cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract IA07: Deconstructing p53 pathways in tumor suppression

The p53 transcription factor is a critical tumor suppressor in humans and mice. Despite this essential function, the molecular pathways through which p53 acts in tumor suppression remain enigmatic. To define the transcriptional programs through which p53 suppresses carcinogenesis, we have taken combined mouse genetic and genomic approaches. We previously generated a panel of p53 knock-in mouse strains expressing mutants in the first (p53 25,26 ), second (p53 53,54 ), or both (p53 25,26,53,54 ) of two amino-terminal transcriptional activation domains (TADs). In terms of transcriptional activity, we have discovered that p53 25,26 is severely impaired for transactivation of the majority of canonical p53 target genes (e.g. p21, Puma, Noxa), but retains the ability to activate a set of primarily novel p53 target genes, while p53 25,26,53,54 lacks transactivation activity altogether. The p53 53,54 mutant, in contrast, is uncompromised for transactivation of p53 target genes. The p53 25,26,53,54 mutant is completely defective in tumor suppression, underscoring the importance of transcriptional activation for p53-mediated tumor suppression. Intriguingly, the p53 25,26 mutant retains full activity in suppressing a variety of cancers, indicating that efficient transactivation of most canonical p53 target genes is dispensable for tumor suppression. As p53 25,26 activates only a subset of p53-inducible genes, yet retains tumor-suppressor activity, it has helped pinpoint a small set of novel, direct p53-inducible tumor suppression-associated target genes (TSAGs) whose functions we are currently interrogating through genetic screens. Additionally, we have made the surprising discovery that the p53 53,54 mutant suppresses pancreatic cancer more efficiently than wild-type p53, and that this capacity correlates with the ability of p53 53,54 to hyperactivate a subset of p53 target genes. Indeed, our analysis of these genes has uncovered Ptpn14, a direct p53 target gene critical for mediating p53 function in suppressing pancreatic cancer cell growth. Ptpn14 encodes a protein tyrosine phosphatase that negatively regulates the oncoprotein Yap in both human and mouse cells. These studies thus reveal a p53-Ptpn14-Yap axis in pancreatic cancer. Together, these strategies will help to elaborate the transcriptional networks fundamental for p53 function in tumor suppression. Citation Format: Stephano Spano Mello, Kathryn Bieging-Rolett, Alyssa Kaiser, Elizabeth Joy Valente, Nitin Raj, Jacob McClendon, Brittany Maria Flowers, David Warren Morgens, Michael Cory Bassik, Laura Donatella Attardi. Deconstructing p53 pathways in tumor suppression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Modeling Cancer in Mice: Technology, Biology, and Beyond; 2017 Sep 24-27; Orlando, Florida. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(10 Suppl):Abstract nr IA07.
Crystallographic and kinetic studies of the tryptophan synthase α2β2 complex with a mutation in β subunit lysine-87 that binds pyridoxal phosphate

To probe the mechanism of reactions catalyzed by the tryptophan synthase α2β2 complex, we have substituted threonine for β subunit lysine-87 that forms an internal aldimine with pyridoxal phosphate. Our finding that the mutant α2β2 complex (K87T) is inactive, but forms external aldimine complexes of pyridoxal phosphate with L-serine and L-tryptophan, provides evidence that lysine-87 serves critical roles in transimination, catalysis and product release. Kinetic studies demonstrate that formation of a stable aminoacrylate intermediate at the β site of the K87T α2β2 complex results in activation of the a subunit. Crystallographic analyses at -2 A resolution of the L-serine and L-tryptophan intermediates with the K87T α2β2 complex localize the substrate and product binding sites of the β subunit.
An electromagnetic sensor to locate service laterals during the trenchless lateral reinstatement

Abstract Lateral reinstatement is the last step in the rehabilitation of buried pipes using cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liners, where the service laterals sealed by the freshly installed liner are cut open. In this paper, a low cost sensor based on the open-ended rectangular waveguide based non-destructive testing (NDT) technique that was developed in the past is extended for lateral detection. Its performance is tested inside metallic and non-metallic host pipes. Numerical modeling of the sensor and experimental validations are carried out. A dedicated electronic circuit and a servo controlled scanning mechanism are developed so that the sensor can be retrofitted on the robotic cutters used for lateral restoration in the trenchless industry.
Identifying Factors that Influence Student Success in Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program

The profile of today9s college students looks quite different than it did decades ago, when the average student was a recent high school graduate moving directly from high school to university. Students today are older, work to support themselves and their families, and are ethnically more diverse than their peers of decades past. The student demographic shifts necessitate regular evaluation of academic programs including reevaluating admissions requirements, financial aids availability, and schedule flexibility to meet the demands of the new student demographics. Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) at California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) is the largest CLS program in Southern California and is accredited by National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). The program admits both undergraduate and post-baccalaureate candidates for training as Clinical Laboratory Scientists for careers in healthcare or research. Despite the great success in graduating well qualified candidates, there has been a trend in which a larger portion of students spend more time than expected to complete the program requirements. This phenomenon prompted the faculty at CSUDH to seek the causes for such lengthening time towards graduation. In the current study, we report the results of survey questionnaire that was submitted to CLS students at CSUDH in 2015. The results confirm the recent shift in student demographics in the CLS program and identify the primary obstacle towards a timely graduation to be inability to register for required courses due to schedule conflicts and/or intense competition for available seats. ABBREVIATIONS:CLS – Clinical Laboratory Sciences, CSUDH- California State University Dominguez Hills
Effect of α2-adrenoceptor antagonism on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in cats.

