cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Natural View of Microbial Biodiversity within Hot Spring Cyanobacterial Mat Communities

This review summarizes a decade of research in which we have used molecular methods, in conjunction with more traditional approaches, to study hot spring cyanobacterial mats as models for understanding principles of microbial community ecology. Molecular methods reveal that the composition of these communities is grossly oversimplified by microscopic and cultivation methods. For example, none of 31 unique 16S rRNA sequences detected in the Octopus Spring mat, Yellowstone National Park, matches that of any prokaryote previously cultivated from geothermal systems; 11 are contributed by genetically diverse cyanobacteria, even though a single cyanobacterial species was suspected based on morphologic and culture analysis. By studying the basis for the incongruity between culture and molecular samplings of community composition, we are beginning to cultivate isolates whose 16S rRNA sequences are readily detected. By placing the genetic diversity detected in context with the well-defined natural environmental gradients typical of hot spring mat systems, the relationship between gene and species diversity is clarified and ecological patterns of species occurrence emerge. By combining these ecological patterns with the evolutionary patterns inherently revealed by phylogenetic analysis of gene sequence data, we find that it may be possible to understand microbial biodiversity within these systems by using principles similar to those developed by evolutionary ecologists to understand biodiversity of larger species. We hope that such an approach guides microbial ecologists to a more realistic and predictive understanding of microbial species occurrence and responsiveness in both natural and disturbed habitats.
Male sexual attractiveness predicts differential ovulatory shifts in female extra-pair attraction and male mate retention

Because ancestral women faced trade-offs in choosing mates, they may have evolved to pursue a dual-mating strategy in which they secured investment through one partner and obtained good genes through others. The dual-mating theory predicts that women will display greater interest in extra-pair sex near ovulation, especially if they are mated to a primary male partner who is low in sexual attractiveness. Forty-three normally ovulating women rated their partner’s sexual attractiveness and separately reported their own desires and their partner’s mate retention behaviors at high and low fertility (confirmed using luteinizing hormone tests). In the high-fertility session relative to the low, women who assessed their partners as being lower in sexual attractiveness reported greater extra-pair desires and more expressed love and attention from their male partners. Women’s desire for their own partners did not differ significantly between high and low-fertility sessions.
Taming disk/spindle vibrations through aerodynamic bearings and acoustically tuned-mass dampers

This paper studies the feasibility of suppressing the vibration of a spinning disk/spindle system by creating an aerodynamic bearing between the spinning disks and adjacent stationary flat surfaces. An automated impact hammer was first developed and instrumented to obtain repeatable and consistent frequency response functions (FRF). Through this device, frequency response functions of a 5-platter disk/spindle system were measured in the air and in the vacuum up to 7200 rpm with and without an air bearing, which consists of a flat surface 0.635 mm (25 mils) away from the top spinning disk. Compared with the experimental results in vacuum, the presence of the air (without the air bearing) causes the resonance frequencies of the disk/spindle system to split resulting in smaller resonance amplitudes. Nevertheless, the splitting does not increase the modal dampings of the disk/spindle system. When the air bearing is present, the air bearing does not further reduce the resonance amplitudes, but it does increase the modal dampings by 100-200%. Moreover, the presence of the air bearing lowers the resonance frequencies by 3%, because the air in the bearing behaves like incompressible fluid adding considerable inertia to the disk/spindle system. Also, the increase in damping and shift in natural frequencies are independent of the rotational speed. Finally, combination of the air bearing and a tuned-mass damper can significantly reduce the resonance amplitudes by 50-75%.
Public Reactions to the Growth of Taxation and Government Expenditure

Opinion poll and behavioral evidence indicates that public resistance to the growth of taxation and state expenditure has increased significantly during the last decade in many advanced industrial democracies. This paper examines trends in the magnitude, composition, and consequences of taxation and government spending in relation to cross-national patterns of popular opposition to the expansion of the welfare state in five European industrial societies. The evidence suggests that the politically optimal system of taxation and expenditure relies heavily on indirect and programmatic taxes rather than on direct, general-revenue levies, and channels state resources toward cash transfers to households rather than into labor-intensive public consumption.
When is the Urine "Cherry Red" in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

For decades, physicians have been taught to look for “cherry red” coloration of the skin and mucous membranes in patients with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, but this is rarely seen [1,2]. In 1857, Hoppe in Germany first described the change in blood color when hemoglobin is loaded with CO [3]. Because carboxyhemglobin (COHb) is a brighter shade of red than oxyhemglobin and the color of capillary blood contributes to skin color, it would seem reasonable that a poisoned patient’s appearance might change with sufficient amounts of circulating COHb. However, a lethal level of COHb is required for a human’s skin and mucous membranes to appear “cherry red”. Even when reflectance spectrometry is used to measure skin color after death in individuals who have died of CO poisoning, less than one-half demonstrate “cherry red” skin [4]. Recently, however, “cherry red” urine has been described in a subgroup of individuals with acute CO poisoning [5].
Cryptosporidiosis in bovine and human health

