cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple Frequency Band Channel Modeling and Analysis for Magnetic Induction Communication in Practical Underwater Environments

While underwater communications have been investigated for decades, existing solutions still have difficulties in establishing reliable and low-delay links among small-size devices. The magnetic induction (MI) communication is a promising solution due to its advantages in low propagation delay and less susceptibility to surrounding environments. To date, existing MI models cannot characterize broadband and complex underwater MI channels, especially in shallow and lossy water, which significantly underestimates the underwater MI's performance. Moreover, the unpredictable polarization loss of coil antenna that makes MI unreliable has not been modeled and addressed. To this end, this paper presents a broadband channel model for underwater MI communication in complex environments. Compared with existing underwater MI models, the developed model can characterize 1) the underwater magnetic field propagation at any point in the 3-D space between the water surface and water floor, 2) both the near and far fields of all feasible underwater signal bands, 3) the impacts of lossy underwater medium on not only the propagation path but on the MI antenna itself as well, and 4) the arbitrarily orientated tri-directional coil antenna that can eliminate the MI antenna's susceptibility to orientation changes. The developed model is validated through COMSOL-multiphysics simulations and in-lab experiments.
Graphene quantum dots: effect of size, composition and curvature on their assembly

Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) are a relatively new class of molecules that have ignited tremendous research interest due to their extraordinary and tunable optical, electrical, chemical and structural properties. In this work, we report a molecular-level elucidation of the key mechanisms and physical–chemical factors controlling the assembly and stability of nanostructures formed by GQDs in an aqueous environment, using molecular dynamics simulations. We observe the general tendency to form small aggregates and three recurring configurations, one of them with a single layer of water separating two GQDs. The type and characteristics of the structure are mostly determined by the hydrophobicity of the GQDs as well as the steric hindrance of the dangling groups. The composition of the terminal groups plays a key role in determining the configuration of the GQDs, which is also markedly affected by the formation of clusters. Notably, the aggregated GQDs assume strongly correlated shapes and, in some cases, display a radically different conformation distribution compared to single molecules. This cooperative effect prolongs the lifetime of the GQD configurations and can explain the observed persistence of chiral conformations that are only marginally more stable than their specular images.
Integral Value and The Virtue of Hospitality: A Response to Kasperbauer

AbstractIn this response, I unpack the implications of Kasperbauer’s focus on the passenger pigeon in his critique of de-extinction. While I accept his sentientist objections to de-extinction, I consider how a case for de-extinction can be developed using Ronald Sandler’s concept of integral value. In this vein, justification for bringing back the passenger pigeon is comparable to that supporting a recovery effort of an endangered species. However, as with a recovery plan, and possibly more so, de-extinction must reflect a sincere commitment to accommodate the resurrected species and provide the habitat in which it can thrive. In this vein, de-extinction should not proceed without environmental virtues of hospitality and neighborliness.
Corneal Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Are Directly Antiangiogenic via PEDF and sFLT-1

Purpose To evaluate the angiogenic properties of corneal derived mesenchymal stromal cells (Co-MSC). Methods Co-MSCs were extracted from human cadaver, and wild-type (C57BL/6J) and SERPINF1-/- mice corneas. The MSC secretome was collected in a serum-free medium. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) tube formation and fibrin gel bead assay (FIBA) sprout formation were used to assess the angiogenic properties of Co-MSC secretome. Complete corneal epithelial debridement was used to induce corneal neovascularization in wild-type mice. Co-MSCs embedded in fibrin gel was applied over the debrided cornea to evaluate the angiogenic effects of Co-MSCs in vivo. Immunoprecipitation was used to remove soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF, SERPINF1 gene) from the Co-MSC secretome. Results Co-MSC secretome significantly inhibited HUVECs tube and sprout formation. Co-MSCs from different donors consistently contained high levels of antiangiogenic factors including sFLT-1 and PEDF; and low levels of the angiogenic factor VEGF-A. In vivo, application of Co-MSCs to mouse corneas after injury prevented the development of corneal neovascularization. Removing PEDF or sFLT-1 from the secretome significantly diminished the antiangiogenic effects of Co-MSCs. Co-MSCs isolated from SERPINF1-/- mice had significantly reduced antiangiogenic effects compared to SERPINF1+/+ (wild-type) Co-MSCs. Conclusions These results illustrate the direct antiangiogenic properties of Co-MSCs, the importance of sFLT-1 and PEDF, and their potential clinical application for preventing pathologic corneal neovascularization.
Picosecond Electro-Electron Optic Oscilloscope

The technique of electro-optic sampling [1, 2, 3] presently offers the only means by which an electrical waveform can be time-resolved with subpicosecond resolution. With a sensitivity of ~l mV and the capability of sampling in a contactless configuration, this technique has become a valuable tool for the characterization of ultrafast electronic components. The contactless mode of sampling can also be scaled up to allow sampling on a plane surface permitting the evaluation of any number of discrete components within an integrated circuit. In spite of these attractive features, the electro-optic sampling technique has been adopted by only a few large laboratories, the major drawback being the requirement of a short pulse laser system. The complexity of such a laser results in a sampling oscilloscope that is delicate, maintenance intensive, and expensive, precluding its development in industry and many universities.
IJRB: looking toward the future.