Abstract Objective To characterize the effect of α2-adrenoceptor antagonism on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane (MACISO) in cats. Study design Prospective experimental study. Animals A group of five healthy adult male neutered cats. Methods Cats were anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen and instrumented. MACISO was determined in duplicate in five cats, before and during administration of atipamezole (250 μg kg−1 followed by 250 μg kg−1 hour−1) using the bracketing technique and tail clamping. Estimates of MACISO obtained before and during administration of atipamezole were compared using a two-tailed paired t test. Results MACISO during atipamezole administration (mean ± standard deviation 2.73% ± 0.07%) was significantly larger than before atipamezole administration (1.95% ± 0.13%; p Conclusion and clinical relevance The role of α2-adrenoceptors in inhaled anesthetic-induced immobility may be larger than previously thought. Antagonism of an α2-adrenoceptor agonist during inhalation anesthesia may result in an increase in MAC disproportionate to the MAC reduction induced by the agonist.
A study in Rashomon curves and volumes: A new perspective on generalization and model simplicity in machine learning

The Rashomon effect occurs when many different explanations exist for the same phenomenon. In machine learning, Leo Breiman used this term to characterize problems where many accurate-but-different models exist to describe the same data. In this work, we study how the Rashomon effect can be useful for understanding the relationship between training and test performance, and the possibility that simple-yet-accurate models exist for many problems. We consider the Rashomon set - the set of almost-equally-accurate models for a given problem - and study its properties and the types of models it could contain. We present the Rashomon ratio as a new measure related to simplicity of model classes, which is the ratio of the volume of the set of accurate models to the volume of the hypothesis space; the Rashomon ratio is different from standard complexity measures from statistical learning theory. For a hierarchy of hypothesis spaces, the Rashomon ratio can help modelers to navigate the trade-off between simplicity and accuracy. In particular, we find empirically that a plot of empirical risk vs. Rashomon ratio forms a characteristic $\Gamma$-shaped Rashomon curve, whose elbow seems to be a reliable model selection criterion. When the Rashomon set is large, models that are accurate - but that also have various other useful properties - can often be obtained. These models might obey various constraints such as interpretability, fairness, or monotonicity.
Discretionary Thrombophilia Test Acquisition and Outcomes in Patients With Venous Thromboembolism in a Real‐World Clinical Setting

Background The value of thrombophilia test acquisition in improving risk prediction beyond clinical presentation remains unknown. We investigated the effect of thrombophilia test acquisition on ven...
Trick for a treat: The effect of costume, identity, and peers on norm violations

Abstract We hypothesize that clothes can affect the behavior of the wearer by influencing the person’s identity. We test this hypothesis by recruiting trick-or-treaters during Halloween, a time of year when people wear salient and extreme clothing. Because the tradition of costume-wear for Halloween evolved, in part, to hide one’s identity during “tricks” (i.e. norm violations), we measure the effect of Halloween costumes on ethical behavior. We use the lying game of Fischbacher and Follmi–Heusi as our experimental paradigm with 2 × 3 × 2 conditions. First, we vary the stakes to price lying behavior. Second, we run three conditions with different beneficiaries of the report (self, other, and both) to test whether lying for others is perceived to be normative. Third, we manipulate the salience of one’s costume to test the effect of costume and identity on ethical behavior. Surprisingly, we find that costume salience caused “good guys” to lie more and “bad guys” to lie less. We interpret this either as a moral licensing effect or as stemming from a perception of being monitored. Our design allows for the identification of contagion effects, and although there were no direct effects of gender, we found that children lie more when children of the same gender near them lie more. We also find that stakes had no effect, people lied more for themselves than for others, and lying has an inverted-U pattern over age, peaking at age 12.
Genome-Wide Association Mapping of Dark Green Color Index using a Diverse Panel of Soybean Accessions.