Cryptosporidiosis, which is caused by Cryptosporidium parvum and was discovered in mice at the turn of the century, emerged as a frequently reported intestinal disease of animals and humans in the 1980s when its zoonotic potential was recognized. In recent years, the public has become aware of severe cryptosporidiosis because of its incidence in AIDS patients and because of massive outbreaks of cryptosporidial enteritis among the general populace worldwide from contaminated drinking water. Livestock and human wastes that were laden with oocysts of cryptosporidia have been incriminated in some cases. Intestinal cryptosporidiosis of livestock causes a brief diarrheal disease and probably does not hinder lifetime production in most cases. However, serious disease and deaths may sometimes result from complications from other pathogens and various other detrimental factors. Adolescent and adult cattle can carry C. parvum but probably do not shed large numbers of the parasite. However, certain cattle of all ages shed billions of the apparently nonzoonotic Cryptosporidium muris, which also was first discovered in mice around the turn of the century. Cryptosporidium muris infects only the glands of the stomach (abomasum in cattle), usually causes no overt illness, but retards acid production. Protein digestion in the abomasum probably is retarded, and, in fact, milk production in cows that are chronically afflicted with C. muris is reduced about 13%. Growing calves may be adversely affected also. Therefore, as concerns the dairy industry, the discussion of cryptosporidia involves efficient cattle agriculture, public health, and the environment.
Fast analysis of the impact of interconnect routing variability on signal degradation

A computer model is proposed for the fast predictive analysis of the impact of interconnect routing variability on their broadband signal transmission properties. Through the use of a multi-conductor transmission line model of the interconnect structure and rational function interpolation in the frequency domain, the proposed model propagates routing variability described in terms of a set of properly defined random variables to broadband, stochastic scattering parameters for the transmission channel. In this manner, an efficient Monte Carlo analysis can be performed for the prediction of the statistics of the transient response of the channel due to routing uncertainty.
Quantitative structure-activity relations for γδ T cell activation by phosphoantigens

gammadelta T cells help contribute to innate immunity and are activated by the natural phosphoantigens produced by the organisms responsible for causing, for example, tuberculosis, malaria, tularemia, and plague. They are also activated by synthetic phosphoantigens and are cytotoxic to tumor cells. Here, we show that it is now possible to accurately predict gammadelta T cell activation by both natural and synthetic phosphoantigens by using the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) techniques commonly used in drug design. This approach should be of use in developing novel immunotherapeutic agents as well as contributing to a better understanding of the immune system's response to infectious agents.
Determinants of the demand for US exports and imports of tourism.

This study estimates real income and relative price elasticities of demand for US exports and imports of tourism with annual data from 1973–2002. Overall, there is empirical support for the model of tourism expenditure. With one exception, the estimated parameters have the correct signs, and most are significantly different from zero. The US trading partners appear to be more sensitive to the determinants of international tourism than is the US The greater response (of the US trading partners) to changes in real income may account for the US running surpluses on its tourism balance during 16 of the 29 years of our sample period.
The KaoIinite-Mullite Reaction Series: I, A Survey of Outstanding Problems

This reaction series has been a subject of extensive investigation since the work of Le Chatelier in 1887. Nevertheless, major problems have remained concerned with the nature of metakaolin, the manner in which it transforms into a spinel-type phase and mullite, and the relation of this spinel-type phase to mullite. The present survey brings these problems into sharp focus and provides the necessary historical background fora new approach to their solution.
Plasmodium paranucleophilum n. sp. from a South American Tanager

SYNOPSIS. The avian malaria parasite described in this paper was isolated from a South American tanager of uncertain species, somewhat tentatively identified as belonging to the genus Tachyphonus. It is believed to have come from northern Brazil. Because the erythrocytic stages are, except for minor differences, similar to those of Plasmodium nucleophilum it is proposed to call it P. paranucleophilum. The chief difference separating the 2 species is the appearance of phanerozoites of the new species in lymphocytes of the circulating blood; these are characteristically vacuolated and give rise to moderate numbers of merozoites, probably in most cases 50 or less. Strains of P. nucleophilum isolated from other passerine birds also produce phanerozoites parasitizing lymphocytes, but such cells have never been observed in the blood stream. A subspecies, P. nucleophilum toucani, which we isolated from a Swainson's toucan Ramphastos swainsonii, also produces phanerozoites invading lymphocytes but it is less selective; endothelial cells of the brain are heavily attacked. It is also very lethal to canaries, whereas passerine strains of P. nucleophilum are usually quite benign. P. paranucleophilum, if the strain we have isolated is typical, lies between the 2 in pathogenicity, causing marked anemia but seldom death.
Loss of optimality in cross correlators

