cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combination anti-CTLA-4 plus anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade utilizes cellular mechanisms partially distinct from monotherapies.

Immune checkpoint blockade therapy targets T cell-negative costimulatory molecules such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1). Combination anti–CTLA-4 and anti–PD-1 blockade therapy has enhanced efficacy, but it remains unclear through what mechanisms such effects are mediated. A critical question is whether combination therapy targets and modulates the same T cell populations as monotherapies. Using a mass cytometry-based systems approach, we comprehensively profiled the response of T cell populations to monotherapy and combination anti–CTLA-4 plus anti–PD-1 therapy in syngeneic murine tumors and clinical samples. Most effects of monotherapies were additive in the context of combination therapy; however, multiple combination therapy-specific effects were observed. Highly phenotypically exhausted cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8) T cells expand in frequency following anti–PD-1 monotherapy but not combination therapy, while activated terminally differentiated effector CD8 T cells expand only following combination therapy. Combination therapy also led to further increased frequency of T helper type 1 (Th1)-like CD4 effector T cells even though anti–PD-1 monotherapy is not sufficient to do so. Mass cytometry analyses of peripheral blood from melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade therapies similarly revealed mostly additive effects on the frequencies of T cell subsets along with unique modulation of terminally differentiated effector CD8 T cells by combination ipilimumab plus nivolumab therapy. Together, these findings indicate that dual blockade of CTLA-4 and PD-1 therapy is sufficient to induce unique cellular responses compared with either monotherapy.
A socio-environmental geodatabase for integrative research in the transboundary Rio Grande/Río Bravo basin.

Integrative research on water resources requires a wide range of socio-environmental datasets to better understand human-water interactions and inform decision-making. However, in transboundary watersheds, integrating cross-disciplinary and multinational datasets is a daunting task due to the disparity of data sources and the inconsistencies in data format, content, resolution, and language. This paper introduces a socio-environmental geodatabase that transcends political and disciplinary boundaries in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo basin (RGB). The geodatabase aggregates 145 GIS data layers on five main themes: (i) Water & Land Governance, (ii) Hydrology, (iii) Water Use & Hydraulic Infrastructures, (iv) Socio-Economics, and (v) Biophysical Environment. Datasets were primarily collected from public open-access data sources, processed with ArcGIS, and documented through the FGCD metadata standard. By synthesizing a broad array of datasets and mapping public and private water governance, we expect to advance interdisciplinary research in the RGB, provide a replicable approach to dataset compilation for transboundary watersheds, and ultimately foster transboundary collaboration for sustainable resource management. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11807424
10 Multilevel factors impacting mammography screening decisions in the elderly: clinician perspectives

Objectives Women age 75 and older, who may become accustomed to periodic cancer screening, face difficult decisions when considering whether or not to discontinue screening mammography. A lack of evidence regarding the benefits and harms of screening mammography in U.S. women age 75 and older, which tie to imprecise screening guidelines, leaves women and primary care clinicians with additional uncertainties when it comes to shared decision-making. However, little is known about what clinicians see as most influential in how these decisions are made. The objective of this study was to identify variables that clinicians note as influential in their decision making regarding mammography for women aged 75 and over. Methods Primary care clinicians who were part of a practice-based research network in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. completed an online, cross-sectional survey in 2019. Participants indicated the degree to which patient, practice and community-level factors influence their decision making regarding mammography for women aged 75 and over (1 = Never influences to 5 = Always influences). Scores of 4 or 5 were considered influential. Results Twenty-two out of 122 eligible participants (18%) have completed the survey to date; data collection is ongoing. Participants (Mean age = 51.55 years, 59% female, 73% White) primarily specialized in Family Medicine [17/22, 77.3%]. The mean age at which clinicians reported that they would stop recommending screening mammography was 77.14 years [SD 3.381]. Clinicians were most likely to cite the influence of overall patient comorbidity [19/22, 86.4%], functional status [17/22, 77.3%], and cancer family history [14/22, 63.6%] as factors influencing their decision making process. Additionally, clinicians were influenced by new research regarding screening mammography [17/22, 77.3%] and were more influenced by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines [18/22, 81.8%] than by either American College of Radiology (ACR) [11/22, 50%] and American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines [11/22, 50%]. Few were impacted by their colleagues [4/22, 18.2%] or policies/norms of their practice setting [4/22, 18.2%]. Approximately half of clinicians indicated that media representations of screening [12/22, 54.5%] and influence of patients’ friends and family [10/22, 45.5%] were influential. Conclusions While our results suggest that decision making and communication about screening mammography in older women are governed primarily by a patient’s overall health, scientific evidence, and clinical guidelines that integrate these considerations, prevailing media messages and those close to the patient also play a role. These results underscore the complicated considerations that primary care clinicians face in making recommendations about screening mammography in older women. Acknowledgements This research was in part supported by grant 1R01CA190841-01A1 from the National Cancer Institute (to Dr. Braithwaite). We thank all study participants and Georgetown-MedStar staff and faculty.
A New Way to Teach Probability Statistics

