cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
p21 WAF1/CIP1 Is Upregulated by the Geranylgeranyltransferase I Inhibitor GGTI-298 through a Transforming Growth Factor β- and Sp1-Responsive Element: Involvement of the Small GTPase RhoA

We have recently reported that the geranylgeranyltransferase I inhibitor GGTI-298 arrests human tumor cells at the G1 phase of the cell cycle and increases the protein and RNA levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1). Here, we show that GGTI-298 acts at the transcriptional level to induce p21(WAF1/CIP1) in a human pancreatic carcinoma cell line, Panc-1. This upregulation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) promoter was selective, since GGTI-298 inhibited serum responsive element- and E2F-mediated transcription. A functional analysis of the p21(WAF1/CIP1) promoter showed that a GC-rich region located between positions -83 and -74, which contains a transforming growth factor beta-responsive element and one Sp1-binding site, is sufficient for the upregulation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) promoter by GGTI-298. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed a small increase in the amount of DNA-bound Sp1-Sp3 complexes. Furthermore, the analysis of Sp1 transcriptional activity in GGTI-298-treated cells by using GAL4-Sp1 chimera or Sp1-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter revealed a significant increase in Sp1-mediated transcription. Moreover, GGTI-298 treatment also resulted in increased Sp1 and Sp3 phosphorylation. These results suggest that GGTI-298-mediated upregulation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) involves both an increase in the amount of DNA-bound Sp1-Sp3 and enhancement of Sp1 transcriptional activity. To identify the geranylgeranylated protein(s) involved in p21(WAF1/CIP1) transcriptional activation, we analyzed the effects of the small GTPases Rac1 and RhoA on p21(WAF1/CIP1) promoter activity. The dominant negative mutant of RhoA, but not Rac1, was able to activate p21(WAF1/CIP1). In contrast, constitutively active RhoA repressed p21(WAF1/CIP1). Accordingly, the ADP-ribosyl transferase C3, which specifically inhibits Rho proteins, enhanced the activity of p21(WAF1/CIP1). Taken together, these results suggest that one mechanism by which GGTI-298 upregulates p21(WAF1/CIP1) transcription is by preventing the small GTPase RhoA from repressing p21(WAF1/CIP1) induction.
Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Clinical Trials: Past, Present, Future

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular (CV) clinical trials are instrumental in understanding treatment effects and offer insights into the natural progression of CV disease. Biomarkers are a critical component of patient selection, end point definition, and safety monitoring, and clinical trials provide a platform for the discovery and validation of new biomarkers that may augment the understanding of disease mechanisms, risk stratification, and/or clinical decision-making. CONTENT: We review the roles that biomarkers have played in CV clinical trials and roles that CV clinical trials have played and will continue to play in the discovery and validation of biomarkers and their implementation in clinical practice. Large biobanks containing multiple specimen types are increasingly being created from patients enrolled in clinical trials, and such biobanks, when coupled with advances in molecular techniques and bioinformatics, promise to accelerate our understanding of CV disease mechanisms and to help fuel the discovery and development of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers of risk and treatment response. SUMMARY: The past, present, and future of biomarkers and clinical trials have been and will remain intertwined. Biomarkers were once the workhorses of patient selection and end point definition in clinical trials; more recently, clinical trials have been the proving ground for individual biomarkers. Attention to biobanking and the application of modern informatics and molecular techniques to samples collected within clinical trials will usher in the era of stratified and personalized medicine.
A review of scenario planning

Abstract This paper reviews the scenario planning literature looking for answers for the following questions: How do qualitative and quantitative scenario methods differ and what are the advantages and disadvantages? What methods exist for quantitative scenario planning? Particularly quantitative scenario methods often lead to a large number of so-called “raw” scenarios that need to be further refined, discussed, and verbally described. How do scenario planners select raw scenarios for further exploration and how many should they choose? How is the problem of validation addressed in scenario studies?
Comparative Study of Hybrid Powertrains on Fuel Saving, Emissions, and Component Energy Loss in HD Trucks

We compared parallel and series hybrid powertrains on fuel economy, component energy loss, and emissions control in Class 8 trucks over both city and highway driving. A comprehensive set of component models describing battery energy, engine fuel efficiency, emissions control, and power demand interactions for heavy duty (HD) hybrids has been integrated with parallel and series hybrid Class 8 trucks in order to identify the technical barriers of these hybrid powertrain technologies. The results show that series hybrid is absolutely negative for fuel economy benefit of long-haul trucks due to an efficiency penalty associated with the dual-step conversions of energy (i.e. mechanical to electric to mechanical). The current parallel hybrid technology combined with 50% auxiliary load reduction could elevate 5-7% fuel economy of long-haul trucks, but a profound improvement of long-haul truck fuel economy requires additional innovative technologies for reducing aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance losses. The simulated emissions control indicates that hybrid trucks reduce more CO and HC emissions than conventional trucks. The simulated results further indicate that the catalyzed DPF played an important role in CO oxidations. Limited NH3 emissions could be slipped from the Urea SCR, but the average NH3 emissions are below 20 ppm. Meanwhile ourmore » estimations show 1.5-1.9% of equivalent fuel-cost penalty due to urea consumption in the simulated SCR cases.« less
Seismic observations of glaciogenic ocean waves (micro-tsunamis) on icebergs and ice shelves