In simple binary detection, cross correlation gives the best possible output signal-to-noise ratio only if the background noise is white. But, because of the ease of implementation, optical cross correlators are often used even in nonwhite-noise situations. General expressions and tight bounds are derived to quantify the loss in signal-to-noise ratio when a cross correlator is used instead of the truly optimal filter. Such a quantification should enable the designer of any optical detection scheme to determine whether the extra effort involved in using the truly optimal filters is worth the signal-to-noise ratio improvements.
Max Uhle and the Museo de Historia Nacional-Lima

A recent article by Teodoro Hampe Martinez (1998) sheds new light on the origins of archaeology in Peru. Hampe has a continuing research interest in the origins of historical institutions in Peru. One of the institutions that he has spent some time documenting is the Museo de Historia Nacional, and especially its the archaeologist who served as its first director, Max Uhle. or more properly Friedrich Max Uhle (1856- 1944). Hampe Maninez's most recent work includes materials not only from the archives in Peru. but materials extracted from the unpublished diaries of Uhle kept in the archives of the lbero-Amerikanisches Institut/Preussischer Kulturbesitz in Berlin, which Hampe visited in June of 1990 and December of 1994. Uhle transferred the bulk of his personal papers, including 170 diaries, over 2,000 photographs, and much of his personal correspondence, to this institute in 1933, three years after its founding in 1930. Hampe has been collecting information from the unpublished sources relating to Uhle's work in Peru from 1896 through 1912, although the current paper focuses mainly upon the period of Uhle's tenure at the Museo de Historia Nacional, which is covered in Uhle's diaries #76 through #93 at the Berlin archives. Hampe Martinez's studies in this paper have materially added to the earlier works by Rowe (1954) and Linares Malaga (1964) on Uhle.
Cilia in PKD--letting it all hang out.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) research has experienced a sort of celestial convergence, culminating with the article by Yoder, Hou, and Guay-Woodford ([1][1]) in this issue, which points to a role in PKD for the primary cilia of tubular epithelial cells. The question being asked is, “Why cilia
Impact of the Great Recession and Housing Collapse on the Forest Products Industry in the Western United States

The first decade of the Twenty-first Century proved tumultuous for the West's A strong economy, low interest rates, easy access to credit, and real estate speculation fostered more than two million U.S. housing starts in 2005 and record lumber consumption from 2003 to 2005. With the decline in U.S. housing beginning in 2006, the 2008 global financial crisis, an over 50-year record low 554,000 housing starts in 2009, wood product prices and production fell dramatically. In 2009 and 2010, virtually every major western mill suffered curtailments and 30 large mills closed permanently. Sales value of wood and paper products in the West dropped from $49 billion in 2005 to $34 billion in 2009. Employment declined by 71,000 workers and lumber production fell by almost 50 percent from 2005 to 2009. Capacity utilization at sawmills and other timber-using facilities in the West fell from over 80 percent in 2005 to just over 50 percent in 2009 and 2010. With the exception of exports and some paper markets, U.S. wood ...
Fantastic performance and neurotic fantasy: A case-based exploration of psychodynamic development

This paper takes up the themes of organization as dreamscape, the psychodynamics of everyday organizational performance and organizational rituals and the enactment of death and desire in the context of a longitudinal case study of an academic institution. This case study focuses on the various ways in which the organization has developed and continues to develop neurotic and dysfunctional tendencies. It looks at the ways in which those tendencies are expressed in the culture and structure of the organization and the ways in which the various constituencies of the college are complicit in the enactment of the neurosis of its leadership, as reflected in various dependent and counterdependent dynamics and performances. Of specific interest in this paper are the changes in neurotic patterns over time and the ways in which these changes relate to the changes in leadership. Using Kets de Vries' concepts related to organizational neurosis, we will discuss how the college moved from a compulsive organization to a dramatic organization.
Fallacy of indexing renal and systemic hemodynamic measurements for body surface area

Renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, and cardiac output are traditionally indexed for body surface area by expressing these traits as per-surface-area ratios. Indexing is intended to remove interindividual variation attributable to differences in body size. Regression is an alternative method commonly used to adjust other biological traits for the effects of a covariate, such as body surface area. The purpose of this study was to compare the indexing and regression methods of adjusting renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, and cardiac output for interindividual differences in body surface area. We estimated renal plasma flow by the clearance of p-aminohippurate, glomerular filtration rate by clearance of inulin, and cardiac output by thoracic electrical impedance in a sample of 78 unrelated females and 78 unrelated males (ages 20-49.9 yr) from the general population of Rochester, MN. The indexing method created negative dependencies of renal plasma flow and cardiac output on body surface area and failed to eliminate the positive dependency of glomerular filtration rate on body surface area. Moreover, indexing obscured differences in mean renal plasma flow between females and males and created differences in mean cardiac output between the genders. In contrast, the regression method consistently eliminated dependencies of each trait on body surface area and did not lead to inappropriate inferences about mean differences in these traits between females and males. We conclude that the indexing method of adjusting renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, and cardiac output for interindividual differences in body surface area should be abandoned and replaced by use of the regression method.
Syntheses and biological activities of deoxy-d-allose fatty acid ester analogs

