cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microwave magnetic properties of gadolinium-iron films

Abstract We have made ferromagnetic resonance measurements on Gd1-xFex films, where x = 0 to 1. The saturation magnetization, g-value, the exchange stiffness constant, the magnetic damping parameter and some surface anisotropy parameters were determined. We find that the exchange decreases rapidly as the Fe content decreases. The g-values obey the Wangsness relation except near compensation. The exchange-conductivity linewidth broadening is minimal in this system.
Peroxynitrite-induced DNA damage in the supF gene: correlation with the mutational spectrum

Abstract Tissue inflammation and chronic infection lead to the overproduction of nitric oxide and superoxide. These two species rapidly combine to yield peroxynitrite (ONOO − ), a powerful oxidizing and nitrating agent that is thought be involved in both cell death and an increased cancer risk observed for inflamed tissues. ONOO − has been shown to induce single-strand breaks and base damage in DNA and is mutagenic in the supF gene, inducing primarily G to T transversions clustered at the 5′ end of the gene. The mutagenicity of ONOO − is believed to result from chemical modifications at guanine nucleobases leading to miscoding DNA lesions. In the present work, we applied a combination of molecular and analytical techniques in an attempt to identify biologically important DNA modifications induced by ONOO − . pUC19 plasmid treated with ONOO − contained single-strand breaks resulting from direct sugar damage at the DNA backbone, as well as abasic sites and nucleobase modifications repaired by Fpg glycosylase. The presence of carbon dioxide in the reaction mixture shifted the ONOO − reactivity towards reactions at nucleobases, while suppressing the oxidation of deoxyribose. To further study the chemistry of the ONOO − interactions with DNA, synthetic oligonucleotides representing the mutation-prone region of the supF gene were treated with ONOO − , and the products were analyzed by liquid chromatography–negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–ESI − MS) and tandem mass spectrometry. 8-Nitroguanine (8-nitro-G) was formed in ONOO − -treated oligonucleotides in a dose-dependent manner with a maximum at a ratio of [ONOO − ]: [DNA]=10 and a decline at higher ONOO − concentrations, suggesting further reactions of 8-nitro-G with ONOO − . 8-Nitro-G was spontaneously released from oligonucleotides ( t 1/2 =1 h at 37°C) and, when present in DNA, was not recognized by Fpg glycosylase. To obtain more detailed information on ONOO − –induced DNA damage, a restriction fragment from the pSP189 plasmid containing the supF gene (135 base pairs) was [ 32 P]-end-labeled and treated with ONOO − . PAGE analysis of the products revealed sequence-specific lesions at guanine nucleobases, including the sites of mutational “hotspots.” These lesions were repaired by Fpg glycosylase and cleaved by hot piperidine treatment, but they were resistant to depurination at 90°C. Since 8-nitro-G is subject to spontaneous depurination, and 8-oxo-guanine is not efficiently cleaved by piperidine, these results suggest that alternative DNA lesion(s) contribute to ONOO − mutagenicity. Further investigation of the identities of DNA modifications responsible for the adverse biological effects of ONOO − is underway in our laboratory.
LONG-TERM NEUROPSYCHOLOGIC SEQUELAE OF CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA - CORRELATION WITH CT BRAIN-SCAN ABNORMALITIES

Previous studies have failed to establish a direct relationship between behavioral disorders and organic pathology in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We evaluated 23 long-term survivors who received central nervous system preventive therapy with cranial irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy, using neuropsychologic tests and computed tomographic brain scans. The patients were in continuous first remission for 7 to 11 years, and none were receiving chemotherapy. On the basis of their CT scan findings, they were divided into three groups: 10 with normal CT findings, five with intracerebral calcifications, and eight with cortical atrophy. Neuropsychologic test results allowed prediction of CT scan findings with an 87% accuracy (P
Free energy of a long, flexible, self-avoiding polymer chain in a tube.

The confinement free energy of a long, flexible, self-avoiding polymer chain, fluctuating in d spatial dimensions in an infinitely long cylindrical tube with diameter L, is given by $\ensuremath{\Delta}F\ensuremath{\approx}{\mathrm{Ak}}_{B}{\mathrm{TL}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}{R}_{\ensuremath{\Vert}}$ for ${R}_{\ensuremath{\Vert}}\ensuremath{\gg}L.$ Here ${R}_{\ensuremath{\Vert}}$ is the length of tube occupied by the chain, and A is a universal amplitude. We show how to determine $\ensuremath{\Delta}F$ and ${R}_{\ensuremath{\Vert}}$ from the correlation length ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{L}(t)$ of the n-vector model of magnetism in the limit $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{n}0,$ defined on the cylindrical volume, near the critical temperature ${t}_{c}(L)$ where ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{L}$ diverges. Using this correspondence, we estimate A in two dimensions from transfer-matrix data for self-avoiding walks on strips of width L with free, critically absorbing, and periodic boundaries. Our results for the universal amplitudes A and $B\ensuremath{\approx}{\mathrm{LR}}_{\ensuremath{\Vert}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}〈{w}^{2}〉,$ where w is the winding number, are in excellent agreement with Monte Carlo simulations of Frauenkron, Causo, and Grassberger for strips with periodic boundaries.
Secretory products of macrophages: twenty-five years on