Seismometers deployed over a 3 year period on icebergs in the Ross Sea and on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, reveal that impulsive sources of ocean surface waves are frequent (e.g. ∼200 events per year in the Ross Sea) in the ice-shelf and iceberg-covered environment of coastal Antarctica. The 368 events recorded by our field deployment suggest that these impulsive events are generated by glaciological mechanisms, such as (1) small-scale calving and edge wasting of icebergs and ice-shelf fronts, (2) edge-on-edge closing and opening associated with iceberg collisions and (3) possibly the impulsive opening of void space associated with ice-shelf rifting and basal crevasse formation. The observations described here provide a background of glaciogenic ocean-wave phenomena relevant to the Ross Sea and suggest that these phenomena may be exploited in the future (using more purposefully designed observation schemes) to understand iceberg calving and ice-shelf disintegration processes.
Central Roles of Small GTPases in the Development of Cell Polarity in Yeast and Beyond

Summary: The establishment of cell polarity is critical for the development of many organisms and for the function of many cell types. A large number of studies of diverse organisms from yeast to humans indicate that the conserved, small-molecular-weight GTPases function as key signaling proteins involved in cell polarization. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a particularly attractive model because it displays pronounced cell polarity in response to intracellular and extracellular cues. Cells of S. cerevisiae undergo polarized growth during various phases of their life cycle, such as during vegetative growth, mating between haploid cells of opposite mating types, and filamentous growth upon deprivation of nutrition such as nitrogen. Substantial progress has been made in deciphering the molecular basis of cell polarity in budding yeast. In particular, it becomes increasingly clear how small GTPases regulate polarized cytoskeletal organization, cell wall assembly, and exocytosis at the molecular level and how these GTPases are regulated. In this review, we discuss the key signaling pathways that regulate cell polarization during the mitotic cell cycle and during mating.
Coat color and gestation length in Thoroughbred mares

Average gestation periods for bay, chestnut, dark bay, gray, and black Thoroughbred mares were compared. A total of 1359 gestation periods were used. A linear model including factors for age of mare, sex of foal, month and year of breeding, and sire effects was used in the analysis. Dam and sire coat-color combinations were also investigated in a similar manner. No significant differences in gestation length could be attributed to coat color of the mare of to dam and sire coat-color combinations. Heritability of gestation length was estimated to be 0.38. The results of this study strongly suggest that coat color is not associated with gestation length in Thoroughbred mares.
Socio-economic status and health care utilization in rural Zimbabwe: findings from Project Accept (HPTN 043)

Zimbabwe’s HIV epidemic is amongst the worst in the world, and disproportionately effects poorer rural areas. Access to almost all health services in Zimbabwe includes some form of cost to the client. In recent years, the socio-economic and employment status of many Zimbabweans has suffered a serious decline, creating additional barriers to HIV treatment and care. We aimed to assess the impact of i) socio-economic status (SES) and ii) employment status on the utilization of health services in rural Zimbabwe. Data were collected from a random probability sample household survey conducted in the Mutoko district of north-western Zimbabwe in 2005. We selected variables that described the economic status of the respondent, including: being paid to work, employment status, and SES by assets. Respondents were also asked about where they most often utilized healthcare when they or their family was sick or hurt. Of 2,874 respondents, all forms of healthcare tended to be utilized by those of high or medium-high SES (65%), including private (65%), church-based (61%), traditional (67%), and other providers (66%) (P=0.009). Most respondents of low SES utilized government providers (74%) (P=0.009). Seventy-one percent of respondents utilizing health services were employed. Government (71%), private (72%), church (71%), community-based (78%) and other (64%) health services tended to be utilized by employed respondents (P=0.000). Only traditional health services were equally utilized by unemployed respondents (50%) (P=0.000). A wide range of health providers are utilized in rural Zimbabwe. Utilization is strongly associated with SES and employment status, particularly for services with user fees, which may act as a barrier to HIV treatment and care access. Efforts to improve access in low-SES, high HIVprevalence settings may benefit from the subsidization of the health care payment system, efforts to improve SES levels, political reform, and the involvement of traditional providers.
Managing the Aladdin home networking system: an experience report

Managing future embedded and ubiquitous systems could be orders-of-magnitude more difficult than managing today's desktop machines, which is already a challenging task. In this paper, we report our experience in managing the Aladdin home networking system in an actual house for three years to provide some clues on the potential complexity to come. We point out that security, reliability, and robustness in the presence of configuration changes are three critical issues that must be addressed before our society can rely upon future embedded and ubiquitous systems for our daily lives.
Resolving the contradictions of addiction.