We describe the syntheses of three different deoxy-D-allose analogs [2-deoxy-d-allose (2-DOAll), 1,2-dideoxy-d-allose (1,2-DOAll), and 1,2-didehydro-1,2-dideoxy-d-allose (1,2-DHAll)] and their fatty acid esters via regioselective lipase-catalyzed transesterification. Among them, 2-DOAll and its decanoate (2-DOAll-C10) showed higher inhibitory activity on plant growth, which is similar to d-allose (All) [corrected] and its decanoate (All-C10). Bioassay results of deoxy-All-C10 on four plant species suggest that the hydroxy group at the C-1 position might be important showing growth inhibitory activity. In addition, co-addition of gibberellin (GA3) with 1,2-DHAll-C10 and 2-DOAll-C10 recovered plant growth, suggesting that they might mainly inhibit biosynthesis of gibberellin.
De l’Ubiquite de la Condition KMS

The roles of the KMS condition in statistical mechanics, quantum field theory, quantum ergodic theory, and geometric quantization, are compared.
Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum in pediatric patients: A case series.

Introduction Pneumoperitoneum frequently results in emergent surgery because it typically indicates an abdominal viscus perforation. However, this may not always be the case. There have been few recent reports in the pediatric population that document cases of pneumoperitoneum which could be considered for non-surgical management.
Formation of Chlorosilyl Pincer-Type Rhodium Complexes by Multiple Si–H Activations of Bis(phosphine)/Dihydrosilyl Ligands

The synthesis and metalation of two bis(phosphine)/dihydrosilyl ligands at rhodium(I) sources is reported. Irrespective of the substitution at silicon (diaryl versus diamino), multiple Si–H activations and chloride migration afford tridentate bis(phosphine)/chlorosilyl complexes of Rh(I). For the diarylsilyl ligand, reaction with a cationic rhodium(I) triflate precursor gives the analogous triflatosilyl complex. The [P2Si]H2 proligands and their Rh complexes provide distinct opportunities for exploring metal/silicon cooperative reactivity.
Perfusion pressures and distal oxygenation in individuals with diabetes undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

Background:The number of diabetic patients worldwide was estimated to be approximately 285 million in 2010. Approximately 5% of all diabetic patients have foot ulcers, often preceded by neuropathy ...
Preclinical activity of selinexor, an inhibitor of XPO1, in sarcoma.

// Robert Nakayama 1, 2 , Yi-Xiang Zhang 1 , Jeffrey T. Czaplinski 3 , Alex J. Anatone 3 , Ewa T. Sicinska 3 , Jonathan A. Fletcher 4 , George D. Demetri 1 , Andrew J. Wagner 1 1 Ludwig Center at Dana-Farber/Harvard and Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA 2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan 3 Department of Medical Oncology and Center for Molecular Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA 4 Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Correspondence to: Andrew J. Wagner, e-mail: Andrew_wagner@dfci.harvard.edu Keywords: sarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, liposarcoma, selinexor, preclinical study Received: November 22, 2015 Accepted: February 09, 2016 Published: February 24, 2016 ABSTRACT Selinexor is an orally bioavailable selective inhibitor of nuclear export that has been demonstrated to have preclinical activity in various cancer types and that is currently in Phase I and II clinical trials for advanced cancers. In this study, we evaluated the effects of selinexor in several preclinical models of various sarcoma subtypes. The efficacy of selinexor was investigated in vitro and in vivo using 17 cell lines and 9 sarcoma xenograft models including gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), liposarcoma (LPS), leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, undifferentiated sarcomas, and alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS). Most sarcoma cell lines were sensitive to selinexor with IC 50 s ranging from 28.8 nM to 218.2 nM (median: 66.1 nM). Selinexor suppressed sarcoma tumor xenograft growth, including models of ASPS that were resistant in vitro . In GIST cells with KIT mutations, selinexor induced G 1 - arrest without attenuation of phosphorylation of KIT, AKT, or MAPK, in contrast to imatinib. In LPS cell lines with MDM2 and CDK4 amplification, selinexor induced G 1 -arrest and apoptosis irrespective of p53 expression or mutation and irrespective of RB expression. Selinexor increased p53 and p21 expression at the protein but not RNA level, indicating a post-transcriptional effect. These results indicate that selinexor has potent in vitro and in vivo activity against a wide variety of sarcoma models by inducing G 1 -arrest independent of known molecular mechanisms in GIST and LPS. These studies further justify the exploration of selinexor in clinical trials targeting various sarcoma subtypes.
Library of T-Maps for Dimensional and Geometric Tolerances