The original name of the International Journal of Radiation Biology (often called the blue journal) was International Journal of Radiation Biology and related studies in Physics, Chemistry and Medi...
GENE DELIVERY AND THERAPY: THE CASE FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Cystic fibrosis (CF) affects a number of epithelial-lined organs, the most important being the lungs, responsible for the majority of the morbidity in this disease and eventually the usual cause of death from respiratory failure. This lung disease results from impaired airway defence against infection; bacterial colonisation usually occurs in childhood and progresses to episodes of overt infection and subsequent lung damage.
LVIS Blue as a low porosity stent and coil adjuvant

Introduction The LVIS Blue is an FDA-approved stent with 28% metallic coverage that is indicated for use in conjunction with coil embolization for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Given a porosity similar to approved flow diverters and higher than currently available intracranial stents, we sought to evaluate the effectiveness of this device for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Methods We performed an observational single-center study to evaluate initial occlusion and occlusion at 6-month follow-up for patients treated with the LVIS Blue in conjunction with coil embolization at our institution using the modified Raymond–Roy classification (mRRC), where mRRC 1 indicates complete embolization, mRRC 2 persistent opacification of the aneurysm neck, mRRC 3a filling of the aneurysm dome within coil interstices, and mRRC 3b filling of the aneurysm dome. Results Sixteen aneurysms were treated with the LVIS Blue device in conjunction with coil embolization with 6-month angiographic follow-up. Aneurysms were treated throughout the intracranial circulation: five proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) (ophthalmic or communicating segments), two superior cerebellar artery, two ICA terminus, two anterior communicating artery, two distal middle cerebral artery, one posterior inferior cerebellar artery, and two basilar tip aneurysms. Post-procedurally, there was one mRRC 1 closure, five mRRC 2 closures, and 10 mRRC 3a or 3b occlusion. At follow-up, all the mRRC 1 and mRRC 3a closures, 85% of the mRRC 3b closures and 75% of the mRRC 2 closures were stable or improved to an mRRC 1 or 2 at follow-up. Conclusions The LVIS Blue represents a safe option as a coil adjunct for endovascular embolization within both the proximal and distal anterior and posterior circulation.
Bayesian Approach to Inference

Several paradigms provide a basis for statistical inference; the two most dominant are the frequentist (sometimes called classical, traditional, or Neyman– Pearsonian) and Bayesian. The term Bayesian refers to Reverend Thomas Bayes (Fig. 8.1), a nonconformist minister interested in mathematics whose posthumously published essay (Bayes, 1763) is fundamental for this kind of inference. According to the Bayesian paradigm, the unobservable parameters in a statistical model are treated as random. Before data are collected, a prior distribution is elicited to quantify our knowledge about the parameter. This knowledge comes from expert opinion, theoretical considerations, or previous similar experiments. When data are available, the prior distribution is updated to the posterior distribution. This is a conditional distribution that incorporates the observed data. The transition from the prior to the posterior is possible via Bayes’ theorem.
Environmental and safety assessment of LIBRA-SP: A light ion fusion power reactor design

LIBRA-SP is a 1000 MWe light ion beam power reactor design study. The reactor structure is made of a low activation ferritic steel and uses LiPb as a breeder. The total activities in the blanket an...
The case for global warming in the Arctic

Attribution of the causes for the recent large changes in the Arctic, including sea ice, temperatures, and biological impacts, is formidable task because it is difficult to separate the signal due to anthropogenic greenhouse gases from the background of large natural climate variability. However, initial observational and modeling evidence of an anthropogenic influence in the Arctic has emerged over the last decade. I address this issue through application of methodological, evidentiary, and performance scientific standards which consist of three parts: is change occurring, which is the most consistent among a range of possible causes, and are these causes predictive? At the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century Arctic-wide warming is distinctive from the regional patterns of temperature anomalies that were seen earlier in the 20th century. IPCC model simulation results for the 1930s warm and 1960s cold temperature anomalies are consistent with natural climate variability, but all models show the influence of external forcing from greenhouse gases on warm temperature anomalies in the 1990s, and projections for the future. The recent sea ice reduction of summer 2007 Arctic by 40% compared to its 1980s extent is particularly scary and suggests that other surprises may be in store for the Arctic climate system. Sea ice loss appears to be on a fast track relative to consensus projections by IPCC models. This dramatic sea ice reduction was likely caused by a combination of greenhouse gas increases, fortuitous timing in the natural variability of the atmospheric general circulation, and positive feedbacks associated with a reduction in sea ice.
The 2016 U.S. Presidential Candidates and How People Tweeted About Them