THE purpose of studying probability and statistics is to learn how to solve the problems these tools can help solve. Such problems are found in the practice of sci ence, of course. But many of the problems of daily living can also be better under stood with the aid of probability and sta tistics. It is particularly for the latter rea son that one may consider teaching these ideas to high school or even pre-high school students. This paper claims to offer a new (though really very old) way of teaching students to solve simple (and complex) problems in probability and statistics. The instruc tional method simply skips backwards over three hundred years of mathematical history; all problems are solved with ex perimental Monte Carlo methods rather than by analysis, just as gambling odds were estimated before the invention of probability theory. This method not only allows students to solve problems imme diately?and probably with a better chance of a correct solution than after considerable conventional instruction? but, best of all, it forces explicit considera tion of the process of constructing an ap propriate model and of conversion of sci entific questions into statistical questions. We hope that the reader comes to agree
Two-dimensional transistors with reconfigurable polarities for secure circuits

Security is a critical aspect in modern circuit design, but research into hardware security at the device level is rare as it requires modification of existing technology nodes. With the increasing challenges facing the semiconductor industry, interest in out-of-the-box security solutions has grown, even if this implies introducing novel materials such as two-dimensional layered semiconductors. Here, we show that high-performance, low-voltage, two-dimensional black phosphorus field-effect transistors (FETs) that have reconfigurable polarities are suitable for hardware security applications. The transistors can be dynamically switched between p-FET and n-FET operation through electrostatic gating and can achieve on–off ratios of 105 and subthreshold swings of 72 mV dec−1 at room temperature. Using the transistors, we create inverters that exhibit gains of 33.3 and are fully functional at a supply voltage of 0.2 V. We also create a security primitive circuit with polymorphic NAND/NOR obfuscation functionality with sub-1-V operation voltages, and the robustness of the polymorphic gate against power supply variations is tested using Monte Carlo simulations. Transistors that use two-dimensional black phosphorus as the active material can dynamically switch between p-type and n-type operation, and can be used to create security primitive circuits with polymorphic NAND/NOR obfuscation functionality.
Predicting High-Value Care Outcomes After Surgery for Skull Base Meningiomas.

Background Although various predictors of adverse postoperative outcomes among patients with meningioma have been established, research has yet to develop a method for consolidating these findings to allow for predictions of adverse health care outcomes for patients diagnosed with skull base meningiomas. The objective of the present study was to develop 3 predictive algorithms that can be used to estimate an individual patient's probability of extended length of stay (LOS) in hospital, experiencing a nonroutine discharge disposition, or incurring high hospital charges after surgical resection of a skull base meningioma. Methods The present study used data from patients who underwent surgical resection for skull base meningiomas at a single academic institution between 2017 and 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to predict extended LOS, nonroutine discharge, and high hospital charges, and 2000 bootstrapped samples were used to calculate an optimism-corrected C-statistic. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to assess model calibration, and P Results A total of 245 patients were included in our analysis. Our cohort was mostly female (77.6%) and white (62.4%). Our models predicting extended LOS, nonroutine discharge, and high hospital charges had optimism-corrected C-statistics of 0.768, 0.784, and 0.783, respectively. All models showed adequate calibration (P>0.05), and were deployed via an open-access, online calculator: https://neurooncsurgery3.shinyapps.io/high_value_skull_base_calc/ . Conclusions After external validation, our predictive models have the potential to aid clinicians in providing patients with individualized risk estimation for health care outcomes after meningioma surgery.
A Reconfigurable Megawatt-Scale Power Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation System for Virtual Motors

This paper provides experimental results from a reconfigurable megawatt scale virtual motor power Hardware-in -the-Loop (PHIL) system. The virtual motor is operated on a modular multilevel converter (MMC) based power amplifier, with the motor model running in the Real Time Simulator (RTS). Therefore, this PHIL system can be configured easily to simulate various kinds of motors with different loads. A Permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and a induction motor (IM) PHIL system have been designed, constructed, and tested to verify the operating performance. Experimental results at the megawatt power level validate the feasibility and highly dynamic performance of the proposed test platform.
On the Interplay of Production Flexibility and Financing Strategy

