cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterizing the thermal sensitivity of a gasoline homogeneous charge compression ignition engine with measurements of instantaneous wall temperature and heat flux

AbstractAn experimental study was performed to provide qualitative and quantitative insight into the thermal effects on a gasoline-fuelled homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine combustion. The single-cylinder engine utilized exhaust gas rebreathing to obtain large amounts of hot residual gas needed to promote ignition. In-cylinder pressure, heat release analysis, and exhaust emission measurement were employed for combustion diagnostics. Fast response thermocouples were embedded in the piston top and cylinder head surface to measure instantaneous wall temperature and heat flux, thus providing critical information about the thermal boundary conditions and a thorough understanding of the heat transfer process.Two parameters determining thermal conditions in the cylinder, i.e. intake charge temperature and wall temperature, were considered and their effect on ignition and burning rate in an HCCI engine was investigated through systematic experimentation. The approach allowed quantitative analy...
Life Satisfaction, Self-Esteem, and Perceived Health Status Among Elder Korean Women: Focus on Living Arrangements

The purpose of this study was to examine whether living arrangements significantly affect life satisfaction, self-esteem, and perceived health status of elder Korean women. A total of 121 women aged 65 to 89 was interviewed in an urban community senior center in Korea. The convenience sample was obtained by face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Life satisfaction, self-esteem, and perceived health status were strongly correlated with each other. Living arrangements significantly affected life satisfaction, self-esteem, and perceived health status. Women who live with their married son had the highest life satisfaction and self-esteem and perceived themselves to be healthier in comparison to their counterparts. Therefore, government programs need to be developed to assist children in caring for their parents to improve their overall well-being.
Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury.

Background— Neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL) is an early marker of acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods and Results— Urine NGAL and serum NGAL (sNGAL) were assessed at 2, 6, 24, and 48 hours after contrast media (CM) exposure in 458 high-risk patients (development set). Optimal thresholds in predicting contrast-induced AKI (serum creatinine [sCr] increase ≥0.3 mg/dL at 48 hours after CM administration) were identified. Major adverse events (MAE; death, dialysis, nonfatal myocardial infarction, sustained kidney injury, and myocardial revascularization) at 1 year were assessed. In the development set, optimal thresholds for contrast-induced AKI occurred at 6 hours for both urine NGAL (≥20 ng/mL; 97% negative predictive value and 27% positive predictive value) and sNGAL (≥179 ng/mL; 93% negative predictive value and 20% positive predictive value). Furthermore, sNGAL ≥179 ng/mL at 6 hours was an independent predictor of 1-year MAE. 1-year MAE occurred in 27/198 patients (13.5%) with sNGAL <179 ng/mL and sCr <0.3 mg/dL, in 57/193 (29.5%) patients with only sNGAL ≥179 ng/mL, and in 37/67 (55%) patients with sCr ≥0.3 mg/dL. In additional 253 patients (validation set), no patient with urine NGAL <20 ng/mL or sNGAL <179 ng/mL at 6 hours developed contrast-induced AKI. Furthermore, 6/68 (9%) patients with sNGAL <179 ng/mL and sCr increase <0.3 mg/dL had 1-year MAE versus 17/57 (30%) patients with sNGAL ≥179 ng/mL and sCr increase <0.3 mg/dL and 8/16 (50%) patients with sCr increase ≥0.3 mg/dL. Conclusions— Urine NGAL <20 ng/mL and sNGAL <179 ng/mL at 6 hours are reliable markers for ruling out contrast-induced AKI. sNGAL ≥179 ng/mL at 6 hours predicts 1-year MAE. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT01098032][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT01098032&atom=%2Fcirccvint%2F8%2F9%2Fe002673.atom
Teacher-And Student-Developed Summaries of Performance: Perceptions of Teachers and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors

Teacherand Student-Developed Summaries of Performance: Perceptions of Teachers and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
Differential Response of the American Lobster Homarus americanus to the Invasive Asian Shore Crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus and Green Crab Carcinus maenas

The American lobster Homarus americanas shares rocky shore habitats and resources with two common invasive crab species in the northwest Atlantic: the green crab Carcinus maenas and the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus. Juvenile or early benthic phase (EBP) lobsters live under the same boulders as these crabs and are potentially vulnerable to crab predation and competition. Time-lapse photography was used to quantify aggressive interactions between EBP lobsters and invasive crabs in the laboratory. Lobsters behaved far more aggressively toward Asian shore crabs (initiating 11.8 attacks/h) than green crabs (4.9 attacks/h). Crab behavior varied widely as well, as green crabs were five times more likely to attack EBP lobsters than were Asian shore crabs. Thus, lobsters initiated 75.5% of aggressive interactions with Asian shore crabs, compared with only 22.3% with green crabs. Invasion history was a possible reason for this disparity, as green crabs have shared geographic range with American lobsters for more than 100 y. compared with only more than 10 y for Asian shore crabs. Differences in lobster responses to the two crab species suggest that aggressive behavior is the default for EBP lobsters and that they attacked the novel species (H. sanguineus) because they had not developed avoidance behavior to the potential crab threat. Green crabs posed more of a predation threat than Asian shore crabs, consuming over 80% of lobsters in 24-h trials. These results suggest that invasion history and predator—prey adaptation may shape the behavior and ecological interactions of native and invasive species.
Time Resolved Spectroscopy