The 2016 election provided more language and polling data than any previous election. In addition, the election spurred a new level of social media coverage. The current study analyzed the language...
A 0.55 THz On-Chip Substrate Integrated Waveguide Antenna

An on-chip Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) antenna operating in Half (HF) mode and One and a Half (OHF) mode is presented. The antenna is implemented in compliance with design rule of Commercial 65 nm CMOS technology. The proposed antenna shows increased bandwidth (compared to resonant antennas) of 20 GHz (0.54 THz – 0.56 THZ). Moreover, antenna shows a measured directivity of 9.4 dBi, leading to a gain of 2.8 dBi, when calculated with simulated efficiency.
Association of Smoking and Death from Genitourinary Malignancies: Analysis of the National Longitudinal Mortality Study

Purpose:We explored the association between tobacco use and genitourinary cancer specific survival in a contemporary, nationally representative sample of the United States civilian population.Mater...
Increased rates of adverse perinatal outcomes in women with gestational diabetes and depression.

AbstractObjective: We sought to examine the impact of depression on adverse perinatal outcomes in women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study c...
Meaningful Distance for Multivariate Clustering

In this paper, we assume the decomposition of points with the mixture of Gaussian distributions in each dimension as an underlying assumption for feature formation of input data. The new guideline presents a unified approach to current basic assumptions and also provides us with an opportunity to solve an essential problem of low-level clustering algorithms. The issue is in the form of the curse of dimensionality which claims that multivariate clustering is meaningless for high dimensional data. To solve this problem, we propose a new type of vector norm (||._||_c) and subsequently Clustering Distance (CD) which is a distance metric system that guarantees meaningfulness even in high dimensional data. The experiments on synthetic and non-synthetic datasets show the effectiveness of the proposed method compared to the current solutions.
Chapter III – Grain structure

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the importance of three aspects of grain structure: crystallographic texture, grain morphology, and grain size. Various growth modes and deposition processes, such as Frank-van der Merwe or layer-by-layer growth mode, Volmer-Weber or island growth mode, and Stranski-Krastonov (S-K) growth mode, have been discussed. The constraints of no grain boundary mobility and no adatom mobility require the homologous temperature to be low (for fcc metals ∼<0.15 and for body centered cubic (bcc) metals ∼<0.1). Energetic bombardment with particle energies less than about 500 eV enhances the mobilities that control the approach to the equilibrium state, thereby allowing the film to develop the fiber texture corresponding to the film surface having the lowest specific-free energy even at homologous temperatures smaller than O. 15 and to achieve somewhat larger grain size than is produced in films condensed from thermal vapors. The morphology remains columnar. Athermal recrystallization may be achieved when a critical energy input is exceeded. It is, therefore, important at the outset to recognize the need to distinguish between two types of film deposition in studying the grain structure of thin films.
Chapter 5 – Data Analysis

Data analysis actually starts in the field when the research team selects where to aim the camera/s and decides what notes are important enough to write down. However, further analysis, post-observation, provides the ability to collate design insights across all data collected and takes a deeper look into the field experiences. The task of analyzing data and providing meaningful conclusion can seem like a daunting task due to the tremendous amount of data collected. This is especially true for large studies or studies with multiple facets. The reality of qualitative research for the purposes of design is that not all of the information collected is actually useful. Analysis skills are necessary to discriminate the valuable information from the noise. Some of the data will be potentially collected for another use while some information may be discarded. For example, say the research team headed out to the operating room (OR) for what was to be a target procedure only to find out that the surgeon changes the devices they use mid-procedure but they have permission to observe and video. If time permits, why not observe and learn. Watching users complete tasks and understand who they are is part of the inquiry and while the data collected is not in the target, the team can gain the flow of the organization and begin the relationship with the study participant. Certainly some of the data collected might fit to be analyzed while the rest can possibly be ignored and stored for another project. At the heart, the process of data analysis includes deciding which pieces of collected information are important in regard to the goals of the study and which pieces are not.
Educability: Public Policy and the Role of Research.

Values rather than science are often unrecognized as an impetus for policy development; a reasonable role of science is to determine how the intent of policy can best be realized. In recent years, ...
Impact on urinary oxalate levels with use of ezetimibe.