We investigate how a levered firm may utilize production flexibility in response to market changes. Specifically, when the market price of the output falls below a threshold, equity holders, making operational decisions, either switch off production or default, and when the price rises above a threshold they switch on production provided the firm has not defaulted. Interestingly, we find that the firm's debt level affects how much production flexibility is used. We endogenize the firm's financing strategy and uncover that the effect of operational flexibility on financial leverage depends on the level of flexibility, measured by switching cost. When the switching cost is low, production flexibility complements the benefits of debt and thus financial leverage increases in production flexibility. As the switching cost increases to some intermediate level, the firm may have to reduce its debt usage more sharply to induce equity holders to implement the flexible production policy. However, if the switching cost exceeds a threshold, the firm forgoes production flexibility for high financial leverage, as the benefit of flexibility shrinks. Now, a substitution effect of flexibility on debt usage ensues. We provide a partial test of this new theory based on a unique iron and steel industry dataset that complements and extends prior empirical findings.
Surface topography in three-dimensional laser machining of structural alumina

Abstract An integrated experimental and computational approach was adopted to study the influence of moving laser beam (with lateral and transverse overlap) on the generation of corresponding surface finish//profile/roughness during three-dimensional laser machining of structural alumina. A multiphysics-multistep computational model was developed to understand the influence of various physical phenomena such as recoil pressure, Marangoni convection, surface tension, and cooling rates over the surface morphology of alumina and eventually establish the relationship between the surface finish and process parameters of laser machining. Both experimental and computational results evidently revealed that the selection of appropriate laser machining conditions can machine the structural ceramics with higher material removal rates (60 ± 2.70 mm 3 /min) for initial rough cuts as well as produced higher surface finish (39.9 ± 2.29 μm) for final finishing. The results of the computational model are also validated by experimental observations with reasonably close agreement (±6%).
An 15N NMR Method for the Characterization of Organic Sulfur in Coal and Coal Products via Iminosulfurane Formation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a 15 N NMR method for the characterization of organic sulfur in coal and coal products through iminosulfurane formation. The conversion of organic sulfides to iminosulfuranes provides a method for attachment of an NMR-detectable nucleus directly to sulfur. The N nucleus exhibits a broad distribution of chemical shifts, and individual functional groups may exhibit a range of chemical shifts of 50–100 ppm. The 15 N chemical shifts could potentially reveal the distribution of aromatic and aliphatic structure types in complex materials such as asphaltenes and preasphaltenes. The chapter presents a study to determine the sensitivity of 15 N chemical shifts to substituents on sulfur and nitrogen, to identify procedures for formation of iminosulfuranes for a variety of aromatic and alkyl sulfides, and, given sufficient sensitivity of the 15 N shifts to structure, to apply the method to characterization of sulfur-containing asphaltenes. The solid-state N spectrum of Ph 2 S=NCOCH 3 , obtained after 200 transients. The optimal contact time was 7.5 ms, compared to 1.5 ms for acetamide. A recycle time of at least 20 s was required to obtain satisfactory spectra. The unprotonated nitrogen exhibits a rather long cross-polarization time together with an apparently long proton relaxation time.
La Quinceañera: Making Gender and Ethnic Identities

Cet article presente, d'un point de vue ethnographique, un evenement commun a toute jeune fille d'origine mexicaine, la quineanera, ou la celebration catholique de la quinzieme annee. L'A. s'interesse aux representations, propres a la communaute mexicaine-americaine et riches dans leur diversite, des roles relatifs au genre, de l'identie ethnique, de la culture traditionnelle, de la sexualite, de la position sociale et des contacts culturels, plus qu'a une description generale de la quinceanera qui ne montrerait rien. La recherche comporte deux parties : (1) le regard des pretres catholiques et des journalistes sur cette celebration et (2) l'opinion des « mexicanas » et de leurs familles sur l'importance de la tradition.
Defining and Executing P Systems with Structured Data in K

K is a rewrite-based framework proposed for giving formal executable semantics to programming languages and/or calculi. K departs from other rewrite-based frameworks in two respects: (1) it assumes multisets and lists as builtin, the former modeling parallel features, while the latter sequential ones; and (2) the parallel application of rewriting rules is extended from non-overlapping rules to rules which may overlap, but on parts which are not changed by these rules (may overlap on "read only" parts). This paper shows how P systems and variants can be defined as K (rewrite) systems. This is the first representation of P systems into a rewrite-based framework that captures the behavior (reaction steps) of the original P system step-for-step. In addition to providing a formal executable semantic framework for P systems, the embedding of P systems as K systems also serves as a basis for experimenting with and developing new extensions of P systems, e.g., with structured data. A Maude-based application for executing P systems defined in K has been implemented and experimented with; initial results show computational advantages of using structured objects in P systems.
Minimum Phase Wide Output Range Digitally Controlled SIDO Boost Converter

This paper presents a novel control technique for a wide output voltage range digitally controlled SIDO boost converter. It employs minimum phase conditions reported in , and extends the same to SIDO boost converter to eliminate the effect of RHP zero. Further, the proposed work employs input-output linearization technique , to linearize the control-to-output transfer function across different operating points to achieve improved stability under unbalanced loads and a wide output voltage range on each output of the proposed SIDO boost power converter. The SIDO boost regulator was verified experimentally for an input voltage of 3.3 V and a maximum simultaneous load current of 350 mA on each output. Measurement results demonstrate that the proposed design achieves a wide output voltage range of 4.8 V–13.75 V, with ability to dynamically transition across these different output voltages in both small and big voltage steps.
Comparing Sets of Semantic Relations in Ontologies