Tolerances are specified by a designer to allow reasonable freedom by a manufacturer for imperfections and inherent variability without compromising performance. T-Map is a hypothetical Euclidian point space model which describes all possible variations constrained by design or machining tolerances. The size and shape of T-Map reflects all variational possibilities for a target feature. According to ASME Y14.5M standard, tolerances are dimensional or geometric, and geometric tolerances are divided into different classes. T-maps have been created for all types of geometric tolerances with Primitive T-Map Elements. In this paper we have reviewed the basic ideas of T-maps, the reason it has been built, and the contribution it can have in design and manufacturing. It is then followed by a library of T-maps created for all Tolerance classes with brief description for each one.© 2014 ASME
Efficient accounting systems: justifying US accounting practice in an unregulated commercial environment

This paper presents the contextual social discourse in which US accounting practices emerged within an unregulated commercial environment in the last two decades of the nineteenth century. This is shown to be in stark contrast to the emerging British accounting profession, which was influenced significantly by developments of governmental regulation of commerce, through bankruptcy laws and specific requirements for annual audits. In the US, appeals for professional expertise relied mainly on the promotion of the accountant's skill in designing and monitoring efficient accounting systems for the economic and moral well-being of society. The profession developed these practices without the aid of specific legal sanctions. The profession appealed through the marketplace for their skills to be used, because they would provide economic and moral benefits. It is shown that reform elements in US society used these widely accepted practices of the efficient accounting system to reform government, most explicitly ...
A CYCLE RECOGNITION ALGORITHM FOR REASONING NETWORKS

A reasoning network is a special directed graph. Efficiently recognizing possible cycles in reasoning networks is useful not only in electronic networks and graph theory but also in automated knowledge acquisition research of intelligent systems. This paper designs a cycle recognition algorithm for reasoning networks and implements it in Turbo-PROLOG language. The algorithm can also be used for general directed graphs.
The changes of serum leptin levels and body mass index in pediatric epilepsy patients induced by sodium valproate and topiramate

【Objective】To explore the changes of serum leptin levels and body mass index(BMI) in pediatric epilepsy patients induced by sodium valproate and topiramate.【Methods】50 pediatric epilepsy patients were randomly divided into the VPA group and TPM group.25 healthy children were divided into the control group.The serum leptin levels and BMI of the three groups were recorded before treatment and 1,3,5 months after treatment.【Results】The serum leptin levels in TPM group showed a downtrend in 1,3,5 months after treatment.Leptin was(3.83±0.30)ng/mL and(3.57±0.25)ng/mL in 3,5 months respectively.Leptins in 3,5 months were lower that of the control group.The difference was statistically significant(P 0.05).The BMI in TPM group showed a slight downtrend after treatment.BMI in 5 months was(14.8±0.42)kg/m2,which was lower than that of the control group.The difference was statistically significant(P 0.05).The serum leptin levels in VPA group showed a significant uptrend in 1,3,5 months after treatment.Leptin in 1,3,5 months was(5.21±0.26)ng/mL,(5.81±0.38)ng/mL and(6.12±0.27) ng/mL respectively,which were significantly higher than those of the control group.The difference was statistically significant(P 0.05).The BMI of VPA group also showed uptrend.BMI in 1,3,5 months was(17.2 ±1.02)kg/m2,(18.3±1.01)kg/m2 and(19.3±1.12)kg/m2 respectively,which were significantly higher than those of the control group.The difference was statistically significant(P 0.05).【Conclusion】The leptin levels and weights of the pediatric epilepsy patients were increased after sodium valproate treatment.The leptin levels and weights of the pediatric
Are all recently detoxified alcoholics depressed

Reports of the prevalence of depression among alcoholics vary from 3% to 98%; the authors attribute this variation to the use of different diagnostic criteria. They used clinical diagnosis, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, and the MMPI to diagnose 35 men recently withdrawn from alcohol. The percentages of depression diagnosed were 8.6%, 28%, 66%, and 43%, respectively. The authors point out that the Hamilton, Zung, and MMPI scales are not diagnostic of depression in themselves and that accurate diagnosis of depression in alcoholics will reduce inappropriate treatment of nondepressed alcoholics and ensure careful treatment of the truly depressed.
Posh - The Prolog OWL Shell.

Two of the most common ways of processing and manipulating OWL ontologies are through an ontology editing environment (e.g. Protege or TopBraid) or via a programmatic interface, such as the OWL API. A complementary method is to use an OWL-aware command line shell. Posh, the Prolog OWL Shell is an interactive toplevel readeval-print-loop interface that provides powerful capabilities for querying and transforming ontologies. It includes a bridge to the OWLAPI and to multiple OWL reasoners, and allows a mixture of closed-world rule-based querying on top of open world reasoning. It also provides an interface to POPL, the Prolog Ontology Processing Language. Posh is available from http://blipkit.wordpress.com/posh
The effect of monosaccharides on in situ hepatic trapping of Candida albicans.