No longer do scientists look down on macrophages as “garbage men” that act “nonspecifically.” Last fall’s Nobel Prizes honored two of the few scientists who studied macrophages three decades ago. Now perhaps thousands do, and the subtypes they describe reflect ongoing discoveries of macrophages’ extraordinary plasticity.
Resistance induced by quantum phase-slips in superconducting nanowires

Abstract We have measured the resistive transitions of ∼20 nanowires of superconducting amorphous MoGe with diameters ∼10 nm and lengths from 100 to 1000 nm . The transition width increases with decreasing cross-sectional area (i.e. increasing normal resistance per unit length) as described by the phenomenology including quantum phase-slips used by Giordano to explain his earlier data and also by the rather similar results of a microscopic theory of Golubev and Zaikin. The resistance well below Tc is much greater than can be explained by thermally activated phase-slips alone. We consider this to strongly support the reality of quantum phase-slips, and the basic correctness of these theories. The exact role of dissipation, whether from metal in the wire, from the carbon nanotube substrate, or from the electromagnetic environment, in reducing quantum phase-slips needs further clarification.
Comparative velocity structure of active Hawaiian volcanoes from 3-D onshore–offshore seismic tomography

Abstract We present a 3-D P-wave velocity model of the combined subaerial and submarine portions of the southeastern part of the Island of Hawaii, based on first-arrival seismic tomography of marine airgun shots recorded by the onland seismic network. Our model shows that high-velocity materials (6.5–7.0 km/s) lie beneath Kilauea's summit, Koae fault zone, and the upper Southwest Rift Zone (SWRZ) and upper and middle East Rift Zone (ERZ), indicative of magma cumulates within the volcanic edifice. A separate high-velocity body of 6.5–6.9 km/s within Kilauea's lower ERZ and upper Puna Ridge suggests a distinct body of magma cumulates, possibly connected to the summit magma cumulates at depth. The two cumulate bodies within Kilauea's ERZ may have undergone separate ductile flow seaward, influencing the submarine morphology of Kilauea's south flank. Low velocities (5.0–6.3 km/s) seaward of Kilauea's Hilina fault zone, and along Mauna Loa's seaward facing Kao'iki fault zone, are attributed to thick piles of volcaniclastic sediments deposited on the submarine flanks. Loihi seamount shows high-velocity anomalies beneath the summit and along the rift zones, similar to the interpreted magma cumulates below Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes, and a low-velocity anomaly beneath the oceanic crust, probably indicative of melt within the upper mantle. Around Kilauea's submarine flank, a high-velocity anomaly beneath the outer bench suggests the presence of an ancient seamount that may obstruct outward spreading of the flank. Mauna Loa's southeast flank is also marked by a large, anomalously high-velocity feature (7.0–7.4 km/s), interpreted to define an inactive, buried volcanic rift zone, which might provide a new explanation for the westward migration of Mauna Loa's current SWRZ and the growth of Kilauea's SWRZ.
Lifetimes of quasi-particles and phonons in a superconductor at zero temperature

General expressions for decay rates of a quasi-particle and a phonon in a superconductor at zero temperature are obtained from Nambu's nonlocal self-consistency conditions. The valid coherence factors in the transition probabilities are encountered for the different processes we consider. The decay rate of a quasi-particle due to emission of single phonons is found to vanish with the $\frac{7}{2}$ power of its excess excitation energy above the gap. The contribution to decay arising from emission of single pairs of particles via Coulomb interaction turns out to be at the most a few percent of that coming from phonon emission. The level width of a phonon caused by decay into single pairs of particles is shown to rise like a step function from zero to $\frac{\ensuremath{\pi}}{2}$ times the normal state value when the phonon energy reaches twice the gap energy. Additional contributions to particle decay arising from two-phonon emission or, from single pair emission, are obtained from the second-order self-energy diagram. The two-phonon emission effect is found to be completely negligible in comparison to that due to single phonon emission.
Dark Silicon and the End of Multicore Scaling

A key question for the microprocessor research and design community is whether scaling multicores will provide the performance and value needed to scale down many more technology generations. To provide a quantitative answer to this question, a comprehensive study that projects the speedup potential of future multicores and examines the underutilization of integration capacity-dark silicon-is timely and crucial.
Fault diagnosis in discrete event systems modeled by Petri nets with outputs