A set of semantic relations is created every time a domain modeler wants to solve some complex problem computationally. These relations are usually organized into ontologies. But there is little standardization of ontologies today, and almost no discussion on ways of comparing relations, of determining a general approach to creating relations, or of modeling in general. This chapter outlines an approach to establishing a general methodology for comparing and justifying sets of relations (and ontologies in general). It first provides several dozen characteristics of ontologies, organized into three taxonomies of increasingly detailed features, by which many essential characteristics of ontologies can be described. These features enable one to compare ontologies at a general level, without studying every concept they contain. But sometimes it is necessary to make detailed comparisons of content. The chapter then illustrates one method for determining salient points for comparison, using algorithms that semi-automatically identify similarities and differences between ontologies.
Standard Languages and Language Standards: Greek, Past and Present

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2009 Pages: 396 Publisher: Ashgate Publishing ISBN: 978-0-7546-6437-6 (hard cover).
Laboratory Experiments Bearing on the Origin and Evolution of Olivine-rich Chondrules

Evaporation rates of K2O, Na2O, and FeO from chondrule-like liquids and the associated potassium isotopic fractionation of the evaporation residues were measured to help understand the processes and conditions that affected the chemical and isotopic compositions of olivine-rich Type IA and Type IIA chondrules from Semarkona. Both types of chondrules show evidence of having been significantly or totally molten. However, these chondrules do not have large or systematic potassium isotopic fractionation of the sort found in the laboratory evaporation experiments. The experimental results reported here provide new data regarding the evaporation kinetics of sodium and potassium from a chondrule-like melt and the potassium isotopic fractionation of evaporation residues run under various conditions ranging from high vacuum to pressures of one bar of H2+CO2, or H2, or helium. The lack of systematic isotopic fractionation of potassium in the Type IIA and Type IA chondrules compared with what is found in the vacuum and one-bar evaporation residues is interpreted as indicating that they evolved in a partially closed system where the residence time of the surrounding gas was sufficiently long for it to have become saturated in the evaporating species and for isotopic equilibration between the gas and the melt. A diffusion couple experiment juxtaposing chondrule-like melts with different potassium concentrations showed that the diffusivity of potassium is sufficiently fast at liquidus temperatures (DK>2-10-4cm2/s at 1650-C) that diffusion-limited evaporation cannot explain why, despite their having been molten, the Type IIA and Type IA chondrules show no systematic potassium isotopic fractionation.
Accuracy of USU‐GAIM specifications of foF2 and M(3000)F2 for a worldwide distribution of ionosonde locations

[1] The Utah State University (USU) Global Assimilation of Ionospheric Measurements (GAIM) model has replaced the Parameterized Real-Time Ionospheric Specification Model (PRISM) for operational use at the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA). Validation of the model by the Air Force Research Laboratory has therefore passed from the sanity checking stage to investigations of the accuracies and limitations of the model when it is used to generate Operational Space Environment Network Display (OpSEND) products. This paper presents the results of an extensive analysis of the errors in the USU-GAIM specifications of the key ionogram characteristics foF2 and M(3000)F2 for 21 ionosonde locations distributed around the world, 9 in Australia and 12 in other countries, for September 2006. The ground-truth observations of foF2 are manually scaled hourly values. The ground-truth observations of M(3000)F2 are manually scaled hourly values for the Australian ionosondes, and filtered autoscaled values for the other 12 ionosondes. The analysis provides representative latitude-dependent median errors for both characteristics, together with errors in the values of the maximum usable frequency for the standard 3000 km HF communications circuit. In general, GAIM performs well at all locations. The errors seem to be a function of the availability of data from nearby GPS TEC sites, the accuracy of the program's background ionosphere, and the validity of the assimilated TEC data, rather than of any limitations of the assimilation technique.
RKHS-based functional nonparametric regression for sparse and irregular longitudinal data