The initial clearance of Candida albicans in situ by hepatic tissue was investigated using the isolated perfused mouse liver model in combination with various monosaccharides. When 106 yeasts were infused into untreated ICR mouse livers, approximately 61±2% (X + SEM) were recovered from the liver and 13±2% in the effluent for a total recovery of 74±2%. This suggests that 26±2% of the infused yeasts were eliminated within the liver and that a total of 87±1% were trapped (% in the liver + % killed) by the liver. In contrast, when either D-mannose or alpha-methyl-D-mannoside, but not glucose, sucrose, lactose or mannitol, were added to perfusion media (1% w/v) the ability of hepatic tissue to trap C. albicans decreased, in a dose-dependent manner, with increasing concentrations of monosaccharide. Decreased trapping was due to the interaction of these monosaccharides with hepatic tissue and not directly with yeasts. The data suggest that one component of in situ hepatic clearance of C. albicans was the binding of mannose containing structures on the surface of yeasts, most probably by hepatic mannose receptors.
Fast charging of thermal energy storage systems enabled by phase change materials mixed with expanded graphite

Abstract Solar thermal energy harvesting, storage and conversion are crucial parameters to have an effective renewable energy technology that can lead to sustainable and grid-independent technologies as well as lessening of global carbon footprints. Phase change materials (PCMs) are capable of storing and releasing great amounts of thermal energy through utilization of latent heat of fusion as result of material phase change. PCM suffers mainly from low rate of response to demand that is mainly due to low thermal conductivity of PCMs. This drawback could be improved by mixing the PCMs with matrix of high thermal conductive materials. The purpose of this paper is to test the efficacy of expanded graphite (EG) matrix combined with PCM at various percentages of 0–90% by volume in terms of response rate to demand and energy storage capacity PCM-EG composite samples were designed and prepared, and tests were performed under controlled solar radiation (using solar simulator) to study the heating cycle. Temperature data were recorded by means of thermocouples and infrared camera. Time-dependent results were analyzed under various testing conditions. The results show that the tested 80% EG-20% PCM composite showed 7 times faster response rate to charging when compared to 10% EG and 90% PCM mixture, while about 30% energy storage reduction was observed as the penalty. There must be a sweet spot where response rate improvement and energy storage reduction are at their optimum condition for a particular application.
Next-generation mapping: a novel approach for detection of pathogenic structural variants with a potential utility in clinical diagnosis

Massively parallel DNA sequencing, such as exome sequencing, has become a routine clinical procedure to identify pathogenic variants responsible for a patient’s phenotype. Exome sequencing has the capability of reliably identifying inherited and de novo single-nucleotide variants, small insertions, and deletions. However, due to the use of 100–300-bp fragment reads, this platform is not well powered to sensitively identify moderate to large structural variants (SV), such as insertions, deletions, inversions, and translocations. To overcome these limitations, we used next-generation mapping (NGM) to image high molecular weight double-stranded DNA molecules (megabase size) with fluorescent tags in nanochannel arrays for de novo genome assembly. We investigated the capacity of this NGM platform to identify pathogenic SV in a series of patients diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), due to large deletions, insertion, and inversion involving the DMD gene. We identified deletion, duplication, and inversion breakpoints within DMD. The sizes of deletions were in the range of 45–250 Kbp, whereas the one identified insertion was approximately 13 Kbp in size. This method refined the location of the break points within introns for cases with deletions compared to current polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based clinical techniques. Heterozygous SV were detected in the known carrier mothers of the DMD patients, demonstrating the ability of the method to ascertain carrier status for large SV. The method was also able to identify a 5.1-Mbp inversion involving the DMD gene, previously identified by RNA sequencing. We showed the ability of NGM technology to detect pathogenic structural variants otherwise missed by PCR-based techniques or chromosomal microarrays. NGM is poised to become a new tool in the clinical genetic diagnostic strategy and research due to its ability to sensitively identify large genomic variations.
Optimizing the size of public-private partnership contracts in the water sector: implications from an estimated cost function of private operators

In public-private partnership (PPP) contracts of water utilities, of particular concern is lack of market competition. This paper focuses on the size of contracts. If governments design a large-scale transaction, economies of scale in service operation can be expected, but competition in auctions may be compromised. For small contracts many firms will apply, but at the cost of scale diseconomies in operation. The estimated cost function of PPP water utilities indicates that economies of scale exist but diminish quickly as production increases. There is no rationale for more than 300 million cubic meters of water service concessions under a single package, taking a risk of little competition. Conversely, less than 50 million cubic meters of concessions are too small; the bundling approach is required.
Unmet Mental Health Treatment Need and Attitudes Toward Online Mental Health Services Among Community College Students