Research findings on addiction are contradictory. According to biographical records and widely used diagnostic manuals, addicts use drugs compulsively, meaning that drug use is out of control and independent of its aversive consequences. This account is supported by studies that show significant heritabilities for alcoholism and other addictions and by laboratory experiments in which repeated administration of addictive drugs caused changes in neural substrates associated with reward. Epidemiological and experimental data, however, show that the consequences of drug consumption can significantly modify drug intake in addicts. The disease model can account for the compulsive features of addiction, but not occasions in which price and punishment reduced drug consumption in addicts. Conversely, learning models of addiction can account for the influence of price and punishment, but not compulsive drug taking. The occasion for this target article is that recent developments in behavioral choice theory resolve the apparent contradictions in the addiction literature. The basic argument includes the following four statements: First, repeated consumption of an addictive drug decreases its future value and the future value of competing activities. Second, the frequency of an activity is a function of its relative (not absolute) value. This implies that an activity that reduces the values of competing behaviors can increase in frequency even if its own value also declines. Third, a recent experiment (Heyman & Tanz 1995) shows that the effective reinforcement contingencies are relative to a frame of reference, and this frame of reference can change so as to favor optimal or suboptimal choice. Fourth, if the frame of reference is local, reinforcement contingencies will favor excessive drug use, but if the frame of reference is global, the reinforcement contingencies will favor controlled drug use. The transition from a global to a local frame of reference explains relapse and other compulsive features of addiction.
Parametric Trace Slicing and Monitoring

Analysis of execution traces plays a fundamental role in many program analysis approaches. Execution traces are frequently parametric, i.e., they contain events with parameter bindings. Each parametric trace usually consists of many trace slices merged together, each slice corresponding to a parameter binding. Several techniques have been proposed to analyze parametric traces, but they have limitations: some in the specification formalism, others in the type of traces they support; moreover, they share common notions, intuitions, even techniques and algorithms, suggesting that a fundamental understanding of parametric trace analysis is needed. This foundational paper gives the first solution to parametric trace analysis that is unrestricted by the type of parametric properties or traces that can be analyzed. First, a general purpose parametric trace slicing technique is discussed, which takes each event in the parametric trace and distributes it to its corresponding trace slices. This parametric trace slicing technique can be used in combination with any conventional, non-parametric trace analysis, by applying the latter on each trace slice. An online monitoring technique is then presented based on the slicing technique, providing a logic-independent solution to runtime verification of parametric properties. The presented monitoring technique has been implemented and extensively evaluated. The results confirm that the generality of the discussed techniques does not come at a performance expense when compared with existing monitoring systems.
Scheduling lessons learned from the Autonomous Power System

The Autonomous Power System (APS) project at NASA LeRC is designed to demonstrate the applications of integrated intelligent diagnosis, control, and scheduling techniques to space power distribution systems. The project consists of three elements: the Autonomous Power Expert System (APEX) for Fault Diagnosis, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR); the Autonomous Intelligent Power Scheduler (AIPS) to efficiently assign activities start times and resources; and power hardware (Brassboard) to emulate a space-based power system. The AIPS scheduler was tested within the APS system. This scheduler is able to efficiently assign available power to the requesting activities and share this information with other software agents within the APS system in order to implement the generated schedule. The AIPS scheduler is also able to cooperatively recover from fault situations by rescheduling the affected loads on the Brassboard in conjunction with the APEX FDIR system. AIPS served as a learning tool and an initial scheduling testbed for the integration of FDIR and automated scheduling systems. Many lessons were learned from the AIPS scheduler and are now being integrated into a new scheduler called SCRAP (Scheduler for Continuous Resource Allocation and Planning). This paper will service three purposes: an overview of the AIPS implementation, lessons learned from the AIPS scheduler, and a brief section on how these lessons are being applied to the new SCRAP scheduler.
Interaction Effect of Voids and Standoff Height on Thermomechanical Durability of BGA Solder Joints

This paper documents simulation studies on the interactive effect of standoff height and void volume on the thermomechanical durability of ball-grid-array solder joints using a 3-D viscoplastic finite element analysis. Surface Evolver software was used to find the optimized shape of the solder joints and standoff height by minimizing the surface energy as voids with different sizes were placed in solder balls. A global-local modeling approach was then utilized to model the thermomechanical durability of voided solder joints. Void-area-fraction ranges of 14%-40% were analyzed. A nonmonotonic behavior of durability versus void area fraction was observed. The results showed that, if the void is completely inside the solder ball and has no interface with the boundaries of the joint, it does not have a detrimental effect and even improves the durability as the void size increases. However, voids located at the interface of the solder joint and copper pads were found very detrimental to durability. Factors such as load bearing area, stress concentration factor, and overall compliance of the structure were found responsible for the nonmonotonic behavior of the joints. An analytical micromechanics approach was used to calculate the compliance of the structure, and a nonmonotonic trend in phase with the durability trend was observed. The stress concentration factor also showed the same nonmonotonic trend. The rise of these two factors for the void interfacing with copper pads in addition to the decreased-load-bearing-area effect resulted in a drastic decrease in durability.
Effects of temperature on the life history parameters and population growth rates of Hyalopterus pruni (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