This paper focuses on sparse and irregular longitudinal data with a scalar response. The predictor consists of sparse and irregular observations on predictor trajectories, potentially contaminated with measurement errors. For this type of data, Yao, Muller, & Wang (2005a) proposed a principal components analysis through conditional expectation (PACE) approach, which is capable of predicting each predictor trajectory based on sparse and irregular observations. Nonparametric functional data analysis provides an attractive alternative due to its high flexibility. Early work includes functional additive models as in Muller & Yao (2008) and Ferraty & Vieu (2006), which are mainly based on kernel smoothing methods. In this work, we propose a new functional nonparametric regression framework based on reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces (RKHS). The proposed method involves two steps. The first step is to estimate each predictor trajectory based on sparse and irregular observations using PACE. The second step is to conduct a RKHS-based nonparametric regression using the estimated predictor trajectories. Our approach shows improvement over existing methods in simulation studies as well as in a real data example. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 42: 204–216; 2014 © 2014 Statistical Society of Canada Resume Resume Les auteurs se penchent sur les donnees longitudinales eparses et irregulieres presentant une variable reponse scalaire. Les predicteurs sont des observations eparses et irregulieres sur leur trajectoire qui peuvent etre contaminees par des erreurs de mesure. Pour ce type de donnees, Yao, Muller et Wang (2005a) proposent une analyse en composantes principales par les esperances conditionnelles (APEC) qui permet de predire la trajectoire de chaque predicteur sur la base de donnees eparses et irregulieres. L'analyse fonctionnelle non parametrique de donnees presente une option interessante compte tenu de sa grande flexibilite. Les travaux de Muller et Yao (2008) et ceux de Ferraty et Vieu (2006) traitent d'ailleurs des modeles fonctionnels additifs en se basant principalement sur le lissage par la methode du noyau. Dans le present article, les auteurs proposent un nouveau cadre pour la regression fonctionnelle non parametrique base sur un espace de Hilbert a noyau reproduisant (EHNR). La methode proposee comporte deux etapes. D'abord, la trajectoire de chaque predicteur est estimee a partir de donnees eparses et irregulieres a l'aide de l'APEC. Ensuite, une regression non parametrique basee sur l'EHNR est ajustee en se basant sur la trajectoire estimee des predicteurs. L'approche proposee presente des ameliorations par rapport aux methodes existantes dans le cadre d’etudes de simulation et d'exemples bases sur des donnees reelles. La revue canadienne de statistique 42: 204–216; 2014 © 2014 Societe statistique du Canada
The Effects of Tamoxifen and Fish Oil on Mammary Carcinogenesis in Polyoma Middle T Transgenic Mice

In these experiments, we tested the hypothesis that inhibition of the estrogen receptor (ER) with Tamoxifen and activation of PPARγ with fish oil (FO) rich in omega-3 (n-3; known PPAR agonists) inhibit the development of hormone-independent breast cancer in view of the known crosstalk between the ER and PPARγ pathways. We selected the polyoma middle T transgenic mouse model, since in this system the development of ER− tumors is preceded by ER positive preneoplastic lesions. Tamoxifen admixed with a 20% corn oil (CO) modified AIN-76A diet delayed mammary carcinogenesis and inhibited tumor multiplicity, volume, and weight in a dose-dependent (1, 10, and 100 ppm) fashion. Administration of increasing concentrations of FO in the diet (5%, 10%, and 17%) did not affect any of the tumor parameters. Combined administration of different doses of Tamoxifen and FO delayed carcinogenesis and suppressed tumor multiplicity and volume to the same extent as Tamoxifen alone. Mice fed 10% FO exhibited the expected increase in n-3/n-6 ratio in plasma and tumor based on diet analysis. Further increase in the n-3/n-6 ratio was not observed in mice fed the 17% FO diet. FO reduced tissue levels of arachidonic acid and its metabolite PGF-2α. Our results support the role of ER expression by preneoplastic lesions in the development of hormone-independent tumors and consequently the importance of including ER targeting in combination with mechanistically based novel chemopreventive agents.
Steps for Strengthening the Health Education Profession

Since its founding in 1950, the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) has evolved in response to the changing needs of both the public and the profession. This SOPHE Presidential Address provides a brief review of SOPHE’s history and the legacy of its achievements over some 60 years. It also describes how new challenges being created by the pending organizational realignment between SOPHE and the American Association for Health Education, which promises to further unify the profession, along with changing American community demographics, can provide an opportunity for SOPHE to strengthen the health education profession by becoming more inclusive and further redefining Dorothy Nyswander’s concept of the “Open Society” and the role health educators play as agents of change.
Immediate Effects of Intravenous Cocaine on the Thoracic Aorta and Coronary Arteries: A Transesophageal Echocardiographic Study

Study objectives and design Arterial vasoconstriction is thought to play a role in the etiology of cocaine-induced cardiovascular complications, but little is known about the immediate effects of cocaine on the thoracic aorta and coronary arteries. To examine these effects, we used transesophageal echocardiography to examine the thoracic aorta and coronary arteries before and immediately after intravenous (IV) cocaine (1.2 mg/kg) in 15 subjects. Measurements and results Immediately after cocaine infusion, average heart rate, systolic BP, and double product were increased compared with baseline (22%, 15%, 35%, respectively). There was no significant change in the diameters of the ascending aorta (27.5 vs 27.1 mm; p=0.85), the descending aorta (19.8 vs 20.4 mm; p=0.62), or the left main coronary artery (4.3 vs 4.7 mm; p=0.15). However, there was a trend for an increase in coronary blood flow immediately after cocaine (226 vs 309 mL/min; p=0.10). Conclusions We conclude that in the 15 subjects studied, there was no evidence of thoracic aorta or coronary artery vasoconstriction immediately after IV cocaine. Instead, we found that the diameters of the thoracic aorta and the left main coronary artery were unchanged, and that there was a trend for augmentation of coronary artery blood flow.
The development of a facet analysis system to identify and measure the dimensions of interaction in online learning