Nitrogen (N) plays a key role in plants because it is a major component of RuBisCO and chlorophyll. Hence, N is central to both the dark and light reactions of photosynthesis. Genotypic variation in canopy greenness provides insights into the variation of N and chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis rates, and N2 fixation in legumes. The objective of this study was to identify significant loci associated with the intensity of greenness of the soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] canopy as determined by the Dark Green Color Index (DGCI). A panel of 200 maturity group IV accessions was phenotyped for canopy greenness using DGCI in three environments. Association mapping identified 45 SNPs that were significantly (P ≤ 0.0003) associated with DGCI in three environments, and 16 significant SNPs associated with DGCI averaged across all environments. These SNPs likely tagged 43 putative loci. Out of these 45 SNPs, eight were present in more than one environment. Among the identified loci, 21 were located in regions previously reported for N traits and ureide concentration. Putative loci that were coincident with previously reported genomic regions may be important resources for pyramiding favorable alleles for improved N and chlorophyll concentrations, photosynthesis rates, and N2 fixation in soybean.
Chapter 22 – Information Schema

Publisher Summary In each catalog in an SQL environment, there is a schema named INFORMATION_SCHEMA that is accessible to the application programs. This chapter discusses this schema and its contents, as well as the associated privileges. It also focuses on the DEFINITION_SCHEMA, in which base tables are defined to support INFORMATION_SCHEMA. Metadata is a description of the data contained within a database. In many information system environments, a dictionary or repository functions as the primary storage mechanism for an organization's metadata. While that is an implementation-dependent situation, there are two general rules in the SQL standard: first metadata that applies primarily to the runtime database environment is managed through the INFORMATION_SCHEMA and second metadata that applies to the information system environment as a whole is managed through a data dictionary or metadata repository. When this type of dual metadata environment is present, the INFORMATION_SCHEMA metadata must be coordinated with that of the overall repository environment. The INFORMATION_SCHEMA and DEFINITION_SCHEMA contain information about tables, privileges, and other SQL entities within a single catalog. Each catalog contains its own INFORMATION_SCHEMA and DEFINITION_SCHEMA. Whenever a user create a schema object, such as a table, view, column, character set, or domain, that object is represented by a row in one or more of the DEFINITION_SCHEMA tables and one or more of the INFORMATION_SCHEMA views. The chapter describes in detail the uses of these statements and various components of both these statements.
Rhabdomyolysis associated with laboratory-confirmed FUB-AMB use

Abstract A 25-year-old female presented to an emergency department complaining of atraumatic back pain and lower extremity weakness. An extensive laboratory and radiographic evaluation, including thoracic and lumbar MRIs, demonstrated rhabdomyolysis. Her creatinine kinase peaked at 17,991 U/L. Upon further questions the patient admitted to using marijuana the night before but urine drug screen was negative for cannabinoids. Liquid chromatography—quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry of her serum—detected methyl 2-(1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamido)-3-methylbutanoate (AMB-FUBINACA or FUB-AMB) at a concentration of 4.2 ng/mL. No other cause of rhabdomyolysis was found. She improved with hydration and was discharged after a 3-day hospitalization.
LongAGE: defining breakpoints of genomic structural variants through optimal and memory efficient alignments of long reads.

SUMMARY Defining the precise location of structural variations (SVs) at single-nucleotide breakpoint resolution is a challenging problem due to large gaps in alignment. Previously, Alignment with Gap Excision (AGE) enabled us to define breakpoints of SVs at single-nucleotide resolution; however, AGE requires a vast amount of memory when aligning a pair of long sequences. To address this, we developed a memory-efficient implementation-LongAGE-based on the classical Hirschberg algorithm. We demonstrate an application of LongAGE for resolving breakpoints of SVs embedded into segmental duplications on Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) reads that can be longer than 10 kb. Furthermore, we observed different breakpoints for a deletion and a duplication in the same locus, providing direct evidence that such multi-allelic copy number variants (mCNVs) arise from two or more independent ancestral mutations. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION LongAGE is implemented in C++ and available on Github at https://github.com/Coaxecva/LongAGE. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Obstacles to continued use of personal health records

The purpose of this paper was to examine organisational change in a hospital setting. Specifically, the paper examines how patients responded to the introduction of personal health records (PHR). T...
Optimizing kesterite solar cells from Cu2ZnSnS4 to Cu2CdGe(S,Se)4

Kesterite solar cells, based on the prototypical absorber material Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), are cheap, nontoxic, and chemically stable, thus rendering them promising, beyond-Si photovoltaic technologies. Their efficiencies, however, are limited by the formation of defects that decrease the short-circuit current by creating deep traps where nonradiative recombination of photoexcited charge carriers occurs via the Shockley–Read–Hall mechanism. To suppress the formation of these defects, specifically the most deleterious 2CuZn + SnZn antisite cluster, we devised an ion substitution strategy involving complete Cd- and Ge-substitution and partial selenization, ultimately arriving at the optimal composition, Cu2CdGeS3Se (CCdGSSe). Using density functional theory and ab initio thermodynamics, we predict that complete Cd- and Ge-substitution leads to a 125% increase in the formation energy of the deep-trap-inducing 2CuCd + GeCd. Additionally, 25% selenization optimizes the predicted band gap (1.43–1.47 eV, as calculated from a hybrid functional) with respect to the Shockley–Queisser limit. In addition to providing a practical and novel ion substitution strategy, we also elucidate the mechanisms of defect suppression and promotion by Ge and Se, highlighting the key role of the inert pair effect and metal-chalcogen bond covalency, respectively. Due to its ideal thermodynamic and electronic characteristics, CCdGSSe should reinvigorate research on kesterite-based solar cells, optimizing the rich materials space afforded by ion substitution and post-quinary compositions.
Progression Free Survival Prediction for Head and Neck Cancer using Deep Learning based on Clinical and PET-CT Imaging Data