ABSTRACT The mealy plum aphid, Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a pest of prune trees in California. The impact of aphids as pests is well characterized by their population growth rate, a parameter integrating their age-specific development, survivorship, and fecundity. These population parameters were measured at five constants temperatures on potted prune trees. Development rates increased with temperature up to an optimum. The relationship between development rate and temperature was described by linear and nonlinear models. Developmental threshold temperature was greater for the nonlinear model than for the linear model. Thermal requirement for development and maximum lethal temperature determined by these models were similar to those for other aphids. The greatest proportional survivorship of nymphs occurred at 26°C. Mean daily fecundity was lowest at 14°C and highest at 22°C. Adult longevity decreased with temperature. Population growth rates for H. pruni were estimated from me...
De Sitter Space

These lectures present an elementary discussion of some background material relevant to the problem of de Sitter quantum gravity. The first two lectures discuss the classical geometry of de Sitter space and properties of quantum field theory on de Sitter space, especially the temperature and entropy of de Sitter space. The final lecture contains a pedagogical discussion of the appearance of the conformal group as an asymptotic symmetry group, which is central to the dS/CFT correspondence. A (previously lacking) derivation of asymptotically de Sitter boundary conditions is also given.
A Critical Policy Analysis of Texas' "Closing the Gaps 2015".

This critical policy analysis uses critical race theory to provide a counter narrative to the P-16 initiative in Texas known as Closing the Gaps 2015. Findings indicate that while these reforms aim to increase educational access and achievement for people of color, they fall short of addressing systemic inequities such as enduring segregation and unconstitutional school finance policy. Using Texas as a case study illumines the ways the growing number of P-16 councils throughout the US might adapt and improve policy development and implementation to more adequately address educational inequities across racial, ethnic, and linguistic groups. The article closes with recommendations for Texas’ reiteration of Closing the Gaps 2015, titled 60x30TX, currently in revision to guide state education goals in 2016-2030.
Wire-Fed Additive Manufacturing of Transparent Glass Parts

This paper presents a new technique for additive manufacturing of transparent glass. In this process, transparent glass is wire-fed into a laser generated melt pool, which solidifies as the work piece is moved relative to a stationary laser beam. The key parameters are identified in terms of their effects on the morphology and transparency of printed walls. The relationship between these parameters is studied experimentally. It is demonstrated that the process parameters strongly affect the morphology and proper selection of the scan speed, feed rate and laser power can produce optimum results. A key advantage of this process relative to powder bed techniques is the ability to form optically transparent parts. The process parameters also determine the transmissivity of the final sample. The transmissivity is measured experimentally for builds with different process parameters.© 2015 ASME
The Fine Gold Intrusive Suite: The roles of basement terranes and magma source development in the Early Cretaceous Sierra Nevada batholith

The Fine Gold Intrusive Suite is one of the largest (>2000 km 2 ) and oldest intrusive complexes in the Sierra Nevada batholith (California, USA), and therefore contains a wealth of information about nascent magmatic processes in a convergent margin arc. Because the suite intrudes both accreted oceanic and/or island-arc terranes and continental crust, it provides perspective on how convergent margin magmatism recycles existing crust versus reworking of fringing island arcs into continental crust. Such insight informs our understanding of how continental crust formation may have operated in the Phanerozoic as compared to earlier in Earth history. New zircon U-Pb geochronology shows that the largely tonalitic suite was emplaced over ∼19 m.y. (124–105 Ma), in three pulses that young from west to east. The most recent domain is nested within the previous ones, such that lobes of magma protruding from the main bodies of the Bass Lake Tonalite (the primary member of the Fine Gold Intrusive Suite) are older than interior areas. Zircon δ 18 O (6.1‰–8.0‰) and eHf (–4.7 + 6.4) show temporal trends indicating that early magmas were source mixtures of mantle with as much as 45% Paleozoic to Mesozoic oceanic and/or arc rocks, whereas later magmas contain greater inputs (to 50%) of Proterozoic North American crust. Older domains in the suite were likely generated from isolated sources, including initial high Sr/Y (to ∼90), high Na 2 O magmas consistent with garnet-bearing sources inferred to be relatively deep. Higher 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, lower eHf, and higher Rb/Sr values in younger plutons show a source that tapped greater proportions of North American crust and was presumably more organized and larger, given its more homogeneous isotopic and trace element traits. Our findings also show that expression of the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr = 0.706 isopleth in arc magmas may be delayed until magma sources are sufficiently vigorous to melt and incorporate aged continental crust. Therefore, Sr i values of older stitching plutons may better record the position of discrete terrane boundaries, whereas younger plutons will record the magmatically average position of terrane boundaries. Although the Fine Gold Intrusive Suite is comparable to the Late Cretaceous voluminous intrusive suite of eastern Sierran suites in terms of duration and age zoning of magmatism, the influence of preexisting basement compositions and differing degrees of organization of the magma sources with age is more pronounced. In addition, the findings show that recycling of fringing arc terranes into continental crust is relatively rapid and that estimates of the growth of Phanerozoic continental crust from such reprocessing should be revised upward.
Using Electronic Health Records and Nursing Assessment to Redesign Clinical Early Recognition Systems