Background Calcium oxalate stones are the most common cause of nephrolithiasis in the United States. Smaller studies of <15 patients investigating ezetimibe, a selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor, have suggested increased urine oxalate levels with use of the drug. We attempt to better define this relationship of ezetimibe on urinary oxalate using a larger patient sample analysing multiple urine collections on and off treatment. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive patients from 01/2018 through 04/2019 evaluated for nephrolithiasis with use of ezetimibe documented in their medical record at Mayo Clinic Florida. Primary outcomes included increase in urinary oxalate with use of ezetimibe and reduction in urinary oxalate with discontinuation of medication. Results Of 57 reviewed patients, 30 (53%) met inclusion criteria yielding 117 24-h urine measurements either on ezetimibe (72 measurements) or off ezetimibe (41 measurements). The mean urinary oxalate level off ezetimibe was 39.86 mg versus 40.45 mg with ezetimibe. After adjusting for age and sex, the estimated difference was 1.239 mg (95% CI, -4.856 to 7.335 mg; p = 0.93). A subset of six patients with urinary oxalate values both on and off ezetimibe showed a difference in 24-h urinary oxalate levels ranged from -16.40 to 14.95 mg (mean difference = 0.93 mg; median difference = 3.84 mg). Conclusion Use of ezetimibe does not provide clear evidence of a difference in urinary oxalate levels.
Spielberg's Film the Post: Epic Tale of Press Freedoms Prevailing Over Government Censorship

Steven Spielberg's film The Post is made in response to President Trump's savage attacks on the press and reporters. It portrays the historic Pentagon Papers case -- a case that resulted from the courageous The New York Times decision to publish a ten part series drawn from the top-secret Pentagon Papers, a Pentagon study tracing America's involvement in Vietnam from 1945-1968 -- by focusing on the decision of The Washington Post, made after a federal judge had enjoined the Times, to publish additional excerpts from the study. Fifteen days after the Nixon administration first sued the Times, The Supreme Court denied the administration a preliminary injunction, thus freeing the the newspapers to continue to publish their reports.
Metal Oxides as Decontaminants of Water and Wastewater

One of the most emerging threat to the present and future of the surface and aquatic lives is the contamination of water and wastewater. The aquatic and surface lives are severely affected through the contamination by detrimental chemicals in recent years; and, as a consequence, the decontamination techniques are attracting significant attention worldwide. In this regard, metal oxide nanoparticles have been witnessing rapid emergent as a promising decontaminant of water and wastewater. Decontamination by metal oxide nanoparticles is consisted of mainly photocatalysis, adsorption and disinfection techniques. More precisely, the metal oxide nanoparticles are enabled to function as nonophotocatalysts, nanosorbents and bioactive nanoparticles, through the application of which various problems, involving water quality, can be resolved or significantly ameliorated.
Accuracy of the time-averaged ponderomotive approximation for laser-plasma accelerator modeling

Reliable modeling of laser-plasma accelerators, where a short and intense laser pulse propagates in an underdense plasma over long distances, is a computationally challenging task. This is due to the great disparity among the scales involved in the modeling, ranging from the micrometer scale of the laser wavelength to, for instance, the meter scale of the laser-plasma interaction length for a multi- GeV-class laser-plasma accelerator. To reduce such imbalance, the time-averaged ponderomotive approximation may be used, where the plasma particle dynamics is analytically averaged over the laser frequency, and only spatiotemporal scales associated with the laser envelope are retained in the calculations, resulting in significant computational savings. In this paper, we characterize the accuracy and robustness of the time-averaged ponderomotive approximation for a range of laser parameters of interest for present and future laser-plasma accelerators, and we show that the error introduced by the averaging process is small in all relevant cases.
Social Media: Sustainable Communication Tool on Challenges Faced by Women

We examine the challenges faced by women for effective communication on social media. The majority of the data used in this study was primary, and it was gathered in the field using a questionnaire. The questionnaire utilized in this study was a written list of questions that had been carefully designed and selected to gather data. The questions were closed-ended and focused on women's issues and their use of social media. Cronbach alpha was used to test the dataset's validity, consistency, and reliability based on the obtained information. Cronbach's Alpha for all constructs or items was more significant than the minimum acceptable reliability coefficient of 0.5 to 0.9, indicating strong internal consistency. Furthermore, Cronbach's Alpha for all constructs was more than the minimal permissible reliability coefficient, indicating that they were valid and trustworthy and hence suitable for use. We notice that the majority of respondents in this study reported that they had experienced social media harassment. Our findings show, in particular, that the majority of respondents in this study believe that women are usually overlooked when it comes to matters requiring social media opinions. From the preceding, we opined that information, education and communication are empowering tools. It is the challenge of women in leadership to dismantle the obstacles in the women's use of information media. No form of women empowerment will succeed until these challenges are met.
A note on the faithfulness of the functor S $${\rm O}X$$R(−)