In this paper, we study fault diagnosis in discrete event systems modeled by Petri nets with outputs, i.e., Petri nets with place sensors and transition sensors. Faults are modeled as unobservable transitions and are divided into different types. We assume that the Petri net model is accompanied by a description of the likelihood of each transition at any particular marking. Given a sequence of observations from place and transition sensors, our goal is to calculate the belief (namely, the degree of confidence) regarding the occurrence of faults belonging to each type. We first focus on the computation of beliefs in Petri nets with only transition sensors (i.e., labeled Petri nets) and we construct an online monitor that produces these beliefs by tracking the existence of faulty transitions in execution paths that match the sequence of labels observed so far. To handle place sensors, we transform a given Petri net with outputs into an equivalent labeled Petri net that translates the sensing information into a sequence of labels in the equivalent labeled Petri net. Using this transformation of Petri net and observation sequence, we can then compute the belief for each fault type in the same way as in labeled Petri nets.
A Cost Analysis of Tolerance Induction for Two-Haplotype Match Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Keywords: health services and outcomes research; clinical research / practice; kidney transplantation / nephrology; economics; tolerance; tolerance: clinical
Organized sensemaking: A commentary on processes of interpretive work

The contributions to this special issue focus on links among sensemaking, organizing, and storytelling. They are re-examined in terms of to what the authors pay attention, with what, and for what. In pursuit of linkages, authors attend to accounts of consulting failure, hearings about the recent financial crisis, life history storytelling by elite actors, conflict in a rugby team on tour in Australia, and recurring stories told by jazz musicians. With analyses of dominant stories, discursive devices, life stories, documentaries, and oral tradition, these authors aim for a deeper understanding of order, constraint, conflict, legitimation, embodiment, and distributed improvisation. An assessment of these efforts shows how they deepen, extend, and consolidate our understanding of interpretive work.
Covalent attachment of multilayers (CAM): a platform for pH switchable antimicrobial and anticoagulant polymeric surfaces

These studies show covalent attachment of multilayers (CAM) to chemically alter surfaces to achieve pH switchable antimicrobial and anticoagulant properties. Polyethylene (PE), poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), and silicon (Si) surfaces were functionalized by tethering pH-responsive “switching” polyelectrolytes consisting of poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) terminated with NH2 and COOH groups, respectively. At pH 5.5, they collapse while the PAA segments are expanded. The presence of terminal NH2 or COOH moieties on P2VP and PAA, respectively, facilitated the opportunity for covalently bonding ampicillin (AMP) and heparin (HEP) to both polyelectrolyte chains. Such surfaces, when exposed to S. aureus, inhibit the growth of microbial films (AMP) as well as anticoagulant properties (HEP). Comparison of “dynamic” pH dependent surfaces developed in these studies with “static” surfaces terminated with (AMP) entities shows significant enhancement in the longevity of surface activity against microbial film formation.
Object-oriented transactions in Choices

A transaction manager for the Choices object-oriented operating system that supports both conventional short transactions and the nested transactions required for long-duration processes is described. The transaction manager is a specialization and an extension of the persistent object subsystem of Choices. Using object-oriented design techniques, the different transaction management mechanisms are defined as specializations of abstract classes. Instances of these classes encapsulate the internal structure and algorithms of different object management models and provide transaction management to meet the requirements for short or long transactions. The authors present the rationale for this approach, show how object-oriented design benefits the construction of transaction managers, and discuss both the implementation of a prototype and how the prototype will be used in future research. >
The transition from welfare-to-work: How cars and human capital facilitate employment for welfare recipients

Using a rich panel of data on welfare recipients in Alameda, Los Angeles, and San Joaquin Counties in California, this paper examined the relationship between transportation, human capital, family obstacles, socioeconomic constraints, and employment outcomes for welfare recipients. This paper reports the multinomial logit results that test the spatial mismatch hypothesis, car ownership thesis, and human capital thesis for employment outcome for welfare recipients. First, with respect to the spatial mismatch hypothesis, our work suggests that spatial proximity to jobs was not particularly important in explaining employment outcomes. Second, the private mobility measures, especially car ownership, were found to be significant predictors of employment and exiting welfare. Finally, human capital played an important role for welfare mothers who obtained a job and left the welfare system, and the number of children and their physical and mental challenges were significant barriers to economic self-sufficiency.
Committee makes NASA recommendations

A 208-page report specifying the Senate Appropriations Committee's recommendations regarding NASA accompanied HR2491, the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 1994. To help NASA regain its focus, the committee recommended that the agency reconvene the Augustine Commission panel to update its findings in light of new budget realities that the federal government now faces and to evaluate how successfully the agency has implemented its recommendations. The committee also recommended that independent panels be established to consider creating, within NASA, distinct national institutes for space science and aeronautical technology.
Behavioral characterization of alcohol-tolerant and alcohol-nontolerant rat lines and an f(2) generation.