As health-care organizations transition from paper to electronic documentation systems, capturing the nursing assessment electronically can play a fundamental role in transforming health-care delivery. Especially in preventive health, electronic capture of nursing assessment, combined with vital sign-based monitoring, can support early detection of physiological deterioration of patients. While vital sign-based Early Warning Systems have the potential to detect signals of physiological deterioration, their clinical interpretation and integration into the workflow in hospital-based care setting remain a challenge. This study presents a clinical early recognition algorithm using electronic health records (EHRs) coupled with an electronic Nurse Screening Assessment (NSA) that targets various health assessment categories and its integration into the nursing workflow. Data was collected retrospectively from a single institution (N=2,405 visits). χ 2 tests showed significant differences between algorithms with and without NSA (P<0.01). This study provides a practical framework for facilitating the meaningful use of EHRs in hospitals.
TGF-β1-induced PAI-1 contributes to a profibrotic network in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Background Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an allergic disease of increasing worldwide incidence. Complications are due to tissue remodeling and involve TGF-β1–mediated fibrosis. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1/serpinE1) can be induced by TGF-β1, but its role in EoE is not known. Objective We sought to understand the expression and role of PAI-1 in patients with EoE. Methods We used esophageal biopsy specimens and plasma samples from control subjects and patients with EoE, primary human esophageal epithelial cells, and fibroblasts from patients with EoE in immunohistochemistry, quantitative PCR, and immunoassay experiments to understand the induction of PAI-1 by TGF-β1, the relationship between PAI-1 and esophageal fibrosis, and the role of PAI-1 in fibrotic gene expression. Results PAI-1 expression was significantly increased in epithelial cells of biopsy specimens from patients with active EoE compared with that seen in biopsy specimens from patients with inactive EoE or control subjects ( P Conclusions PAI-1 expression is significantly increased in the epithelium in patients with EoE and reflects fibrosis, and its inhibition decreases TGF-β1–induced gene expression. Epithelial PAI-1 might serve as a marker of EoE severity and form part of a TGF-β1–induced profibrotic network.
Influence of Cotton Nectar on Red Imported Fire Ants and Other Predators

Two cotton isolines, one with extra floral nectaries and one without, were compared to determine the effects of these nectaries on pest and predator abundance and on predation of Heliothis virescens (F.) eggs. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, was found to be significantly more abundant on nectaried cotton and visited a significantly higher number of nectaried plants. Seasonal abundance of S. invicta was related to nectar flow in nectaried cotton, with ants more abundant on plants containing blooms. In addition, Prenolepis imparis (Say), Geocoris punctipes (Say), Chiracanthium inclusum (Hentz) and adults of Scymnus spp. were more abundant on nectaried cotton than on nectariless cotton during 1979. Larvae of Scymnus spp. were less abundant on nectaried cotton during 1980. Egg predation of H. virescens was not significantly higher on nectaried cotton, but averaged over 90% on both isolines.
Effects of glucagon on pancreatic content and secretion of amylase in mice.

SummaryGlucagon administration to intact animals has been reported to inhibit pancreatic exocrine secretion and pancreatic protein synthesis. In this study, the effects of in vitro and in vivo glucagon on mouse exocrine pancreatic function have been evaluated. When the in vitro mouse pancreas was exposed to glucagon, a concentration-dependent stimulation of amylase secretion was noted. Glucagon-stimulated secretion and cholecystokinin/pancreozymin-stimulated secretion were noted to be additive. The in vivo administration of glucagon was found to lower pancreatic amylase content in a time and concentration dependent fashion. The in vitro secretion of digestive enzymes after in vivo administration of glucagon also decreased, but this is believed to be a reflection of diminished pancreatic content since fractional amylase secretion was noted to rise. These observations indicate that glucagon's effects on the mouse exocrine pancreas depend on its method of administration and suggest that glucagon has both ind...
Observation and nursing care of extraction foreign bodies in upper gastrointestinal tract for 42 children

Conclude the observation and nursing care of extraction foreign bodies in upper gastrointestinal tract for 42 children.According to the swallowing time,size and character of the foreign bodies,19 cases treated by eduction procedure,21 cases by gastroscope and 2 cases by operation procedure.No complication occurred.The key to the eduction of foreign bodies for nursing is to check the foreign bodies in children's stool.Children with hematemesis, pain in abdomen,fever and melena should be treated by other methods.Treating with gastroscope causes smaller damage and less complication.Nurses should focus on vital signs observation when undergoing procedures,symptoms of complications of bleeding and perforation observation after procedures.
Implied Passive Voice in English