If R and S are rings with S a unitary extension of R, the faithfulness of the functor S \({\rm O}X\)R(−) is studied.
Reactions of carbenes with bicyclobutanes and quadricyclane

Abstract Dicarbomethoxycarbene and dichlorocarbene add to 1,2,2-trimethylbicyclo[1.1.0]butanc in such a fashion as to suggest a concerted addition in which the central and side bonds are cleaved simultaneously. MNDO calculations support such a pathway and suggest that endo attack on the bicyclobutane is preferred to exo . Reaction of the same two carbenes with quadricyclane gives substituted derivatives of the exo-tricyclo[3.2.1.0 2,4 ]oct-6-ene system. Although these products rearrange further under the conditions of reaction and/or analysis, they can be shown to be primary products. It is suggested that quadricyclane reacts with carbenes in a concerted fashion.
The separation of clotting factors. II. Purification of human factor IX by isoelectric focusing.

Abstract Human prothrombin complex was subjected to isoelectric focusing. Factors II and IX were separated and recovered. The isoelectric point of Factor IX was 4.1–4.37, that of Factor II 4.57–4.70. Factors VII and X did not focus. The use of Sephadex G-100 gel filtration of the prothrombin complex resulted in isoelectric focusing recovery of Factor IX with no detectable Factors II and VII and only a trace of Factor X. Factor IX thus purified had a specific activity of 17.3 units (1730%) per mg protein, amounting to a 1082-fold increase in specific activity compared to original plasma. These results represent an improved purification compared to the bovine results previously reported.
Resolution of spatially close broadband coherent sources incident on a general array

The multiple source location problem is solved for a general array geometry using an effective high-resolution algorithm. The incident plane waves can be a mixture of coherent and incoherent signals that are broadband and/or narrowband in nature. In this algorithm, the nonnoise level array eigenvectors are first determined at several frequencies where the signal-to-noise level is deemed adequately large. These eigenvectors are then used in a frequency-averaging criterion whose minimization produces the desired low-variance estimate of the directions of arrivals. >
Cytopathogenic effect in cardiac myocytes but not in cardiac fibroblasts is correlated with reovirus-induced acute myocarditis

A panel of reovirus strains was used to compare myocarditic potential with induction of cytopathic effect in primary cardiac myocyte and cardiac fibroblast cultures. The results suggest that viral cytopathogenicity in cardiac myocytes, but not in cardiac fibroblasts, is a determinant of reoviral myocarditis.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF SINGLE-CONSTRUCT CHROMOSOMAL GENE DRIVE

Gene drive systems are genetic elements capable of spreading into a population even if they confer a fitness cost to their host. We consider a class of drive systems consisting of a chromosomally located, linked cluster of genes, the presence of which renders specific classes of offspring arising from specific parental crosses unviable. Under permissive conditions, a number of these elements are capable of distorting the offspring ratio in their favor. We use a population genetic framework to derive conditions under which these elements spread to fixation in a population or induce a population crash. Many of these systems can be engineered using combinations of toxin and antidote genes, analogous to Medea, which consists of a maternal toxin and zygotic antidote. The majority of toxin–antidote drive systems require a critical frequency to be exceeded before they spread into a population. Of particular interest, a Z-linked Medea construct with a recessive antidote is expected to induce an all-male population crash for release frequencies above 50%. We suggest molecular tools that may be used to build these systems, and discuss their relevance to the control of a variety of insect pest species, including mosquito vectors of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
Group tools and methods to support data model development, standardization, and review

The need for tools and meeting methods to provide effective support during data model development meetings has been an elusive goal. Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed collaborative tools and method to support groups during these meetings. The paper discusses meeting methods to support such meetings. A process is described that orchestrates the work in a way that gives non analyst participants an ordered set of tasks that they can complete. Use of this approach with a group data modeling tool provides a means for larger groups to effectively participate during data model development and review. Users can see and contribute model content in parallel. The approach manages complexity, supports comprehension, and fosters agreement among participants.
A microwave and computational electromagnetics curriculum with motivating signal integrity applications

A senior and graduate level curriculum in microwaves and computational electromagnetics is described. In a manner analogous to the rise of robotics for undergraduate course foci, a signal integrity focus is proposed, and course projects are tailored to that area. The advantage is a coherent and continuous understanding of the application of electromagnetic principles across topics, and sustained student interest, in different courses.
The continuous kalman filter as the limit of the discrete kalman filter

In this paper we present a rigorous proof of the commonly held belief that the continuous time Kalman filter equations can be obtained as the limit of the discrete time Kalman filter equations. This is done by creating a uniformly integrable martingale using the discrete filter and showing that its limit, is the continuous filter
Abstract 3814: Association of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) expression with stage and grade in endometrial cancer