The Alcohol Tolerant (AT) and Alcohol Nontolerant (ANT) rats, selectively bred for ethanol-induced ataxia on the inclined plane at ALKO in Finland, were moved to the University of Colorado in 1998. The selection phenotype was tested on generation 60 animals in Colorado. In week one, ataxia was measured on the inclined plane 30 minutes after an intraperitoneal dose of 2 g/kg 15% w/v ethanol. Differences in ethanol-induced ataxia between the AT and ANT lines at the University of Colorado were similar to those in the original lines in Finland. In week two, ataxia was measured on the inclined plane at 5 and 30 minutes, and tolerance was measured as the time to regain the original angle of sliding. The AT rats rapidly developed tolerance to 2 g/kg ethanol on the inclined plane; tolerance development was significantly slower in the ANT rats. In week three, the animals were tested for the duration of loss of righting reflex (LORR) and blood ethanol concentration at regain of the righting reflex (BECRRR) following a dose of 3.5 g/kg. The AT rats had a significantly higher BECRRR than did the ANT rats, but did not differ in LORR. A separate experiment with previously untreated rats demonstrated that naive animals of the two lines did not differ in BECRRR or LORR. AT and ANT rats were genotyped for the mutation that occurs in the gene for the α6 subunit of the GABAA receptor, a natural mutation that is known to affect benzodiazepine responses. All ANT animals tested carried the mutant allele, whereas some AT families carried the mutation and others were wild type. There was no effect of the mutation in AT rats for any of the phenotypes that were tested. After several generations of brother–sister mating, the AT and ANT lines were more than 90% inbred as determined by genotyping. One AT (wild-type) line and one ANT (mutant) line were selected for breeding an F2 intercross generation of 1200 animals. They were phenotyped for sensitivity and tolerance to ethanol on each of three consecutive weeks. Order of testing had a modest effect on some of the phenotypes: when tested during the third week as compared to weeks one or two, BECRRR was increased, 30-minute sensitivity was increased, and development of acute tolerance was increased. Statistically significant correlations were found between tolerance and sensitivity at both 5 and 30 minutes, and between LORR and BECRRR. The smaller (or absence of) significant correlations between others of the phenotypes indicate(s) that they are most likely controlled by different sets of genes.
Hiding privacy information in video surveillance system

This paper proposes a detailed framework of storing privacy information in surveillance video as a watermark. Authorized personnel is not only removed from the surveillance video as in J. Wickramasuriya et al. (2004) but also embedded into the video itself, which can only be retrieved with a secrete key. A perceptual-model-based compressed domain video watermarking scheme is proposed to deal with the huge payload problem in the proposed surveillance system. A signature is also embedded into the header of the video as in M. Pramateftakis et al. (2004) for authentication. Simulation results have shown that the proposed algorithm can embed all the privacy information into the video without affecting its visual quality. As a result, the proposed video surveillance system can monitor the unauthorized persons in a restricted environment, protect the privacy of the authorized persons but, at the same time, allow the privacy information to be revealed in a secure and reliable way.
Rapid Analysis, Self-Calibrating Array for Air Monitoring

Human space missions have critical needs for monitoring and control for life support systems. These systems have monitoring needs that include feedback for closed loop processes and quality control for environmental factors. Sensors and monitoring technologies assure that the air environment and water supply for the astronaut crew habitat fall within acceptable limits, and that the life support system is functioning properly and efficiently. The longer the flight duration and the more distant the destination, the more critical it becomes to have carefully monitored and automated control systems for life support. Past experiments with the JPL ENose have demonstrated a lifetime of the sensor array, with the software, of around 18 months. The lifetime of the calibration, for some analytes, was as long as 24 months. We are working on a sensor array and new algorithms that will include sensor response time in the analysis. The preliminary array analysis for two analytes shows that the analysis time, of an event, can be dropped from 45 minutes to less than10 minutes and array training time can be cut substantially. We will describe the lifetime testing of an array and show lifetime data on individual sensors. This progress will lead to more rapid identification of analytes, and faster training time of the array.
Consumption and the credit market

Abstract This paper uses a Kalman filter model to allow the fraction of current-income consumers to vary over time, and shows that these consumers are liquidity-constrained by relating this percentage to measures of credit market tightness.
Bioterrorism, Public Health, and Civil Liberties

In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proposed a model act for the states that specifies steps to be taken to contain an epidemic resulting from a bioterrorist attack. The act would grant broad powers to the states in the event of public health emergencies arising from bioterrorism. Annas discusses the trade-off between civil liberties and the need to protect the health of the public in the event of bioterrorism. His underlying premise is that the model act, despite being revised in December 2001, goes too far.
Enhanced Multi-MeV Photon Emission by a Laser-Driven Electron Beam in a Self-Generated Magnetic Field

Computer simulations show that blasting plastic with strong laser pulses could produce gamma rays with unprecedented intensity, good for fundamental physics experiments and possibly cancer treatments.
Mucinous breast carcinoma. Single cutaneous metastasis.