Implied passive voice refers to some active forms expressing a passive sense,which is the key point in the passive voice teaching.Trying to clarify these implied passive voices will help the English learners understand English sentences clearly,and then try to organize and use English language according to the English way of speaking gradually.This article makes a simple conclusion of the usages of the implied passive voices from finite verb forms,non-finite verb forms,nouns,adjectives and prepositional phrases and so on.
Research on soft-sensor method for arc current and voltage of ladle furnace based on the improved BP method

In the process of refining,the accurate measurement of arc current and voltage has theoretical and practical significance of improving the performance of the electrode regulator,producing high-quality steel and increasing the production efficiency.One soft-sensor model based on BP is established firstly.To deal with the defects of the steepest descent in slowly converging and easily immerging in partial minimum frequently of BP,the genetic algorithm is brought forward to solve the problem.Finally,two models are simulated under MATLAB for verifying their effectiveness and the simulation results are compared with each other.The result shows that the BP model based on genetic algorithm is much better than a single BP model on convergence rate and generalization ability.
Combinations of opioid agonist and opioid antagonist

The opioid agonists employed primarily as moderate to strong analgesics have many pharmacological effects including vomiting,respiratory depression,constipation,and also have high possibility of addiction and dependence.Combinations of opioid agonists and opioid antagonists have been developed in recent years,and many clinical trials showed that such kind of drug combinations could moderate the side effects of opioid agonists and decrease the risk of drug abuse.Successful development of these combinations gives new options for the clinical application of opioid analgesics.
Interleukin-1 alpha stimulates dopamine release by activating type II protein kinase A in PC-12 cells.

A recent study from this laboratory [A. R. Gwosdow, N. A. O'Connell, and A. B. Abou-Samra. Am. J. Physiol. 263 (Endocrinol. Metab. 26): E461-E466, 1992] showed that the inflammatory mediator interl...
A Study on the Composite Power Line Communication Network

The existing Power Line can be used as Communication Medium by using Power Line Communication (PLC). PLC can be adopted as a main Communication Means, and other wired/wireless technologies can be adopted as second means. In order to this, the Medium Voltage PLC has to be used as a long distance Communication Network. In our study, the Routing Algorithm is also fit for PLC on the basis of Power Distribution Line. It is designed more useful in case of accidents when roundabout Routes are requested. It makes Power Distribution Network more efficient as Communication Network. In case of accidents, we suggest the Intelligent Composite Communication System for optimal roundabout routes in Communication Network, and verify its performance and reliability in the real Test Field.
V.M. Goldschmidt (1888-1947): Modern geochemical pioneer

Goldschmidt combined a number of sciences to synthesise a new structural crystal chemistry, but his name, life and career remain relatively unknown to most chemical educators and practising chemists.
Pareto tails and lognormal body of US cities size distribution

Abstract We consider a distribution, which consists of lower tail Pareto, lognormal body, and upper tail Pareto, to estimate the size distribution of all US cities. This distribution fits the data more accurately than a distribution that comprises of only lognormal and the upper tail Pareto.
Ab initio potential energy surfaces describing the interaction of CH(X2Π) with H2

We have determined four-dimensional ab initio quasi-diabatic potential energy surfaces describing the interaction of CH(X2Π) with H2, under the assumption of fixed CH and H2 internuclear separations. These calculations employed the multi-reference configuration interaction method [MRCISD+Q(Davidson)]. The computed points were fit to an analytical form suitable for time-independent quantum scattering calculations of rotationally inelastic cross sections and rate constants.
Electrochemical reactivity of polyimide and feasibility as a conductive binder for silicon negative electrodes

A novel polyimide has been investigated as a conductive binder for silicon electrodes. The electrochemical properties of a polyimide electrode, derived from pyromellitic dianhydride and 4,4′-oxydianiline, were characterized and the feasibility as a binder for silicon electrodes was investigated. When fully lithiated and delithiated (3 V–5 mV), the polyimide electrode demonstrates a large reversible capacity of 826 mAh g−1 in the first cycle. The ex situ IR spectra indicate that the carbonyl groups on imide rings are irreversibly reduced during earlier period of first lithiation. Further lithiation leads to removal of characteristic peaks of PO–PI as well as a significant decrease of peak intensities, which implies changes in chemical structure of the host material. Nevertheless, the PO–PI electrode delivers large reversible capacity in subsequent cycles. In the potential range that silicon operates (0.7 V–5 mV), the polyimide electrode remains in a highly lithiated state maintaining its electric conductivity. Silicon electrodes with polyimide binder exhibit superior capacity retention and coulombic efficiency in comparison to electrodes using insulating binders. The improvements are attributed to the reinforced electrical conductive network in the electrode laminate.
Serological Responses to Filarial Antigens in Malian Children Attending Elementary Schools