Objectives: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are known to initiate immune responses upon binding bacterial glycolipids and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases including cancer. It is thought that cancers may sabotage TLR signaling pathways leading to enhanced tumor cell invasion and immune surveillance evasion. Upon glycolipid binding, TLR4 induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines through the adaptor protein, MyD88. Although TLR4 expression has been evaluated in normal endometrium, it has not been well-characterized in endometrial cancer. Thus, we sought to assess TLR4 and MyD88 expression in endometrial cancer specimens. Methods: TLR4 and MyD88 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 82 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded endometrial cancer specimens and 14 specimens of benign endometrium. Tissue microarrays were constructed, and two cores were analyzed for each patient. Immunohistochemical staining was scored according to the intensity (1+ to 3+) and qualitative percent cells staining per core. A “histoscore” was calculated, based on multiplying these two determinants ranging from 0 to 300 (i.e. intensity x % labeled). Results were analyzed using the Student t-test and ANOVA. Results: TLR4 and MyD88 staining was localized in the cytoplasm of both the benign and malignant endometrium. TLR4 and MyD88 expression was highest in the atrophic endometrium (mean 276 & 251, respectively) and lowest in the secretory endometrium (mean 182 & 136, respectively) (p=0.0182 for TLR4; p=0.0043 for MyD88). Expression was intermediary in the proliferative endometrium (mean 214 for TLR4; p=0.0278) (mean 210 for MyD88; p=0.0520). Of the endometrial cancer specimens, 87% were of endometrioid histology, and 13% were of serous histology. 77% of these tumors were from women with early stage cancers (stage 1/2), and 24% were from patients with advanced stage disease (stage 3/4). 89% of the endometrial cancers expressed TLR4, and 91% expressed MyD88. Decreased TLR4 expression correlated with higher stage (mean 205 for stage 1/2 and 169 for stage 3/4; p=0.0163) and grade (mean 214 for G1 and 176 for G3; p=0.0165). TLR4 and MyD88 expression did not significantly differ between endometrioid and serous histologies. Conclusions: TLR4 and MyD88 are expressed in endometrial cancers, and decreased TLR4 expression was associated with advanced stage and higher grade. Thus, the TLR4 pathway may represent a novel therapeutic target in endometrial cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3814.
Design principles of a conditional futile cycle exploited for regulation.

In this report, we characterize the design principles of futile cycling in providing rapid adaptation by regulatory proteins that act as environmental sensors. In contrast to the energetically wasteful futile cycles that are avoided in metabolic pathways, here we describe a conditional futile cycle exploited for a regulatory benefit. The FNR (fumarate and nitrate reduction) cycle in Escherichia coli operates under two regimes – a strictly futile cycle in the presence of O2 and as a pathway under anoxic conditions. The computational results presented here use FNR as a model system and provide evidence that cycling of this transcription factor and its labile sensory cofactor between active and inactive states affords rapid signaling and adaptation. We modify a previously developed mechanistic model to examine a family of FNR models each with different cycling speeds but mathematically constrained to be otherwise equivalent, and we identify a trade-off between energy expenditure and response time that can be tuned by evolution to optimize cycling rate of the FNR system for a particular ecological context. Simulations mimicking experiments with proposed double mutant strains offer suggestions for experimentally testing our predictions and identifying potential fitness effects. Our approach provides a computational framework for analyzing other conditional futile cycles, which when placed in their larger biological context may be found to confer advantages to the organism.
Entropy and Accidents

This study explored the relationships between land use entropy (the extent to which land uses are mixed, heterogeneous, and nonuniform) and motor vehicle accidents. Two aspects of entropy were considered: (a) the mix of jobs and housing and (b) the diversity of jobs in addition to the mix of jobs and housing. These measures were developed and tested with census data and geographic information system technologies combined with comprehensive police accident reports from the city and county of Honolulu, Hawaii. A grid-based approach was adopted with accident counts and negative binomial regression. Various types of accident counts were considered, including total, daytime, and nighttime accidents, as well as accidents involving tourists, nonuse of seat belts, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Grid-based characteristics were also considered, such as distance from the urban center, traffic volume, roadway length, transit use, land values, and roadway configuration (intersections versus dead ends). Al...
A remark on the number of edge colorings of graphs

Fix a 2-coloring Hk + 1 of the edges of a complete graph Kk + 1. Let C(n, Hk + 1) denote the maximum possible number of distinct edge-colorings of a simple graph on n vertices with two colors, which contain no copy of Kk + 1 colored exactly as Hk + 1. It is shown that for every fixed k and all n > n0(k), if in the colored graph Hk + 1 both colors were used, then C(n, Hk + 1) = 2tk(n), where tk(n) is the maximum possible number of edges of a graph on n vertices containing no K k + 1. The proofs are based on Szemeredi's Regularity Lemma together with the Simonovits Stability Theorem, and provide one of the growing number of examples of a precise result proved by applying the Regularity Lemma.
Bullous SLE: A phenotypically distinctive but immunologically heterogeneous bullous disorder