The development of a facet analysis system to code and analyze data in a mixed-method study is discussed. The research goal was to identify the dimensions of interaction that contribute to student satisfaction in online Web-supported courses. The study was conducted between 2000 and 2002 at the Florida State University School of Information Studies. The researchers developed a facet analysis system that meets S. R. Ranganathan's (1967) requirements for articulation on three planes (idea, verbal, and notational). This system includes a codebook (verbal), coding procedures, and formulae (notational) for quantitative analysis of logs of chat sessions and postings to discussion boards for eight master's level courses taught online during the fall 2000 semester. Focus group interviews were subsequently held with student participants to confirm that results of the facet analysis reflected their experiences with the courses. The system was developed through a process of emergent coding. The researchers have been unable to identify any prior use of facet analysis for the analysis of research data as in this study. Identifying the facet analysis system was a major breakthrough in the research process, which, in turn, provided the researchers with a lens through which to analyze and interpret the data. In addition, identification of the faceted nature of the system opens up new possibilities for automation of the coding process. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of taurine on heart calcium in the cardiomyopathic hamster.

Calcium accumulation has been implicated in the development of cardiomyopathic lesions in BIO 14.6 hamsters. Taurine, a normal constitutent of the mammalian heart, has been shown to exert a modulating influence on calcium levels in the heart. Heart calcium was determined in cardiomyopathic (BIO 14.6) hamsters at 30 and 60 days of age. At 60 days (age of maximum lesioning), the animals showed a heart calcium content 13 times the 30-day value. A 60-day-old group treated with taurine during the 4-week period prior to being killed did not manifest the calcium elevation seen in the untreated animals. Heart calcium in comparable groups of normal hamsters did not change as a result of either age or taurine treatment. These findings are consistent with our hypothesis that taurine modulates calcium flux through stabilization of the sarcolemmal membrane.
Averting HIV Infections in New York City: A Modeling Approach Estimating the Future Impact of Additional Behavioral and Biomedical HIV Prevention Strategies

Background New York City (NYC) remains an epicenter of the HIV epidemic in the United States. Given the variety of evidence-based HIV prevention strategies available and the significant resources required to implement each of them, comparative studies are needed to identify how to maximize the number of HIV cases prevented most economically. Methods A new model of HIV disease transmission was developed integrating information from a previously validated micro-simulation HIV disease progression model. Specification and parameterization of the model and its inputs, including the intervention portfolio, intervention effects and costs were conducted through a collaborative process between the academic modeling team and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The model projects the impact of different prevention strategies, or portfolios of prevention strategies, on the HIV epidemic in NYC. Results Ten unique interventions were able to provide a prevention benefit at an annual program cost of less than $360,000, the threshold for consideration as a cost-saving intervention (because of offsets by future HIV treatment costs averted). An optimized portfolio of these specific interventions could result in up to a 34% reduction in new HIV infections over the next 20 years. The cost-per-infection averted of the portfolio was estimated to be $106,378; the total cost was in excess of $2 billion (over the 20 year period, or approximately $100 million per year, on average). The cost-savings of prevented infections was estimated at more than $5 billion (or approximately $250 million per year, on average). Conclusions Optimal implementation of a portfolio of evidence-based interventions can have a substantial, favorable impact on the ongoing HIV epidemic in NYC and provide future cost-saving despite significant initial costs.
Fundamental relationship between operon organization and gene expression

Half a century has passed since the discovery of operons (groups of genes that are transcribed together as a single mRNA). Despite the importance of operons in bacterial gene networks, the relationship between their organization and gene expression remains poorly understood. Here we show using synthetic operons in Escherichia coli that the expression of a given gene increases with the length of the operon and as its position moves farther from the end of the operon. These findings can be explained by a common mechanism; increasing the distance from the start of a gene to the end of the operon (termed the “transcription distance”) provides more time for translation to occur during transcription, resulting in increased expression. We confirmed experimentally that the increased expression is indeed due to increased translation. Furthermore our analysis indicates the translation initiation rate for an mRNA is sixfold greater during transcription than after its release, which amplifies the impact of the transcription distance on gene expression. As a result of these mechanisms, gene expression increases by ∼40% for each 1,000 nucleotides of transcription distance. In summary, we demonstrate that a fundamental relationship exists between gene expression and the number, length, and order of the genes in an operon. This relationship has important implications for understanding the functional basis of genome organization and practical applications for synthetic biology.
Subtractive clustering based modeling of job sequencing with parametric search