Determining progression-free survival (PFS) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients is a challenging but pertinent task that could help stratify patients for improved overall outcomes. PET/CT images provide a rich source of anatomical and metabolic data for potential clinical biomarkers that would inform treatment decisions and could help improve PFS. In this study, we participate in the 2021 HECKTOR Challenge to predict PFS in a large dataset of HNSCC PET/CT images using deep learning approaches. We develop a series of deep learning models based on the DenseNet architecture using a negative log-likelihood loss function that utilizes PET/CT images and clinical data as separate input channels to predict PFS in days. Internal model validation based on 10-fold cross-validation using the training data (N=224) yielded C-index values up to 0.622 (without) and 0.842 (with) censoring status considered in C-index computation, respectively. We then implemented model ensembling approaches based on the training data cross-validation folds to predict the PFS of the test set patients (N=101). External validation on the test set for the best ensembling method yielded a C-index value of 0.694. Our results are a promising example of how deep learning approaches can effectively utilize imaging and clinical data for medical outcome prediction in HNSCC, but further work in optimizing these processes is needed.
Coffee, Tea, and Mammographic Breast Density in Premenopausal Women.

Studies have investigated the associations of coffee and tea with mammographic breast density (MBD) in premenopausal women with inconsistent results. We analyzed data from 375 premenopausal women who attended a screening mammogram at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO in 2016, and stratified the analyses by race (non-Hispanic White (NHW) vs. Black/African American). Participants self-reported the number of servings of coffee, caffeinated tea, and decaffeinated tea they consumed. Volpara software was used to determine volumetric percent density (VPD), dense volume (DV), and non-dense volume (NDV). We used generalized linear regression models to quantify the associations of coffee and tea intake with MBD measures. Coffee: ≥1 time/day (β = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.93–1.21; p-trend = 0.61) and caffeinated tea: ≥1 time/day (β = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.88–1.17; p-trend = 0.61) were not associated with VPD. Decaffeinated tea (≥1 time/week) was positively associated with VPD in NHW women (β = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.06–1.39) but not in African American women (β = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.73–1.17; p-interaction = 0.02). Coffee (≥1 time/day) was positively associated with DV in African American women (β = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.11–2.07) but not in NHW women (β = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.95–1.29; p-interaction = 0.02). Our findings do not support associations of coffee and caffeinated tea intake with VPD in premenopausal women. Positive associations of decaffeinated tea with VPD, with suggestions of effect modification by race, require confirmation in larger studies with diverse study populations.
Room temperature characterization of Hg 1−x Cd x Te P-on-n heterostructure photodiodes

Measurements of 77K RoA and 300K reverse bias dynamic impedance (RdA) products at one volt reverse bias has been carried out to assess the degree of correlation of this figure of merit. Planar P-on-n heterostructures were grown on near lattice-matched CdZnTe substrates with Hg1-xCdxTe (0.20< x <0.30) by molecular beam epitaxy. These devices were passivated with CdTe and doped with indium and arsenic as n- and p-type dopants, respectively. Current-voltage characteristic of these devices exhibit thermally generated dark currents at small and modest reverse bias. We have observed that RoA values of these long wavelength infrared P-on-n heterostructure photodiodes at 77K correlate with room temperature RdA values. Diode arrays with high room temperature RdA values at one volt reverse bias also have high RoA values at 77K. Similarly, low RdA values at room temperature indicate poor performance at 77K where deviation from diffusion current occurs at reverse bias of 0.2 to 1 volt at room temperature. The results presented here, for a small samples of devices, demonstrate that room temperature measurements of current-voltage characteristics to evaluate Hg1-xCdxTe (0.22< x <0.28) diode performance and array uniformity at lower temperatures can be used. This provides an acceptable criteria for further study at lower temperatures.
University of chicago at CLEF2004: cross-language text and spoken document retrieval

The University of Chicago participated in the Cross-Language Evaluation Forum 2004 (CLEF2004) cross-language multilingual, bilingual, and spoken language tracks. Cross-language experiments focused on meeting the challenges of new languages with freely available resources. We found that modest effectiveness could be achieved with the additional application of pseudo-relevance feedback to overcome some gaps in impoverished lexical resources. Experiments with a new dimensionality reduction approach for re-ranking of retrieved results yielded no improvement, however. Finally, spoken document retrieval experiments aimed to meet the challenges of unknown story boundary conditions and noisy retrieval through query-based merger of fine-grained overlapping windows and pseudo-feedback query expansion to enhance retrieval.
Interlamellar chemistry of hydrotalcites. I. Polymerization of silicate anions