Objective:A survey assessed use of and attitudes toward online mental health services among community college students to inform how such services may contribute to reducing unmet treatment need.Methods:A total of 6,034 students completed a Web-based survey on mental health and use of and attitudes toward mental health services. Logistic regression assessed the relationship between prior mental health treatment and attitudes among students with current serious psychological distress.Results:Among students with psychological distress (N=1,557), 28% reported prior in-person service use and 3% reported online mental health services use; most (60%) reported willingness to use online services. Students with no prior in-person treatment were less likely than those with history of in-person treatment to endorse preferences for in-person services (adjusted odds ratio=.54).Conclusions:Students reported being open to using online mental health services, but utilization was low. Targeted outreach efforts may be requ...
Anatomical DCE-MRI phantoms generated from glioma patient data

Several digital reference objects (DROs) for DCE-MRI have been created to test the accuracy of pharmacokinetic modeling software under a variety of different noise conditions. However, there are few DROs that mimic the anatomical distribution of voxels found in real data, and similarly few DROs that are based on both malignant and normal tissue. We propose a series of DROs for modeling Ktrans and Ve derived from a publically-available RIDER DCEMRI dataset of 19 patients with gliomas. For each patient’s DCE-MRI data, we generate Ktrans and Ve parameter maps using an algorithm validated on the QIBA Tofts model phantoms. These parameter maps are denoised, and then used to generate noiseless time-intensity curves for each of the original voxels. This is accomplished by reversing the Tofts model to generate concentration-times curves from Ktrans and Ve inputs, and subsequently converting those curves into intensity values by normalizing to each patient’s average pre-bolus image intensity. The result is a noiseless DRO in the shape of the original patient data with known ground-truth Ktrans and Ve values. We make this dataset publically available for download for all 19 patients of the original RIDER dataset.
Mandated Reporting Laws and Child Maltreatment: The Evolution of a Flawed Policy Response

Although the “discovery” of the battered children syndrome 50 years ago has had a reverberating impact on child protection in the United States and internationally, the resulting system of mandated reporting and an increased awareness of the prevalence of child maltreatment continue to fall far short of fulfilling intentions to protect society’s most vulnerable children. Legal mandates to report suspected abuse are undermined by ambiguities in definition and inconsistencies across jurisdictions, mired in errors of both under- and overreporting, and lead to a loss of community and professional responsibility in the duty of child protection. After a 50-year struggle with a system that is known to have been ill-conceived, it is well past time to move in a new direction—toward repeal of mandated reporting and toward adoption of community-strengthening approaches that result in improved welfare for children in general and a stronger commitment to ensuring children’s safety.
Risk factors for prolonged need for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes in adult trauma patients: Experience of a level 1 trauma

Abstract Background Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes are a means of providing an alternative enteric route of nutrition. This study sought to identify risk factors for the prolonged need of a percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube (≥90 days) in adult trauma patients. Methods The trauma database of a level 1 trauma center was queried retrospectively to identify patients who had percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tubes placed. Results A total of 9,772 charts were reviewed with 282 patients (2.9%) undergoing successful percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube placement. On review of discharged living patients, 195 had adequate clinical documentation to allow for analysis. The mean age was 57.5 years, admission serum albumin was 3.7 g/dL, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score was 1.1. The first recorded mean Glasgow Coma Scale was 10.7, and their Injury Severity Score was 23.2. The mean duration of total hospital stay was 23.8 days, intensive care unit stay was 16.5 days, and in-hospital ventilator days was 11.5. Of the 272 patients, 77 (41.4%) required percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tubes for >90 days. Statistically significant characteristics on univariate analysis included increasing age, a greater Charlson Comorbidity Index score, and a greater number of in-hospital ventilator days. On logistic regression, a Charlson Comorbidity Index score >1 (odds ratio 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.56, P = .02) and greater in-hospital ventilator days (odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.09, P Conclusion A Charlson Comorbidity Index score >1 and prolonged in-hospital ventilator days were risk factors for the necessity of a percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy tube for ≥90 days after placement. This observation may assist patients/surrogates in decision-making when needing alternative routes for nutrition.
Behavioral Teratogenicity of Gonadal and Adrenal Steroids

The identification and classification of agents having behavioral teratogenic properties has been defined as “that aspect of study concerned with the assessment of subtle behavioral disturbances from birth to maturity” (Fein, Schwart, Jacobson, & Jacobson, 1983, p. 1188). Moreover, as discussed by Spyker (1975), the nature of the effects produced by such an agent depends on the ontogenetic period during which exposure occurs, the genotype, and age at the time of assessment. Given this definition of behavioral teratology and the factors that can modulate the influence of the substance in question, many, if not most, behavioral endocrinologists may be considered behavioral teratologists. Behavioral endocrinologists likewise assess the long-term influence of exposure to certain compounds during prescribed periods of development. Also, the variables that modulate the influence of agents generally considered within the purview of the teratologist also modulate the effectiveness of hormones.
1,3-Dichloropropene.