In this paper, an extended subtractive clustering based fuzzy system identification method and the Sugeno type reasoning mechanism are used for modeling job sequencing problems. This approach can be used to build a fuzzy model of the sequencing system from an existing sequence (output data) and possible job attributes (input data). The single machine weighted flowtime problem is used as an example to demonstrate the proposed methodology. The effects of data scarcity on the modeling performance is studied by using three data sets with Varying degrees of available data. Furthermore, a parametric search on various clustering parameters is performed to identify the best model. As a result of parametric search, ranges of clustering parameters that provide best models are also identified.
The effect of nitrogen fertilisation on the total amino acid content of table beet roots.

The effect of nitrogen fertilisation on the amino acids in table beet roots was studied. An approximate 60% increase in total amino acid content resulted when nitrogen fertiliser was applied at the level of 450 kg/ha. A comparison of the distribution of individual amino acids was also made.
Silversmiths to the Nation: Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner, 1808–1842

(2009). Silversmiths to the Nation: Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner, 1808–1842. Design and Culture: Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 255-258.
Coronary calcification by electron beam computed tomography and obstructive coronary artery disease: a model for costs and effectiveness of diagnosis as compared with conventional cardiac testing methods

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine if electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) has potential as a cost-effective approach to diagnosis of obstructive coronary disease. Background Coronary calcification quantified by EBCT is closely related to the extent of atherosclerosis. Methods A model based upon published sensitivities (Se)/specificities (Sp) for diagnosis in an ambulatory patient of obstructive coronary disease (≥50% stenosis) and population prevalence was tested for angiography alone, or treadmill exercise, stress echocardiography, stress thallium or predetermined EBCT calcium score outpoints, followed by angiography if indicated. Results Total direct testing costs increased in proportion to disease prevalence whereas cost-effectiveness, direct costs/patient diagnosed correctly with disease, decreased as a function of prevalence. Using an EBCT calcium score of 168 (Se/Sp = 71%/90%) provided for the least costly and most cost-effective noninvasive pathway. Calcium scores of 80 (Se/Sp = 84%/84%) and 37 (Se/Sp = 90%/77%) were also cost-effective when prevalence of disease was ≤70%; but results for a >0 calcium score (Se/Sp = 95%/46%) cutpoint were not superior to conventional methods. Calcium score cutpoints of 37, 80 or 168 provided similar or superior overall negative and positive predictive values to conventional noninvasive testing pathways across all prevalence subgroups. Conclusions In ambulatory patients evaluated for obstructive coronary disease, a testing pathway utilizing quantification of coronary calcium by EBCT as an initial noninvasive testing approach minimized direct costs, and maximized cost-effectiveness in population groups with low/moderate disease prevalence (≤70%); as expected, direct angiography as the first and only test proved most cost-effective in patients with a high prevalence (>70%) of disease.
Trans-ovum transmission of a cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract Adults of Heliothis virescens infected with a cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV) produced healthy offspring when their eggs were surface sterilized with either 15% formaldehyde or 0.2% sodium hypochlorite solution. Larvae from infected parents (1) cultured on a vitamin-deficient medium, (2) exposed to cold treatment (5°C, 24 hr), or (3) as progeny of adults from diapaused infected pupae, produced the same number of infected individuals as larvae reared in the customary way. Field studies indicated that the percent of CPV infection in larvae originating from virus-infected parents was density dependent.
Automated cloud screening algorithm for MFRSR data

[1] A new automated cloud screening algorithm for ground-based sun-photometric measurements is described and illustrated on examples of real (MFRSR) and simulated data. The algorithm uses single channel direct beam measurements and is based on variability analysis of retrieved optical thickness. To quantify this variability the inhomogeneity parameter e is used. This parameter is commonly used for cloud remote sensing and modeling, but not for cloud screening. In addition to this an adjustable enveloping technique is applied to control strictness of the selection method. The key advantages of this technique are its objectivity, computational efficiency and the ability to detect short clear-sky intervals under broken cloud cover conditions. Moreover, it does not require any knowledge of the instrument calibration. The performance of the method has been compared with that of AERONET cloud screening algorithm.
Structure of the Coolidge Axis II Inventory Personality Disorder Scales from the Five-Factor Model Perspective