Exchange of silicate anions into hydrotalcite-type materials leads to the ready formation of well-ordered two-dimensional silicate sheets. The combined evidence from diffraction, NMR, and IR allows for a global identification of the reaction product. Its structure probably consists of positively charged brucitelike layers intercalated with puckered, silicic-acid-type macroanions.
The Effects of Privacy Concern and Social Influence on User Acceptance of Online Social Networks

With the proliferation of online social networks, understanding how and why individuals adopt and use online social networks can help managers and marketers to design better methods and approaches towards engaging users of these kinds of networks. The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of user acceptance of online social networks, with particular attention given to a research model incorporating the variables of privacy concern and social influence into the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The enhanced model, tailored to the unique characteristics of online social networks, will be tested via a survey study.
Wavelet edge detection using two-dimensional otsu model and local enhancement

In the paper, we use wavelet technique to detect edges in small scale along the direction of gradient maximum. Edges that we extracted are accurate and single-pixel wide. But the photo also contains a lot of noise, so we set threshold to extract the ideal edge points. Currently, the threshold is set mostly by people's experience that needing a lot of trial or set the average gray value of the image directly, but the overall effect is not satisfactory. In response to the problem, we propose a method of using two-dimensional otsu model to obtain the threshold, the two-dimensional otsu method not only considers the gray value of pixels but also takes the pixels outside their fields of space-related information into account and it takes a good performance in the presence of noise of image. And we do not need to set any parameter to get the threshold. After that, we propose the corresponding solution to the problem that some edge points can not be detected: local enhancement method. In the method, we first operate the fuzzy edges of the original image, and then use the method we have proposed to detect the edges again. Finally, the simulation shows the correctness and effectiveness of the algorithm and it can also detect the fuzzy edges with an advantage of positioning accurate and having low noise.
Agricultural cooperatives and quality-enhancing RD in the agri-food system

This paper develops a game - theoretic model of heterogeneous consumers to analyze the effect of cooperative involvement on quality- enhancing product innovation activity, the pricing of food products, and the welfare of the groups involved in the context of a mixed duopoly where an openmembership consumer co- op competes with an IOF. Analytical results show that the involvement of the member welfare- maximizing co- op in R&D can be quality and welfare enhancing by increasing the arrival rate of product innovations and reducing the prices of food products. The effectiveness of the co- op is shown to depend on the nature of product differentiation and the relative quality of its products, the degree of consumer heterogeneity, and the size of innovation costs .
Differential responses of Central American and Mexican pine species and Pinus radiata to infection by the pitch canker fungus

Seedlings from a wide array of 23 species, varieties,and geographic races were screened for resistance topitch canker using artificial inoculation in agreenhouse. Seed to represent these taxa weregenerally collected in natural stands. In addition,seedlings from 79 families of P. radiata fromcommercial populations from Chile and New Zealand werescreened in a separate experiment. There was littlevariation in resistance among the commercial P.radiata families, with over 98% mortality. Similarresults were obtained with native P. radiatapopulations. All close relatives of P. radiata(sub-section Patula) were very susceptible. However,a number of closed-cone pine species (specifically,from sub-section Oocarpa) were generally veryresistant, with survival approaching 100%. Inaddition, in P. oocarpa, P. jaliscana, and P. tecunumanii from low elevation provenances anextremely high frequency of trees suffered no apparentdamage from the pathogen (92%, 85% and 80%,respectively).
Conquering the third ventricular chamber

Surgery within the third ventricle was a special challenge early in the conception of the discipline of neurosurgery due to a lack of diagnostic methods and difficulty in reaching and removing lesions affecting this vital region. Walter Dandy and Harvey Cushing performed pioneering approaches of the third ventricular region. The authors have reviewed the previously undisclosed efforts of Cushing to approach the third ventricle through a direct review of his available patient records at the Cushing Brain Tumor Registry. The authors compare these efforts to those of Dandy published in Dandy's pioneering work Benign Tumors in the Third Ventricle of the Brain: Diagnosis and Treatment. Based on the review of these records, the authors attempt to examine the foundations of surgery within the third ventricle.
Annual Energy Consumption Analysis Report for Richland Middle School

Richland Middle School is a single story, 90,000 square feet new school located in Richland, WA. The design team proposed four HVAC system options to serve the building. The proposed HVAC systems are listed as following: (1) 4-pipe fan coil units served by electrical chiller and gas-fired boilers, (2) Ground-source closed water loop heat pumps with water loop heat pumps with boiler and cooling tower, and (3) VAV system served by electrical chiller and gas-fired boiler. This analysis estimates the annual energy consumptions and costs of each system option, in order to provide the design team with a reasonable basis for determining which system is most life-cycle cost effective. eQuest (version 3.37), a computer-based energy simulation program that uses the DOE-2 simulation engine, was used to estimate the annual energy costs.
Abstract 18: Whole Grain Intake and Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in US Men and Women