1,3-Dichloropropene, the main ingredient of Telone II®1, was introduced as a commercial fumigant in 1955 (Berry et al. 1980). A preparation containing 1,3-dichloropropene and 1,2-dichloropropane was subsequently marketed under the name D-D®1 (Maddy et al. 1982, Parker et al. 1982). According to Parker et al. (1982) and Thompson (1983), there are presently at least seven commercial preparations of fumigant containing 1,3-dichloropropene (Table I).
Genetic evaluation by BLUP in two-breed terminal crossbreeding systems under dominance

To obtain estimates of breeding values by BLUP using Henderson's mixed-model equations, it is necessary to invert the covariance matrix for each random effect in the model. In a model in which the genotypic value is included as a random effect (genotypic model), it is necessary to invert the genotypic covariance matrix. Under additive inheritance, the inverse of the genotypic covariance matrix can be computed efficiently. Under dominance inheritance, however, an efficient method to invert the genotypic covariance matrix has not yet been developed, especially for crossbred populations. Thus, the use of a genotypic model for BLUP is not suitable for genetic evaluation in large, crossbred populations. We present an equivalent model in which the genotypic effect is partitioned into additive and dominance effects. With this equivalent model, methods used for within-breed genetic evaluation by BLUP can be used for a two-breed terminal cross under dominance.
QuVue implementation for decisions related to high-rise residential building layouts

Abstract This paper tested a newly developed visible sky ratio measure called QuVue in an actual high-rise residential complex to determine its robustness and identify its limitations. QuVue is a new index for measuring visible sky ratios that overcomes the major hurdles of current methods. It calculates the actual three-dimensional projection area of obstacles onto a virtual hemisphere, considering humans’ downward view. A base-case Parametric Building Layouts (PBL) model was developed based on a high-rise residential complex in South Korea to serve as a basis for comparison and a means of presenting the strength of QuVue and its practical applications in residential design. Test cases showed that QuVue improved visible sky ratio accuracy and was capable of handling more complex conditions such as the forms, layouts, orientations, and heights of surrounding buildings. In terms of site planning, QuVue was implemented to optimize building layouts. Test cases addressing multi-objective optimization produced better building layout alternatives than the base-case PBL model for both QuVue and solar access right. Variables in the PBL model were also discussed to emphasize the flexibility of building layouts and reduce the restrictive force of prescriptive rules.
Thermal Fingerprinting of FPGA Designs through High-Level Synthesis

This work investigates if temperature can be used to fingerprint FPGA designs and presents a method to generate a large number of functionally equivalent FPGA designs such that each design has a unique distinguishable thermal signature. The main methodology behind this work is based on the design space exploration of each hardware accelerator in the design specified as a behavioral description (e.g. ANSI-C, C++ or SystemC) to obtain a trade-off curve of designs with unique area vs. performance trade-offs as well as a third dimension that consists of the difference in their thermal profle. Experimental results, prototyping different hardware accelerators on a FPGA, and using a high resolution infrared camera, show the usability of our proposed method, which is able to distinguish between the different design versions and hence can serve to detect if an FPGA design is unlawfully being used.
Effect of speaking rate on labial consonant-vowel articulation

Abstract: The purpose of this experiment was to study the effect of speaking rate on the articulation of the consonants /p, w/, in combination with the vowels /i, a, u/. Two subjects read a list of nonsense syllables containing /p, w/, in all possible VCV combinations with /i, a, u/, at both moderate and fast speaking rates. EMG recordings from muscles that control movements of the lips, tongue and jaw were recorded simultaneously with high speed lateral view X-ray films of the tongue and jaw, and high speed full-face motion pictures of the lips. For labial consonant production, an increase in speaking rate is accompanied by an increase in the activity level of the muscle (orbicularis oris) and slightly faster rates of lip movement (both closing and opening). Vowel production, however, shows opposite effects: an increase in speaking rate is accompanied by a decrease in the activity level of the genioglossus muscle and, as shown by the X-ray films, evidence of target undershoot. Jaw movement data show more variable, context-dependent effects on speaking rate. Observed differences are explained in terms of the muscle systems involved.
Two-Dimensional van der Waals Nanoplatelets with Robust Ferromagnetism.

We have synthesized unique colloidal nanoplatelets of the two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals ferromagnet CrI3 and have characterized these nanoplatelets structurally, magnetically, and by magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy. The CrI3 nanoplatelets have lateral dimensions of ∼25 nm and thicknesses of only ∼4 nm, corresponding to just a few CrI3 monolayers. Magnetic and magneto-optical measurements demonstrate robust 2D ferromagnetic ordering with Curie temperatures similar to bulk CrI3, despite their small size. These data also show magnetization steps akin to those observed in micron-sized few-layer 2D sheets associated with concerted spin-reversal of individual CrI3 layers within few-layer van der Waals stacks. Similar data have also been obtained for CrBr3 and anion-alloyed Cr(I1–xBrx)3 nanoplatelets. These results represent the first example of lateral nanostructures of 2D van der Waals ferromagnets of any composition. The demonstration of robust ferromagnetism at nanometer lateral dimensions open...