Coolidge, et al. in 1994 tested the generality and comprehensiveness of the five-factor model of personality as applied to personality disorders by performing a canonical correlation analysis for the scales from the Coolidge Axis II Inventory and the NEO Personality Inventory testing 178 undergraduates (106 men and 72 women). Their results did not support the generality and comprehensiveness of the five-factor model for interpreting the structure of personality disorders. A major problem with this study was that the data did not show good simple structure and meaningfulness because no rotation was performed for the canonical variates. The present study tested the hypothesis that the results of Coolidge, et al. might be attributed to the failure to rotate canonical variates to obtain good simple structure. For 220 students in introductory psychology (104 men and 116 women), canonical correlation analysis with varimax rotation was performed for scores on the Coolidge Axis II Inventory scales and the NEO Fiv...
Complete plastic nanofluidic devices for DNA analysis via direct imprinting with polymer stamps

Development of all polymer-based nanofluidic devices using replication technologies, which is a prerequisite for providing devices for a larger user base, is hampered by undesired substrate deformation associated with the replication of multi-scale structures. Therefore, most nanofluidic devices have been fabricated in glass-like substrates or in a polymer resist layer coated on a substrate. This letter presents a rapid, high fidelity direct imprinting process to build polymer nanofluidic devices in a single step. Undesired substrate deformation during imprinting was significantly reduced through the use of a polymer stamp made from a UV-curable resin. The integrity of the enclosed all polymer-based nanofluidic system was verified by a fluorescein filling experiment and translocation/stretching of λ-DNA molecules through the nanochannels. It was also found that the funnel-like design of the nanochannel inlet significantly improved the entrance of DNA molecules into nanochannels compared to an abrupt nanochannel/microfluidic network interface.
A comparison of direct and iterative methods for determining traction-separation relations

Traction-separation relations have been used to represent the adhesive interactions at bimaterial interfaces for contact and fracture analyses. There are a variety of methods for determining these relations, which are broadly sorted into iterative and direct methods. Here we compare the traction-separation relations for a silicon/epoxy interface extracted by two such methods. Interferometric measurements of the normal crack opening displacements near the crack front in a double-cantilever beam specimen were exploited along with an augmented analytical solution for J-integral as an illustration of the direct method. As an example of the iterative method, we relied on comparisons of measured crack length and normal crack opening displacements with numerical simulations obtained from two types of candidate traction-separation relations. It was found that the shape of the traction-separation relation, in addition to the interfacial toughness and strength, was needed to bring the numerical solutions into optimal registration with the measurements. On the other hand, the direct method lived up to its name in terms of ease of parameter extraction while providing a reasonable set of parameters.
ECM signalling: orchestrating cell behaviour and misbehaviour

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides signalling cues that regulate cell behaviour and orchestrate functions of cells in tissue formation and homeostasis. The composition of the ECM, its three-dimensional organization and proteolytic remodelling are major determinants of the microenvironmental signalling context that controls cell shape, motility, growth, survival and differentiation. In recent years, the importance of ECM signalling has been underscored by the evidence that misregulation of cell-ECM interactions can contribute to many diseases, including developmental, immune, haemostasis, degenerative and malignant disorders. This review discusses recent insights into the regulatory functions of the ECM and their role in disease, focusing on cancer as a paradigm.
Spectroscopic evidence of a bidentate-binding of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid on silver nanoclusters

Abstract New insight into the metal–ligand binding interaction in meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) protected silver nanoclusters (NCs) is presented in this work. IR, Raman and 13C NMR spectroscopic characterizations and DFT calculations suggest that DMSA forms a bidentate binding, rather than the originally-proposed monodentate binding, via two sulfur atoms with the underlying Ag7 NC, which is in agreement with recent ab initio calculations.
Innate Lymphoid Cells: Balancing Immunity, Inflammation, and Tissue Repair in the Intestine

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a recently described group of innate immune cells that can regulate immunity, inflammation, and tissue repair in multiple anatomical compartments, particularly the barrier surfaces of the skin, airways, and intestine. Broad categories of ILCs have been defined based on transcription factor expression and the ability to produce distinct patterns of effector molecules. Recent studies have revealed that ILC populations can regulate commensal bacterial communities, contribute to resistance to helminth and bacterial pathogens, promote inflammation, and orchestrate tissue repair and wound healing. This review will examine the phenotype and function of murine and human ILCs and discuss the critical roles these innate immune cells play in health and disease.
Drosophila 60A gene, another transforming growth factor beta family member, is closely related to human bone morphogenetic proteins.

Abstract The 60A gene, a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily of signaling proteins, has been identified in Drosophila melanogaster. From its inferred protein sequence we predict the precursor is secreted and processed to release a growth factor-like molecule. The 60A gene is expressed throughout development with peaks of transcription during early embryogenesis, in pupae, and in adult males. The putative 60A protein shows greater sequence similarity to three vertebrate family members (human bone morphogenetic proteins 5, 6, and 7) than to its only Drosophila relative, the protein product of the decapentaplegic (dpp) gene. This observation suggests that the duplication event that gave rise to the two transforming growth factor beta-like proteins in Drosophila predates the divergence of chordates and arthropods.