experimentally by the plasma diagnostics in this region. The existence for this high energy population is shown to be a consequence of the high plasma potentials downstream of the thruster exit plane that are characteristic of a magnetically-shielded topography. A simulation validated by experimental measurements of the thruster provides further evidence that a high energy ion populations exists with sufficient density to explain the observed erosion.
Freeze-Drying Human Red Blood Cells: Effect of Hematocrit and Composition of the Freeze-Drying Medium on Red Cell Survival.

Abstract A wide variety of medical procedures require transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs are currently preserved either at 4°C, at a higher hematocrit (70%) for up to 7–12 weeks or in a frozen state in the presence of glycerol at −80°C for several years. However, each procedure has its demerits. Storage in the dry state offers a possibility for storing the cells for long periods of time under conditions that are far easier to maintain (i.e. room temperature), making the transport to sites of immediate need feasible. We developed a method for freeze-drying RBCs using 15% hematocrit, resulting in a survival of 40% after rehydration, as assessed by the percent hemolysis. In this work, we report the effect of cell hematocrit, concentration of trehalose, salts and overall osmolality of the freeze-drying medium on the survival after freeze-drying and rehydration. Decreasing the percent hematocrit and trehalose in the freeze-drying buffer resulted in about 20% improvement in the post-rehydration survival. Freeze-dried and rehydrated RBCs showed high levels of ATP, 2,3-DPG and low percent methemoglobin. These data are discussed in terms of the glass transition properties of the freeze-drying buffer. This work provides an important step in formulating a freeze drying medium that will provide optimum RBC survival after freeze drying and rehydration.
Factors associated with rhythm control treatment decisions in patients with atrial fibrillation—Insights from the NCDR PINNACLE registry

Background Decisions to use rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (AF) should generally be dictated by patient factors, such as quality of life, heart failure, and other comorbidities. Whether or not other factors affect decisions about the use of rhythm control, and catheter ablation in particular, is unknown. Methods A cohort of all patients diagnosed with nonvalvular AF were identified from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry's Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence (PINNACLE) AF registry of US outpatient cardiology practices during the study period from May 1, 2008, to December 31, 2014. Overall and practice-specific rates of rhythm control (cardioversion, antiarrhythmic drug therapy, or catheter ablation) were assessed. We assessed patient and practice factors associated with rhythm control and determined the relative contribution of patient, practice, and unmeasured practice factors with its use. Results Among 511,958 PINNACLE AF patients, 22.3% were treated with rhythm control and 2.9% underwent catheter ablation. Significant practice variation in rhythm control was present (median rate of rhythm control across practices 22.8%, range 0.2%-62.9%). Significant patient factors associated with rhythm control therapy included white (vs nonwhite) race (odds ratio [OR] 2.43, P P P Conclusions One in 5 AF patients in the PINNACLE registry received rhythm control, and 1 in 50 received catheter ablation, suggesting that rhythm control may be underused. A variety of measured and unmeasured practice factors unrelated to patient characteristics play a disproportionate role in the use of rhythm control treatment decisions. Understanding the drivers of these decisions may identify inappropriate treatment variation and better inform optimal use of these therapies.
Racism: Origin and Theory:

This is a review of the theoretical development of the concept of racism. From its 1960s activist roots, the concept lost its theoretical content in its 1970s popularization. Now racism describes virtually anything having to do with racial conflict. The concept is reintroduced and used to analyze the post-1970s race relations propositions. The declining significance of race, symbolic racism, color-blind racism, and unconscious racism missed the structural regressions brought on by the “southern strategy” to mask indirect and covert ways to continue racial oppression. As a result, the new Jim Crow was missed in race relations since the 1980s. A reconsideration of the theory of racism calls for a strategic approach to race relations research. Research should focus on the etiology of racism among European Americans and the central role played by White elites and the media in maintaining historic cultural and institutional arrangements.
Negotiating Intersectional Identities in a Classroom Community of Inquiry

In a globalized world, differences between individuals are salient as they belong to various social, cultural, and historical backgrounds. This salience is particularly prominent in the United States, wherein mainstream ideologies and socio-political structures that undergird the diversity of a global world, contribute towards the intricacies of individual identity evaluation by encapsulating various ethnic, cultural, migratory, and geopolitical scenarios.
High HCV cure rates for people who use drugs treated with direct acting antiviral therapy at an urban primary care clinic.