Dried blood spots (DBS) were collected from 805 children attending 42 elementary schools in the regions of Mopti, Sikasso, Koulikoro, and the regional capital of Bamako in Mali as part of an evaluation of a school health intervention. Eluted immunoglobulin (Ig) G from the DBS was assessed by a multiplex bead assay (MBA) for two filariasis antigens, Wuchereria bancrofti, Wb123, and Brugia malayi, Bm14, to determine the effectiveness of mass drug administration (MDA) programs to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF). The prevalence of positive IgG responses in the children to each antigen was less than 1%, indicating effectiveness of the MDA against LF. The MBA is an excellent serological platform that provides cost-effective opportunities to evaluate public health activities beyond the survey targets.
Gödel’s Ontological Dreams

Godel, arguably the greatest logician of the 20th century, dreamed of establishing philosophical theses and ontological results with the rigour and precision of mathematics. His dream was to a remarkable extent fulfilled. Two modal principles that characterize properties of proof, time, and God reveal some intriguing logical interconnections among Godel’s Second Incompleteness Theorem, his argument for the unreality of time in the General Theory of Relativity, and his Ontological argument.
Assessing climate change impacts, benefits of mitigation, and uncertainties on major global forest regions under multiple socioeconomic and emissions scenarios

Author(s): Kim, JB; Monier, E; Sohngen, B; Pitts, GS; Drapek, R; McFarland, J; Ohrel, S; Cole, J | Abstract: We analyze a set of simulations to assess the impact of climate change on global forests where MC2 dynamic global vegetation model (DGVM) was run with climate simulations from the MIT Integrated Global System Model-Community Atmosphere Model (IGSM-CAM) modeling framework. The core study relies on an ensemble of climate simulations under two emissions scenarios: a business-as-usual reference scenario (REF) analogous to the IPCC RCP8.5 scenario, and a greenhouse gas mitigation scenario, called POL3.7, which is in between the IPCC RCP2.6 and RCP4.5 scenarios, and is consistent with a 2 °C global mean warming from pre-industrial by 2100. Evaluating the outcomes of both climate change scenarios in the MC2 model shows that the carbon stocks of most forests around the world increased, with the greatest gains in tropical forest regions. Temperate forest regions are projected to see strong increases in productivity offset by carbon loss to fire. The greatest cost of mitigation in terms of effects on forest carbon stocks are projected to be borne by regions in the southern hemisphere. We compare three sources of uncertainty in climate change impacts on the world's forests: emissions scenarios, the global system climate response (i.e. climate sensitivity), and natural variability. The role of natural variability on changes in forest carbon and net primary productivity (NPP) is small, but it is substantial for impacts of wildfire. Forest productivity under the REF scenario benefits substantially from the CO2 fertilization effect and that higher warming alone does not necessarily increase global forest carbon levels. Our analysis underlines why using an ensemble of climate simulations is necessary to derive robust estimates of the benefits of greenhouse gas mitigation. It also demonstrates that constraining estimates of climate sensitivity and advancing our understanding of CO2 fertilization effects may considerably reduce the range of projections.
Divine Motivation Theory and Exemplarism

In this paper I summarize two versions of a new form of ethical theory in which all basic moral terms are defined by direct reference to exemplars of goodness. I call the Christian form Divine Motivation Theory in a book by the same name (Cambridge University Press, 2004), and the more general form I call Exemplarist Virtue Theory (Gifford Lectures 2015) or Exemplarist Moral Theory (forthcoming 2017, Oxford University Press). In the Christian form the supreme exemplar is God. In exemplarist virtue theory exemplars are superbly admirable persons or fictional characters, whose goodness is identified through the emotion of admiration rather than through the satisfaction of descriptive properties. In both versions of the theory the terms ‘good person’, ‘virtue’, ‘good life’, ‘admirable act’, and ‘right act’ are defined by the acts, motives, judgments, and attitudes of exemplary persons.
A predictive model for lack of partial clinical remission in new-onset pediatric type 1 diabetes.

Importance >50% of patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) do not enter partial clinical remission (PCR); early identification of these patients may improve initial glycemic control and reduce long-term complications. Aim To determine whether routinely obtainable clinical parameters predict non-remission in children and adolescents with new-onset T1D. Subjects and methods Data on remission were collected for the first 36 months of disease in 204 subjects of ages 2–14 years with new-onset type 1 diabetes. There were 86 remitters (age 9.1±3.0y; male 57%), and 118 non-remitters (age 7.0±3.1y; male 40.7%). PCR was defined as insulin-dose adjusted hemoglobin A1c of ≤9. Results Non-remission occurred in 57.8% of subjects. Univariable analysis showed that the risk for non-remission was increased 9-fold in patients with 4 diabetes-associated auto-antibodies (OR = 9.90, p = 0.010); 5-fold in patients 3 diabetes-associated autoantibodies had an area under the curve of 0.73. Conclusions More than 50% of children and adolescents with new-onset T1D do not undergo partial clinical remission and are thus at an increased risk for long-term complications of diabetes mellitus. A predictive model comprising of bicarbonate 3 diabetes-associated autoantibodies has 73% power for correctly predicting non-remission in children and adolescents with new-onset T1D. Early identification of these non-remitters may guide the institution of targeted therapy to limit dysglycemia and reduce the prevalence of long-term deleterious complications.
Perspectives on the Nephrology Match for Fellowship Applicants