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare blistering disease with a distinctive combination of clinical, histologie and immunopathologic features that together constitute a unique bullous disease phenotype. There appear to be at least two immunologically distinct subtypes of bullous SLE characterized by the presence or absence of circulating and/or tissue- bound basement membrane zone autoantibodies that recognize type VII collagen. The two subtypes are not clearly distinguishable except by indirect immunofluorescence and/or direct immunoelectron microscopy. In patients without circulating antibodies, immunoelectron microscopy is required to distinguish between the two subtypes. Patients with autoantibodies to type VII collagen are similar but not identical to patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita -another bullous disease associated with autoantibodies to type VII collagen. Autoantibodies to type VII collagen in patients with bullous SLE is only one of several lines of evidence that indicate autoimmunity to that protein and susceptibility to SLE are associated phenomena. In addition, there is emerging evidence for an association between epidermolysis bullous acquisita and SLE. There is also evidence that autoantibodies to type VII collagen are pathogenic in bullous SLE (and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita) and that their production is regulated by the class II major histocompatibility complex DR beta 1 allele, 1501 and possibly other DR beta 1 alleles that share a similar sequence of amino acids in the second hypervariable region.
Gender-related outcomes in trauma.

Background: Recent data suggest that sex hormones may play a role in regulating posttraumatic immunosuppression, leading to gender-based differences in outcome after injuries. This study examined gender-related outcomes in trauma patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of trauma registry data from our Level I trauma center over a 4-year period. Patients > 15 years of age, with Injury Severity Scores > 15, who survived and received mechanical ventilation for > 48 hours were included. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of age (15-45 years and > 45 years) and the groups were further stratified by gender. Groups were matched by Injury Severity Scores, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Abbreviated Injury Score for the head, and transfusion requirement. Gender-based outcomes consisted of ventilator days, intensive care unit length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, pneumonia, and death. Results: Data were reported as mean ± SD. There were 612 patients. In the younger age group, male patients had a higher incidence of multiple organ failure (10.5% vs. 1.5%), longer intensive care unit (13.5 ± 9.2 days vs. 9.2 ± 7.2 days) and hospital LOS (30.2 ± 37.7 days vs. 18.9 ± 13.0 days), and higher mortality (13.4% vs. 6.8%) compared with female patients (p 45 years was associated with higher mortality (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.5). Conclusion: Although the incidence of pneumonia was not influenced by gender, female trauma patients had better outcomes than male patients in the younger age group. Outcome in the older age group was not gender-related. Our data support a gender-based difference in outcome after traumatic injuries in younger patients.
Measurements of Aerosol Particle Size: Improved Precision by Simultaneous Use of Optical Particle Counter and Nephelometer

Improved accuracy and precision in size measurements of submicrometer volatile particles are achieved by reconciling simultaneous measurements by optical particle counter (OPC) and nephelometer. Reconciliation of data obtained from the two instruments required a careful calibration and measurement of relative humidity in both instruments. Correspondence between the nephelometer response and that calculated from the OPC size distribution provides a standard that limits uncertainty and inaccuracy in the OPC size measurement. This approach is demonstrated for size measurements of volatile submicrometer aqueous NaCl droplets, for which a least-squares regression of the data provided a 0.95 correlation coefficient. The quantitative reconciliation of the two optical measurements provides an experimental test of their accuracy.
Contemporary results after sapheno-popliteal bypass for chronic femoral vein occlusion.