Background: Whole grains are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that have favorable effects on health through multiple pathways. Although epidemiologic studies have suggested that whole grain intake may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD), limited evidence exists regarding whole grains’ associations with mortality in prospective studies. Methods: Whole grain consumption was measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire every 2-4 years among 74,341 women in the Nurses’ Health Study (1984-2010) and 43,990 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (1986-2010) who were free of CVD, diabetes, and cancers at baseline. Intake of whole grain foods including brown rice, dark breads, whole-grain ready-to-eat cereals, cooked cereal, popcorn, wheat germ, bran and other grains. We used the cumulative average of whole grain intake from all available dietary questionnaires from baseline through the end of follow-up were used to better represent l...
Thermal analysis of the CPFR/ZTH apparatus

The design for a reversed-field pinch machine to be assembled at Los Alamos during FY 1992 has been completed. The Confinement Physics Research Facility (CPRF) houses the front-end ZTH torus. A series of simulations has been performed to predict temperature levels of various elements within the front end of the CPRF/ZTH apparatus for bakeout conditions and for periodic experiments. A lumped-parameter approach was used to calculate temperatures of various elements as functions of time. Results indicate that temperatures can be held at acceptable levels for 10-min cycles for the 2-MA design condition. The cycle time must be extended to approximately 13 min for 4-MA experiments. Instrumentation temperatures during bakeout were also found to be within acceptable limits. The bakeout conditions are described, and a safety analysis is presented. >
Processing highly filled pre‐compounded pellets on single screw extruders

This article discusses, in general terms, several approaches to producing highly filled plastics. Emphasis is on wood flour, with polyolefins as an example. Processing other highly filled polymer and filler choices follows the same logic. Successful approaches include the single screw machine being fed pre-pelletized material. A large pelletizing twin screw compounder selected for compounding for its output rate isolates the complexities of the compounding step from the profile lines, which have their own unique challenges, such as sizing and cooling the part at good quality and with good tolerances. Operating a few big pelletizing twin screw machines would allow the simple single screw lines of various sizes to run at decent efficiencies on big or small profiles. Since not one machinery approach has monopolized this application to date, some of the major processing and equipment comparisons are discussed. J. VINYL. ADDIT. TECHNOL. 12:83–86, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers
A statistical analysis of percutaneous radiofrequency lesions in the treatment of chronic low back pain and sciatica

Abstract A statistical analysis of 61 consecutive patients who underwent facet denervation for chronic low back pain and sciatica showed that the average patient improved with lower pain estimates and use of narcotics, while activity levels increased. At 1–2 year follow-up there was a trend for patients to report an increase in their pain estimate although they maintained consistently high activity levels and low analgesic intake.
Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill, and Us: A Group Relations Perspective

This article uses a group relations perspective to explore the unconscious meanings of the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings for the nation as a whole. The magnitude of media coverage and the reciprocal nature of viewer/reader voyeurism provided evidence that this event had meaning far beyond the individual. In this sociopolitical event, Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill, and the Senate Judiciary Committee were put forward to work through issues that we as a nation could not otherwise consciously address. A group relations perspective speaks to the role everyone played unconsciously in creating and colluding with the process. In essence, these group members were elected to work on behalf of the larger system, and, as in any election, such choices were not accidental. The authors propose that an examination of the larger social unconscious will enable us to understand the powerful psychic meaning that the hearings held for the nation.
Outcomes in African Americans undergoing cardioverter-defibrillator implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death: Findings from the Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (PROSE-ICD)

Background Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) reduce the risk of death in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Little is known regarding the benefit of this therapy in African Americans (AAs). Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the association between AA race and outcomes in a cohort of primary prevention ICD patients. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients with systolic heart failure who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary end-point was appropriate ICD shock defined as a shock for rapid ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The secondary end-point was all-cause mortality. Results There were 1189 patients (447 AAs and 712 non-AAs) enrolled. Over a median follow-up of 5.1 years, a total of 137 patients experienced an appropriate ICD shock, and 343 died (294 of whom died without receiving an appropriate ICD shock). The multivariate adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) comparing AAs vs non-AAs were 1.24 (0.96–1.59) for all-cause mortality, 1.33 (1.02, 1.74) for all-cause mortality without receiving appropriate ICD shock, and 0.78 (0.51, 1.19) for appropriate ICD shock. Ejection fraction, diabetes, and hypertension appeared to explain 24.1% (10.1%–69.5%), 18.7% (5.3%–58.0%), and 13.6% (3.8%–53.6%) of the excess risk of mortality in AAs, with a large proportion of the mortality difference remaining unexplained. Conclusion In patients with primary prevention ICDs, AAs had an increased risk of dying without receiving an appropriate ICD shock compared to non-AAs.
Evolving Concepts of Gliogenesis: A Look Way Back and Ahead to the Next 25 Years