BACKGROUND. Mucinous or colloid carcinoma is an uncommon breast neoplasm which is generally associated with a good prognosis. Metastases tend to occur late in the disease and are found principally in lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. The longest latency period reported for development of a distant metastasis is 30 years after primary resection of the tumor. OBJECTIVE. To describe a case of cutaneous metastasis from a mucinous breast carcinoma occurring 22 years after initial resection and review the literature. RESULTS. Comparison of the primary tumor with the metastatic lesion showed identical histology. Review of the literature revealed this case represents the second longest latency for a distant metastasis from mucinous breast carcinoma and the unusual involvement of the skin. CONCLUSION. This represents the second longest reported latency period for the development of a distant metastasis from mucinous breast carcinoma and its rare occurrence in the skin.
Select Issues and Controversies in Contemporary African Philosophy

African philosophy today is a complicated and dynamic discipline. This presentation will concentrate on two topics that are currently of special interest. One concerns the meaning of the term ‘communalism’ when it is used to express a defining characteristic of Africa's cultures. The other concerns the reactions on the part of African philosophers and scholars to the movement that has come to be known in Western academia and culture as ‘feminism’.
The Biblical Story of the Announcement of Isaac's Birth: A Structural Analysis

The biblical story of the announcement of Isaac’s birth appears in the Bible in two different versions: one in Genesis 17 (1-27), the other in Genesis 18 (1-16). The comparison of different versions of a myth was the main method of research of Claude Levi-Strauss, emphasizing that mythical thought highlights the great binary oppositions such as life and death, culture and nature, femininity and masculinity, producing a definition of myth as a mode of thought that contributes to the creation of cultural and intellectual identities. The present structural analysis of the two versions of the biblical story of the announcement of Isaac’s birth according to the model of Levi-Strauss is an attempt to decipher the mythical code of the ancient story. This explication of the mythical code suggests that the myth underlying the two versions refers to a ‘collective subconscious’ revealed in structures. The decoding is performed on four levels, following LeviStrauss’ method: geographical, techno-economical, sociological, and cosmological. All four levels materialize in the version in Genesis 18, only two in the version in Genesis 17. The transformative relationship between the two versions creates a new meaning that expresses the sociological and cosmological aspects of circumcision. The two versions of the mythical story include the opposition between interior and exterior, expressing the fear of the penetration of foreigners into the community. The discussion further addresses Sarah’s or Abraham’s laughter, and blood of circumcision on the one hand and of menstruation on the other. The reinterpretation of cultural as well as natural and biological phenomena by mythical thinking creates a complex system of thought that contributes to the cultural and intellectual identity of biblical Israel. Formulating the mythological characteristics of the story of the announcement of Isaac’s birth in the two versions also sheds new light on the phenomenon of ‘mirror stories’ that has been shown to be central to the poetics of the Hebrew Bible by Yair Zakovitch.
Preliminary studies on the pollution levels of antibiotic and antibiotic resistance genes in Huangpu River,China

This paper adopts high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrograph(HPLC-MS) to investigate the concentration characteristics of six common veterinary antibiotics in the Huangpu River and its sediments.Real-time PCR is used to study the existence and abundance level of eight representative antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs) in the water and sediment samples.The results show that the contents of tetracycline(TCs),sulfa,and chloromycetin(CAP) antibiotics in water samples are in the range of 0.44 μg·L–1 to 2.69 μg·L–1,0.97 μg·L–1 to 1.96 μg·L–1,and 0.03 μg·L–1 to 0.26 μg·L–1,respectively.Their respective contents in the sediment are 22.10 μg·kg–1 to 72.74 μg·kg–1,25.98 μg·kg–1 to 117.29 μg·kg–1,and nd to 50.47 μg·kg–1.Except for tet(O) and tet(B/P),the other six resistance genes are detected in all samples.Compared with the TC resistance gene,the sulfa resistance gene is higher in absolute copy number and relative abundance,suggesting that the sulfa resistance gene is dominant in the Huangpu River.The relevance analysis indicates that the abundance of sul(Ⅲ) and tet(W) in the water,and of sul(Ⅱ) in the sediment,are positively related to the content of sulfa antibiotics in the corresponding phase.Sul(A) in the water is significantly related to the content of CAP and TCs in the water phase.Other kinds of antibiotics and resistance genes show no relative existence.The relative abundance of ARGs in the Huangpu River may be related to the kind of resistance genes and its ambient environmental factors(such as light,temperature,pH,heavy metal,and so on),as well as antibiotics.
Research on Grain Storage History in Shang Dynasty

Compared with the Xia Dynasty,the agricultural production in the Shang Dynasty had a greater development. The forms of grain storage in the Shang Dynasty were still carried out on the ground and under the ground.The grain source of the storage in the Shang Dynasty came mainly from the feudal land tax and tribute tax. The feature of the grain storage in the Shang Dynasty was categorized by national grain storage and private storage. The grain stored by the country was for the country'consumption which was mainly consisted of military expenditure,royal household consumption,the ritual use,rewards,treat,brewing and trading,etc.
One-hit neuronal death.