Background Chronic occlusion of the femoral or the proximal popliteal vein responsible for venous obstruction and the constellation of clinical sequelae that ensue remains a surgical challenge that carries notable patient morbidity. Sapheno-popliteal bypass (SPB) remains a surgical reconstructive option for select patients that demonstrate patency of the popliteal vein, great saphenous vein, saphenofemoral junction, and iliac veins. We sought to analyze our single-institution experience with this technique. Methods A retrospective review of a single-center experience with SPB was performed. Preoperative risk factors and indications for intervention (ie, venous claudication, ulceration) were identified. Duration of follow-up and endpoints, including clinical improvement, wound healing, patency, and limb loss were assessed. A Kaplan-Meier analysis for primary and secondary patency was performed. Results Seventeen patients underwent SPB for chronic lower extremity venous obstruction between July 1988 and August 2011. Median age at operation was 41 years (range, 23-69 years). There was a male predominance noted (n = 12; 71%). All patients had chronic edema and venous claudication. Five patients (29%) had evidence of venous ulceration preoperatively. Eight patients (47%) underwent a preceding venous intervention (ie, iliac stenting or venous thrombolysis). Three patients had a concomitant arteriovenous fistula, created at the time of bypass to enhance in-flow; three patients underwent concomitant femoral-femoral venous bypass. Four patients (24%) experienced hematoma postoperatively that required operative evacuation; in two patients, compression from this hematoma resulted in early graft occlusion. After a median follow-up of 103 months (range, 3-271 months), 82% of patients experienced near or complete resolution of venous claudication. Three of the five patients with venous ulceration healed their wounds (67%). Of the 16 patients that underwent Duplex scan follow-up, primary patency after a median follow-up of 103 months was 56%, primary-assisted patency was 69%, and secondary patency was 75%. One patient required amputation approximately 21 years after SPB and there were no deaths. This secondary patency rate exceeds previously published patency rates. Conclusions SPB may be indicated for certain patients with chronic venous stasis disease secondary to femoral venous obstruction that have failed other standard therapies. SPB remains a satisfactory and reliable procedure that produces clinical improvement in a selected group of patients and should be considered in a contemporary venous surgical practice.
Visual search for category sets: tradeoffs between exploration and memory.

Limitations of working memory force a reliance on motor exploration to retrieve forgotten features of the visual array. A category search task was devised to study tradeoffs between exploration and memory in the face of significant cognitive and motor demands. The task required search through arrays of hidden, multi-featured objects to find three belonging to the same category. Location contents were revealed briefly by either a: (1) mouseclick, or (2) saccadic eye movement with or without delays between saccade offset and object appearance. As the complexity of the category rule increased, search favored exploration, with more visits and revisits needed to find the set. As motor costs increased (mouseclick search or oculomotor search with delays) search favored reliance on memory. Application of the model of J. Epelboim and P. Suppes (2001) to the revisits produced an estimate of immediate memory span (M) of about 4–6 objects. Variation in estimates of M across category rules suggested that search was also driven by strategies of transforming the category rule into concrete perceptual hypotheses. The results show that tradeoffs between memory and exploration in a cognitively demanding task are determined by continual and effective monitoring of perceptual load, cognitive demand, decision strategies and motor effort.
Effect of a Cyclooxygenase‐2 Inhibitor on Interleukin‐1β–Stimulated Activation of the Transcription Factor Nuclear Factor‐Kappa B in Human Gingival Fibroblasts

Background: In previous work, the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NS-398 inhibited interleukin (IL)-1β–stimulated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production almost completely while partially inhibiting IL-6 production in aggressive periodontitis (AgP) human gingival fibroblasts. PGE2 and the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) regulate IL-1β–stimulated IL-6 production. Cytoplasmic NF-κB is bound to inhibitors (IκB proteins). IL-1β initiates a cascade resulting in phosphorylation and degradation of IκB, allowing nuclear translocation of NF-κB and target gene activation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether NS-398 inhibited phosphorylation of IκB and NF-κB activation.Methods: AgP fibroblasts (1 to 2 × 106) were exposed to IL-1β (1 × 10−11M) with or without NS-398 (10 nM) in serum-free medium. The NF-κB subunit p65 and phospho-IκBα were measured in whole cell, cytoplasmic, or nuclear extracts, using colorimetric assays. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure PGE2 and IL-6 pr...
Incongruent dissolution and surface area of kaolinite

Abstract The surface of kaolinite is modeled as a combination of Al and Si surface sites in order to understand its aqueous dissolution behavior. The pH dependence of the initial nonstoichiometric dissolution of kaolinite at 25°C can be related to the pH dependence of protonation and deprotonation of the surface Si and Al sites. The analysis indicates Al dissolution rates are greater than Si at pH pH 11. An analysis of the surface site density of kaolinite from surface potentiometric titration data is presented. This indicates that the surface area of kaolinite and possibly other clay minerals available for forming surface complexes and sites for cation detachment is significantly larger than that measured by standard gas adsorption methods. It is believed that H + and OH - can penetrate between layers in the sheet silicates which is not possible for the gas, Kr, used in the BET analysis.
Assessing mobile phone communication utility preferences in a social support network

While it is generally accepted that the mobile cell phone has become ubiquitous within society for communicating, the actual use of the utilities on a phone have not been reported. Understanding how communication patterns are changing in society as a result of the mobile cell phone will enable the development and/or modification of existing cell phone utilities, the concept of privacy, and a mobile literacy research domain. To explore mobile cell phone utility use, 99 people completed a mobile phone usage questionnaire. Key results from the questionnaire are physical location when using a mobile cell phone, the length of communication episodes, the usage of phone utilities and existing privacy concerns related to mobile cell phones.