In recent years, there has been a marked decline in applicants to United States nephrology programs ([1][1]). Although a multipronged approach is clearly needed to increase interest in nephrology, it is important that we ensure that our applicants/future colleagues are treated in the most fair and
Baseline ovarian cysts do not affect clinical response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization

Objective To evaluate the effect of baseline ovarian cysts at the onset of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) on cycle outcome. Design, Patients A review of 82 IVF cycles in 29 women in which each patient served as her own control. The stimulation regimen for each patient remained constant over time. Each woman had at least one cycle in which an ovarian cyst measuring 14 to 53mm was present at baseline and one cycle in which no such cyst was present. Setting The In Vitro Fertilization Program at Yale University School of Medicine. Results There was no statistically significant difference in cycle cancellation rates, baseline serum estradiol (E 2 ), peak serum E 2 , number of follicles present at retrieval, number of oocytes retrieved, or fertilization rate between groups. Stimulation regimen, cyst size, and age were unrelated to outcome. The number of cysts present at baseline correlated positively with the number of follicles present at retrieval. Conclusion Baseline ovarian cysts in the setting of a low baseline E 2 level do not affect the clinical response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in IVF cycles.
Fractal Unfolding: A Metamorphic Approach to Learning to Parse Recursive Structure

We describe a computational framework for language learning and parsing in which dynamical systems navigate on fractal sets. We explore the predictions of the framework in an artificial grammar task in which humans and recurrent neural networks are trained on a language with recursive structure. The results provide evidence for the claim of the dynamical systems models that grammatical systems continuously metamorphose during learning. The present perspective permits structural comparison between the recursive representations in symbolic and neural network models.
Internal structure – Na storage mechanisms – Electrochemical performance relations in carbons

Abstract This review focuses on carbon-based sodium ion battery (NIB) negative electrodes, emphasizing the internal structure – Na storage mechanisms – electrochemical performance relations. We bring a unique vantage to the ever-expanding field of NIB anode literature: To quantify the critical emphasis on the structure – properties interdependence, we provide comprehensive data comparisons of representative published studies. This is accomplished through a series of “Master Plots”, which rather than focusing on an individual publication, combine the data by broad features first outlined in the taxonomy section. The advantage of such an approach is that it transcends the paper-to-paper differences in electrochemical performance in a given class of anodes, providing generalizable comparisons that are statistically significant. For instance, we manage to demonstrate that, while N-doped carbons have a slight advantage in terms of capacity, their rate performance at higher currents is unchanged over that of undoped carbons. To our knowledge such broad high-level data analysis has not been done in past reviews on either NIB or LIB carbon anodes. Furthermore, we also discuss a wide range of individual microstructures and chemistries, offering critical analysis when appropriate.
Computational Imaging, and Statistical Analysis of Tissue Microarrays: Quantitative Automated Analysis of Tissue Microarrays

Unlike DNAmicroarrays where each microscopic spot represents a unique cloned cDNA or oligonucleotide, the spots on tissue microarrays are larger and contain histologic tissue sections from unique patients or tumors. This technology reverses the typical array paradigm. Instead of testing one sample for expression of thousands of genes, tissue microarrays allow testing of one gene (or more typically a protein) on hundreds or thousands of samples (patients). Tissue microarray (TMA) technology was first described by Wan and Furmanski (Wan et al., 1987), and later advanced by Kononen and Kallioniemi in 1997 with production of an apparatus for mass-production of TMAs (Kononen et al., 1998). Consisting of an ordered array of tissue cores—up to 2,000—on a single glass slide, tissue microarrays provide a mechanism for the maximal use of scarce tissue resources. Most tissue microarrays are currently constructed from pathology tissue block archives, and the coordinate clinical data can be correlated with experiments performed on these tissues. TMAs allow for the validation of new concepts in cell and
Approximations and Randomization

In response to the apparent intractability of NP-hard problems, approximation algorithms were introduced as a way to provide strong guarantees about the quality of solutions, without requiring exponential time to obtain them. The study of randomized algorithms, procedures that “flip coins” and are allowed to err with some probability, arose alongside approximation algorithms as a possible resource for circumventing intractability. We outline some of the various types of approximation algorithms that have been proposed, with a special focus on ones using randomization, and suggest further research directions in this area.