Background Though direct acting antivirals (DAAs) promise high cure rates, many providers and payers remain concerned about successful treatment for people who use drugs (PWUD), even among those engaged in opioid agonist treatment (OAT). The efficacy of DAAs among PWUD in real-world settings is unclear.
Cytosolic invertases contribute to cellulose biosynthesis and influence carbon partitioning in seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana.

In plants, UDP-glucose is the direct precursor for cellulose biosynthesis, and can be converted into other NDP-sugars required for the biosynthesis of wall matrix polysaccharides. UDP-glucose is generated from sucrose by two distinct metabolic pathways. The first pathway is the direct conversion of sucrose to UDP-glucose and fructose by sucrose synthase. The second pathway involves sucrose hydrolysis by cytosolic invertase (CINV), conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate and glucose-1-phosphate, and UDP-glucose generation by UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP). Previously, Barratt et al. (Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 106, 2009 and 13124) have found that an Arabidopsis double mutant lacking CINV1 and CINV2 displayed drastically reduced growth. Whether this reduced growth is due to deficient cell wall production caused by limited UDP-glucose supply, pleiotropic effects, or both, remained unresolved. Here, we present results indicating that the CINV/UGP pathway contributes to anisotropic growth and cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. Biochemical and imaging data demonstrate that cinv1 cinv2 seedlings are deficient in UDP-glucose production, exhibit abnormal cellulose biosynthesis and microtubule properties, and have altered cellulose organization without substantial changes to matrix polysaccharide composition, suggesting that the CINV/UGP pathway is a key metabolic route to UDP-glucose synthesis in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, differential responses of cinv1 cinv2 seedlings to exogenous sugar supplementation support a function of CINVs in influencing carbon partitioning in Arabidopsis. From these data and those of previous studies, we conclude that CINVs serve central roles in cellulose biosynthesis and carbon allocation in Arabidopsis.
Light-field background de-cluttering for visual prostheses

Object recognition is challenging with current visual prostheses, especially with background clutter. We have developed an imaging system to remove the background clutter in the visual prostheses using the light-field camera and bipolar edge filtering.
I Know What You Did Last Summer: Your Smart Home Internet of Things and Your iPhone Forensically Ratting You Out

The adoption of smart home Internet of Things (IoT) devices continues to grow. What if your devices can snitch on you and let us know where you are at any given point in time? In this work we examined the forensic artifacts produced by Nest devices, and in specific, we examined the logical backup structure of an iPhone used to control a Nest thermostat, Nest Indoor Camera and a Nest Outdoor Camera. We also integrated the Google Home Mini as another method of controlling the studied Smart Home devices. Our work is the primary account for the examination of Nest artifacts produced by an iPhone, and is also the first open source research to produce a usable forensics tool we name the Forensic Evidence Acquisition and Analysis System (FEAAS). FEAAS consolidates evidentiary data into a readable report that can infer user events (like entering or leaving a home) and what triggered an event (whether it was the Google Assistant through a voice command, or the use of an iPhone application). Our results are important for the advancement of digital forensics, as there are cases starting to emerge in which smart home IoT devices have already been used as culpatory evidence.
Psychometric Requirements of Oral and Written Language Progress Monitoring Assessments

Purpose The purpose of this article is to outline the psychometric requirements for progress monitoring tools for oral and written language and to provide an overview of the strengths and weaknesse...
SI Toolbox - Full documentation

SI Toolbox is a package for estimating the isotropy violation in the CMB sky. It can be used for estimating the BipoSH coefficients, Dipole modulation, and Doppler boost parameters etc. Different Fortran subroutines, provided with this package, can help the users to develop their independent Fortran codes. This document is an overview of the SI Toolbox installation guide, standalone facilities, and Fortran subroutines. The SI Toolbox package can be downloaded from this https URL.