Statistical analyses of neuronal death rates in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders indicate that a 'one-hit' model of cell death may be common to all of them. In this model, affected neurons are in an abnormal state in which there is a higher chance that a rare catastrophic event will lead to cell death.
Risk Factors for Rehospitalization Within 90 Days in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background Care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses a significant burden to the health-care system. Repeat hospitalization in subgroups of IBD patients seems to be a large part of this issue; however, there are limited data examining the characteristics of these patients. The aim of this study was to characterize admission patterns in patients with IBD at a tertiary-care center and to identify preventable risk factors of 90-day readmission after an index IBD admission. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed extracting data from an electronic medical record over a 2-year period. Results Three hundred fifty-six patients were admitted at least once during the 2-year study period for an unplanned IBD-related reason. Of these, 48.9% were admitted once, 38.2% were admitted 2 to 4 times, and 12.9% were admitted 5 or more times during the study period. Patients with any admission within 90 days before index were excluded; n = 33. One hundred two patients had experienced a readmission by 90 days after index admission. Numerous demographic and medical factors were examined for association with readmission. The final Cox model included 3 variables: depression (HR = 1.99, 1.33-3.00), chronic pain (HR = 1.88, 1.14-3.10), and steroid use in the previous 6 months (HR = 1.33, 0.92-2.04). Conclusions Our findings suggest that patients with depression and chronic pain are at greatest risk for a readmission within 90 days after an initial IBD admission. Disease activity, represented by steroid use in the previous 6 months, was not related to readmission. Addressing these problems in the outpatient setting may reduce future hospitalizations.
Probiotic Species on Cardiovascular Disease: The Use of Probiotics to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. In the past two decades, there is a growing body of literature suggesting that probiotic products may be a good alternative for the existing regimen of CVD treatment. Probiotics are viable microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host once consumed in adequate amounts. Many studies have shown that probiotics and probiotic dairy products may protect against CVD by lowering CVD risk factors. This chapter will focus on the effects of probiotics and probiotic dairy products on the leading CVD risk factors, specifically hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and inflammation and insulin resistance. Particular attention is given to the mechanisms by which these effects might be exerted.
Integrated Stress Response Signaling Pathways Induced by Supraphysiological Concentrations of Thyroid Hormone Inhibit Viral Replication

Supraphysiological concentrations (SPCs) of triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) have been used in the treatment of a number of nonviral diseases. However, the signaling mechanisms that regulate the function of T3 at these concentrations and their role in modulating cellular stress pathways and antiviral responses are unknown. Here, we have investigated the effects of SPCs of T3 on integrated stress response (ISR) signaling pathways and the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). T3 amplified Poly IC-induced activation of RNA-dependent protein kinase, induced phosphorylation of eIF2α, stress granule (SG) formation, IRE1α phosphorylation, XBP1 splicing, and the expression of stress markers. T3 inhibited VSV replication by modulating SG formation and the expression of stress response markers. ISR activator guanabenz also inhibited VSV replication and amplified T3-induced anti-VSV response. To summarize, we have uncovered novel functions of T3 at SPCs as an activator of ISR signaling pathways and an inhibitor of VSV replication. This study offers a proof of principle of the concept that ISR activating agents like SPC of T3 and guanabenz can be potential antiviral agents.
Biomass sorghum and maize have similar water-use-efficiency under non-drought conditions in the rain-fed Midwest U.S.

Abstract Biomass sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a candidate bioenergy feedstock for the U.S. Midwest. Research suggests that biomass sorghum is more drought tolerant and has higher water-use-efficiency (WUE) than maize (Zea mays L.) in water-limiting environments, but most species comparisons of the seasonal evapotranspiration (total ET) and WUE have focused on irrigated systems (WUE defined as the ratio of cumulative dry biomass production (dry matter; DM) to total evapotranspiration (mm); g DM (mm H2O)−1). Since comparative data for the rain-fed Midwest are scarce, we conducted a side-by-side evaluation of the total ET and WUE of maize and biomass sorghum in central Iowa—a site within the U.S. Corn Belt. Total ET was estimated using a micrometeorological method, and aboveground plant biomass was determined using destructive hand harvests. Similar mean WUE was determined for maize (3.51 ± 0.26 g DM (mm H2O)−1) and biomass sorghum (3.47 ± 0.22 g DM (mm H2O)−1) over two non-drought growing seasons with total ET of 567 ± 26 mm and 600 ± 20 mm, respectively. Even though total ET and WUE were not statistically different between species (P > 0.1), maize had significantly greater theoretical ethanol yield (EY; L ethanol m−2) and lower ethanol water requirement (EWR; L water L ethanol−1), relative to biomass sorghum (P
Grammar structure and the dynamics of language evolution