Glial cells are present in all organisms with a CNS and, with increasing brain complexity, glial cells have undergone substantive increases in cell number, diversity, and functions. Invertebrates, such as Drosophila, possess glial subtypes with similarity to mammalian astrocytes in their basic morphology and function, representing fertile ground for unraveling fundamental aspects of glial biology. Although glial subtypes in simple organisms may be relatively homogenous, emerging evidence suggests the possibility that mammalian astrocytes might be highly diversified to match the needs of local neuronal subtypes. In this Perspective, we review classic and new roles identified for astrocytes and oligodendrocytes by recent studies. We propose that delineating genetic and developmental programs across species will be essential to understand the core functions of glia that allow enhanced neuronal function and to achieve new insights into glial roles in higher-order brain function and neurological disease.
Pseudo-partial likelihood for proportional hazards models with biased-sampling data

We obtain a pseudo-partial likelihood for proportional hazards models with biased-sampling data by embedding the biased-sampling data into left-truncated data. The log pseudo-partial likelihood of the biased-sampling data is the expectation of the log partial likelihood of the left-truncated data conditioned on the observed data. In addition, asymptotic properties of the estimator that maximize the pseudo-partial likelihood are derived. Applications to length-biased data, biased samples with right censoring and proportional hazards models with missing covariates are discussed.
Evaluation of Alternaria eichhorniae as a Bioherbicide for Waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in Greenhouse Trials

Abstract An alginate formulation of Alternaria eichhorniae (isolate Ae5) was evaluated in greenhouse trials as a bioherbicide to control waterhyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ). Pellet and powder formulations, the latter used in combination with hydrophilic substances, were tested. Four weeks after applying an alginate-pellet formulation of Ae5 to waterhyacinth plants in a greenhouse, the treated leaves became diseased and died, and the biomass of treated plants decreased by 29% from the initial weight. Nontreated, fungus-free plants gained weight and weighed 60% more than the fungus-treated plants after 3-4 weeks ( P = 0.05). Fungus-treated plants produced on average 5% new leaves whereas the control plants produced 81% new leaves. Water loss decreased by 31% over a 6-week period in plots containing plants treated with a powdered alginate formulation of Ae5 compared to fungus-free, waterhyacinth-containing plots. The water loss from plots without waterhyacinth (open surface) was 47% less than the loss from plots containing fungus-free, waterhyacinth plants. In a detached-leaf assay, the level of disease initiated by the powdered alginate formulation of AeB supplemented with a hydrophilic substance was higher (disease rating of >5.1) compared to the same formulation without a hydrophilic supplement (rating of 3.3). Two months after four sequential applications of the formulation supplemented with a hydrophilic polyacrylamide, disease severity on fungus-treated plants increased by 93% and the biomass (fresh weight) decreased by 89% compared to the control. Thus, A. eichhorniae curtailed waterhyacinth growth in the greenhouse, but multiple applications appear necessary to obtain a practical results in the field.
Simulation of enzyme systems using a matrix representation.

Abstract A program for the simulation of the steady-state behavior of an enzyme by matrix manipulation of the appropriate algebraic equations is described. This permits the calculation of the reaction velocity and of the distribution of the enzyme among its several complex forms. Provision is made for conveniently displaying the results (especially on scope displays) in the forms customarily used by enzyme kineticists. A complicated example is simulated, and applications to teaching and to simulation of multienzyme systems are discussed.
Broadscale Postseismic Gravity Change Following the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake and Implication for Deformation by Viscoelastic Relaxation and Afterslip

The analysis of GRACE gravity data revealed postseismic gravity increase by 6 μGal over a 500 km scale within a couple of years after the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake, which is nearly 40–50% of the coseismic gravity change. It originates mostly from changes in the isotropic component corresponding to the Mrr moment tensor element. The exponential decay with rapid change in a year and gradual change afterward is a characteristic temporal pattern. Both viscoelastic relaxation and afterslip models produce reasonable agreement with the GRACE free-air gravity observation, while their Bouguer gravity patterns and seafloor vertical deformations are distinctly different. The postseismic gravity variation is best modeled by the biviscous relaxation with a transient and steady state viscosity of 1018 and 1019 Pa s, respectively, for the asthenosphere. Our calculated higher-resolution viscoelastic relaxation model, underlying the partially ruptured elastic lithosphere, yields the localized postseismic subsidence above the hypocenter reported from the GPS-acoustic seafloor surveying.
Thermoregulation, gas exchange, and ventilation in Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae).

Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) experience a wide range of ambient temperatures (Ta) in their natural habitat. We examined body temperature (Tb), oxygen consumption (\(\dot V_{{\text{O}}_2 } \)), carbon dioxide production (\(\dot V_{{\text{CO}}_2 } \)), evaporative water loss (\(\dot m_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} \)), and ventilation atTa from −20 to 30 °C. Body temperature did not change significantly between −20 and 20°C (meanTb=39.3°C).Tb increased slightly to 40.1 °C atTa=30°C. Both\(\dot V_{{\text{O}}_2 } \) and\(\dot V_{{\text{CO}}_2 } \) were constant and minimal atTa between −10 and 20°C, with only minor increases at −20 and 30°C. The minimal\(\dot V_{{\text{O}}_2 } \) of adult penguins (mean mass 4.007 kg) was 0.0112 ml/[g·min], equivalent to a metabolic heat production (MHP) of 14.9 Watt. The respiratory exchange ratio was approximately 0.7 at allTa. Values of\(\dot m_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} \) were low at lowTa, but increased to 0.21 g/min at 30°C, equivalent to 0.3% of body mass/h. Dry conductance increased 3.5-fold between −20 and 30°C. Evaporative heat loss (EHL) comprised about 5% of MHP at lowTa, rising to 47% of MHP atTa=30°C. The means of ventilation parameters (tidal volume [VT], respiration frequency [f], minute volume [I], and oxygen extraction [\({\text{E}}_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } \)]) were fairly stable between −20 and 10°C (VT did not change significantly over the entireTa range). However, there was considerable inter- and intra-individual variation in ventilation patterns. AtTa=20–30°C,f increased 7-fold over the minimal value of 7.6 breaths/min, and I showed a similar change.\({\text{E}}_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } \) fell from 28–35% at lowTa to 6% atTa=30°C.
Optimal Doppler measurement of left ventricular ejection time

Abstract Ventricular ejection time is a basic measurement of physiologic and pharmacologie importance 1–9 and equally useful for calculating functional indexes such as the ejection rate. 4 Measurement of left ventricular ejection time (LVET) from central aortic pressure tracings can be duplicated noninvasively from a variety of peripheral arteries with statistically insignificant differences. 1,2,6 The echocardiographic aortic valve “box” also yields accurate LVET. 6 Recently, aortic Doppler flow curves were used in an excellent study of 2 methods to measure LVET and compared with LVET by carotid pulse and M-mode aortic “box.” 10 As expected, aortic and carotid LVETs were not statistically different. Yet, the Doppler methods—measurement at the Doppler envelope baseline from leading edge to leading edge and from its midpoint to the midpoint of the valve closure artifact—produced values significantly different from those of the carotid LVET. 10 We evaluated a third Doppler measurement, that of leading edge to trailing edge of the aortic flow curve, and compared it and the other 2 methods with simultaneous carotid LVET.
The Use of Function Word Frequencies as Indicators of Style

A LITERARY PROBLEM which promises to be with us for yet some time is the objective characterization of style. Of the numerous attacks which have been made on this problem, the one most amenable to formulation as a computer problem is the study of word frequency data. This approach has been especially popular in studying authorship disputes, e.g., in the case of the Federalist papers (Mosteller and Wallace, 1964) or Diderot's authorship in The EncyclopOdie (Frautschi, 1970). If one is going to count words, it is necessary to decide which words to count. Even a decision to count all words amounts to a decision, and in fact would quite likely be a mistake. Since an author's style is presumed to be independent of the content of his writings (with the possible exception that style may be influenced by genre), those words which are dependent on content should probably not be counted. What one is after are those personal idiosyncrasies which may well be unknown to the writer himself, what Paisley (1964, p. 220) calls "minor encoding habits." This notion arises in the study of paintings, and Paisley (op. cit., p. 225), drawing on Berenson, Morelli, and Mosteller and Wallace, defines good markers of personal style as 1) lack of prominence, to guard against imitation; 2) mechanical execution on the part of the creator, thereby exhibiting low variance from work to work of a single creator; 3) use not wholly dictated by convention and exhibiting high variance from the work of others; and 4) not overly rare, with the frequency of occurrence high relative to sampling error. (Somewhat analogous considerations on what to count occur in many of the social sciences. Examples are discussed in Webb, et at., 1973.) In the context of word frequencies, the most likely candidates for meeting the criteria above are the so-called "function words," basically prepositions, common adverbs, pronouns, articles, and the like. On this point, Mostetler and Wallace (op. cit., p. 265) are quite definite: "Context is a source of risk. We need variables that depend on authors and nothing else. Some function words come close to this ideal, but most other words do not. So many words and other variables depend on topics that their exploration for differences between authors
Using a Path-Fitting Algorithm to Analyze the Racing Techniques of a Skilled Driver

Racecar drivers are skilled at tracking a path, avoiding accidents, and controlling their vehicles at the limits of handling. Better understanding of how a skilled driver selects and drives a racing line, could potentially lead to a new technique for obstacle avoidance. To investigate this, the characteristics of a racecar driver’s line must be captured mathematically. This paper describes an algorithm for fitting a path to the GPS data of a driver’s racing line. A family of path primitives composed of straights, clothoids, and constant radius arcs are used to describe the racing line. The fitted paths provide a method for analyzing racing lines and the different techniques used by skilled drivers to navigate the track.© 2013 ASME