The complexity, variation, and change of languages make evident the importance of representation and learning in the acquisition and evolution of language. For example, analytic studies of simple language in unstructured populations have shown complex dynamics, depending on the fidelity of language transmission. In this study we extend these analysis of evolutionary dynamics to include grammars inspired by the principles and parameters paradigm. In particular, the space of languages is structured so that some pairs of languages are more similar than others, and mutations tend to change languages to nearby variants. We found that coherence emerges with lower learning fidelity than predicted by earlier work with an unstructured language space.
Cardiac function during resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock with polymerized bovine hemoglobin-based oxygen therapeutic

Hemorrhage impairs myocardial contractile function and decreases oxygen delivery. This study investigates how polymerized bovine hemoglobin (PolyHb) solutions affect cardiac function after resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock (HS). Hamsters were hemorrhaged and resuscitated with PolyHb at 8.5 g/dL and 11.5 g/dL. Left ventricle (LV) function was assessed during shock and resuscitation using a miniaturize conductance catheter. PolyHb resuscitation had no beneficial effects in cardiac function; it increased cardiac afterload and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) of 46 and 116% for 8.5 and 11.5 g/dL, respectively. Study findings indicate that preclinical evaluation of cardiac function is essential to develop safe and efficacious alternatives to blood transfusion.
Quantum Cognition, Neural Oscillators, and Negative Probabilities

This review paper has three main goals. First, to discuss a contextual neurophysiologically plausible model of neural oscillators that reproduces some of the features of quantum cognition. Second, to show that such a model predicts contextual situations where quantum cognition is inadequate. Third, to present an extended probability theory that not only can describe situations that are beyond quantum probability, but also provides an advantage in terms of contextual decision-making.
No Depression in Heaven: The Great Depression, the New Deal, and the Transformation of Religion in the Delta: Greene, Alison Collis, Oxford: Oxford University Press 336 pp., $27.99, ISBN 978-0199371877 Publication Date: December 2015

Opening with an eminently relatable vignette of her grandmother washing and drying paper towels, Assistant Professor of History at Mississippi State University Alison Collis Greene begins her accou...
Differences in utilization of ALK rearrangement FISH analysis and EGFR assay.

e18067 Background: This study examined institutional and regional factors associated with use of ALK rearrangement FISH diagnostic test compared to the EGFR assay. Previous research presented at AA...
Cognitive Computing in Action to Enhance Invoice Processing with Customized Language Translation

This paper describes our recent effort to develop a cognitive application to transform invoice processing in P2P (Procure to Pay) process in Finance operations. The context of this problem is with service providers who offer invoice processing services to their global clients. Due to the language barrier, the service provider usually maintain both offshore and near-shore teams, where the offshore team handles the main workload and is usually located in English-speaking countries, while the near-shore team helps in resolving language dependent issues which the offshore team is unable to handle. To reduce the dependency on near-shore resources and improve the efficiency of the offshore team, we have developed a web-based translation application which can provide secure and domain-specific language translation service between multiple languages in scope. The application also contain modules for language trainers to rate translations and provide feedback, which is used to train the language models in an incremental fashion. The translation service can also be integrated into the overall ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) workflow to facilitate process automation. This solution has been deployed in production in an IBM delivery center and is currently used by the offshore team on a daily basis. Our three-month application usage tracking shows that we can achieve up to 85% translation accuracy at sentence-level between English and French/Spanish, and the offshore team is able to handle 40% more workload.
Application of Landsat 8 for monitoring impacts of wastewater discharge on coastal water quality

In this study, we examine the capabilities of the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI), Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS), and Aqua Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) for monitoring the environmental impact of the 2015 Hyperion Treatment Plant (HTP) wastewater diversion in Santa Monica Bay, California. From 21 September – 2 November 2015, the HTP discharged approximately 39×103 m3 h-1 of treated wastewater into Santa Monica Bay through their emergency 1-mile outfall pipe. Multi-sensor satellite remote sensing was employed to determine the biophysical impact of discharged wastewater in the shallow nearshore environment. Landsat 8 TIRS observed decreased sea surface temperatures (SST) associated with the surfacing wastewater plume. Chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentrations derived from Landsat 8 OLI and Aqua MODIS satellite sensors were used to monitor the biological response to the addition of nutrient-rich wastewater. In situ chl-a and in situ remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) were measured before, during, and after the diversion event. These in situ data were paired with coincident OLI and MODIS satellite data to yield a more comprehensive view of the changing conditions in Santa Monica Bay due to the wastewater diversion. Two new local chl-a algorithms were empirically derived using in situ data for the OLI and MODIS sensors. These new local chl-a algorithms proved more accurate at measuring chl-a changes in Santa Monica Bay compared to the standard open ocean OC2 and OC3M algorithms, and the regional southern California CALFIT algorithm, as validated by in situ chl-a measurements. Additionally, the local OLI algorithm outperformed the local MODIS algorithm, especially in the nearshore region. A time series of chl-a, as detected by the local OLI chl-a algorithm, illustrated a very large increase in chl-a concentrations during the wastewater diversion, and a subsequent decrease in chl-a after the diversion. Our study demonstrates the capability of using Landsat 8 TIRS and OLI sensors for the monitoring of SST and surface chl-a concentrations at high spatial resolution in nearshore waters and highlights the value of these sensors for assessing the environmental effects of wastewater discharge in a coastal environment.
miR-25 Tough Decoy Enhances Cardiac Function in Heart Failure

MicroRNAs are promising therapeutic targets, because their inhibition has the potential to normalize gene expression in diseased states. Recently, our group found that miR-25 is a key SERCA2a regulating microRNA, and we showed that multiple injections of antagomirs against miR-25 enhance cardiac contractility and function through SERCA2a restoration in a murine heart failure model. However, for clinical application, a more stable suppressor of miR-25 would be desirable. Tough Decoy (TuD) inhibitors are emerging as a highly effective method for microRNA inhibition due to their resistance to endonucleolytic degradation, high miRNA binding affinity, and efficient delivery. We generated a miR-25 TuD inhibitor and subcloned it into a cardiotropic AAV9 vector to evaluate its efficacy. The AAV9 TuD showed selective inhibition of miR-25 in vitro cardiomyoblast culture. In vivo, AAV9-miR-25 TuD delivered to the murine pressure-overload heart failure model selectively decreased expression of miR-25, increased levels of SERCA2a protein, and ameliorated cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis. Our data indicate that miR-25 TuD is an effective long-term suppressor of miR-25 and a promising therapeutic candidate to treat heart failure.
Damage Control Anesthesia

The role of the anesthesiologist in damage control trauma care is that of resuscitation consultant. Damage control anesthesia must occur in concert with damage control resuscitation and surgery to optimize the physiology of the shocked patient, while ensuring adequate surgical conditions for the operative team. Damage control anesthesia encompasses a variety of procedural skills, from the induction of anesthesia to advanced airway management techniques and to the full spectrum of vascular access options. Beyond providing only procedural assistance in the resuscitation, the anesthesiologist offers the unique perspective of a physician who spends each day monitoring and correcting deranged physiology in the operating room.
System-Level 3D IC Cost Analysis and Design Exploration

The majority of the existing 3D IC research has focused on how to take advantage of the performance, power, smaller form-factor, and heterogeneous integration benefits offered by 3D integration. However, all such advantages will ultimately have to be translatee into cost savings when a design strategy has to be decided. Consequently, system-level cost analysis at the early design stage is imperative to help the decision making on whether 3D integration should be adopted. In this chapter, we discuss the design estimation method for 3D ICs at the early design stage. We also describe a cost analysis model to study the cost implication for 3D ICs and address cost-related problems for 3D IC design.
QTL Mapping of Molecular Traits for Studies of Human Complex Diseases

Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) offers a powerful and efficient approach to discover putative regulatory regions of traits and to define novel functional implications of genetic variants. Here we reviewed recent progress on QTL mapping of molecular traits, including gene expression, DNA methylation, as well as protein expression, metabolites. QTL mapping of molecular traits has better chance to succeed in relatively small sample size study as fewer nongenetic factors or gene-gene interactions may involve. Knowledge derived from QTL mapping will help us to uncover understanding of biology in complex traits and diseases and enhance power of genetic association study. In the context of study of complex diseases, we focused on expression QTL and methylation QTL, presenting major findings and technique considerations, including experimental platform, sample quality, size, and heterogeneity, as well as analytical procedure and significance criteria. Lastly, we discussed the current and future use of QTL data in study of complex diseases.
Phenylethlamine and P-Tyramine in the Extracellular Space of the Rat Brain: Quantification Using a New Radioenzymatic Assay and in Situ Microdialysis

Sufficiently sensitive and specific methods for the quantitation of p-tyramine (p-tym) and phenylethylamine (PEA) are not generally available since the levels of these substances found in the central nervous sytem tissue are very low. Analytic methodology is stressed even further when attempts are made to quantify these amines in the small samples obtainable from the extracellular space of the brain by in situ microdialysis. Radioenzymatic assays are sensitive analytic procedures that function with small volume samples and therefore match well with the in situ dialysis technique. A brief review of radioenzymatic assays for trace amines and two new assays are discussed. The first assay based on purified phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) can be used for trace amines chemically related to phenylethanolamine. The second procedure utilizes tyramine N-methyltransferase (TNMT) which is isolated and purified from germinating barley. The procedure is specific for p-tyramine and phenylethylamine. The TNMT based assay, in conjunction with in situ microdialysis, was used to examine the content of p-tym and PEA in the extracellular space of the rat hypothalamus and striatum. Both amines were detected at levels similar to those observed for more accepted neurotransmitters such as the catecholamines and histamine. The levels of p-tym and PEA varied rapidly and appeared to also exhibit a diurnal cycle. PEA and p-tym were not released by potassium chloride-induced depolarization. These studies further support a role for p-tym and PEA in the brain.