The basic procedures of Fourier Transform Infrared Time Resolved Spectroscopy (TRS) have been described previously by R. E. Murphy [1], A. Mantz [2], and G. Mamantov [3], In this chapter we have chosen to present only a brief overview of this technique.
1,4-Bis(4-pyridylmeth­yl)piperazin-1-ium perchlorate fumaric acid hemisolvate

In the title salt, C16H21N4+·ClO4−·0.5C4H4O4, fumaric acid mol­ecules, situated across crystallographic inversion centres, are O—H⋯N hydrogen bonded to two protonated 1,4-bis­(4-pyridylmeth­yl)piperazine cations, forming trimolecular units. These construct one-dimensional supra­molecular ribbons by N—H⋯N hydrogen bonding, and further aggregate via π–π inter­actions [shortest C⋯C contact = 3.640 (1) A] and perchlorate-mediated C—H⋯O inter­actions.
Spotlight on ixazomib: Potential in the treatment of multiple myeloma

Despite the significant therapeutic advances achieved with proteasome inhibitors (PIs) such as bortezomib and carfilzomib in prolonging the survival of patients with multiple myeloma, the development of drug resistance, peripheral neuropathy, and pharmacokinetic limitations continue to pose major challenges when using these compounds. Ixazomib is a second-generation PI with improved activity over other PIs. Unlike bortezomib and carfilzomib, which are administered by injection, ixazomib is the first oral PI approved by US Food and Drug Administration. This review discusses the biochemical properties, mechanisms of action, preclinical efficacy, and clinical trial results leading to the US Food and Drug Administration approval of ixazomib.
Effects of propranolol on conversational reciprocity in autism spectrum disorder: a pilot, double-blind, single-dose psychopharmacological challenge study.

Pharmacological intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an important addition to treatment, yet currently available agents target co-morbid psychiatric concerns, such as aggression and irritability. Propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist with anxiolytic effects, has been shown to improve verbal fluency and working memory in adults and adolescents with ASD in single-dose challenges. The present pilot study explores the acute effects of propranolol on a measure of conversational reciprocity in this population. We also examined whether autonomic activity and anxiety moderate or mediate response to the drug, given relationships between these variables and ASD, as well as the drug’s effects. In a within-subject crossover design, 20 individuals with ASD received a single dose of propranolol or placebo during two sessions in a double-blinded, counterbalanced manner. After drug administration, participants performed a conversational reciprocity task by engaging in a short conversation with the researcher. Measurements of autonomic activity and anxiety were obtained before and after drug administration. Propranolol significantly improved performance on the conversational reciprocity task total [d = 0.40] and nonverbal communication domain scores when compared to the placebo condition. However, neither autonomic activity nor anxiety was significantly associated with drug response. Acute propranolol administration improved conversational reciprocity in ASD. Further exploration of these preliminary findings, as well as other potential treatment response predictors, with serial doses is warranted.
In Support of Consequential Damages for Sellers

In March 1988 the American Law Institute and the Permanent Editorial Board for the Uniform Commercial Code appointed a study group to consider an extensive revision of Article 2. One of the Study Group's important recommendations in its 1990 Preliminary Report is that Section 2-710 be revised to grant a seller the explicit right to recover consequential damages. Although all of the seller damage remedy provisions in Article 2 expressly allow for incidental damages, they are uniformly silent on the matter of consequential damages. As the above scenario demonstrates, sellers do, at least on occasion, suffer consequential loss and that loss may represent the major portion of their damages. Nevertheless, the courts to date have consistently construed Section 1-106 to bar a. seller's recovery of consequential damages. Sellers do, at least on occasion, suffer consequential loss and that loss may represent the major portion of their damages. Nevertheless, the courts to date have consistently construed Section 1-106 to bar a. seller's recovery of consequential damages. This result has obtained despite the very strong, overarching mandate in Section 1-106 that the courts liberally administer remedies so that the aggrieved party is compensated by being placed in as good a position as he would have occupied had the breaching party fully performed. Section 1-106 thus reflects an inconsistent, schizophrenic aura by first stating as a fundamental remedial precept that an aggrieved party be fully compensated and then substantially recanting from it, at least for sellers, by denying recovery for what may be the primary loss caused by the breach.There is no reason in logic or fairness for treating the consequential loss of one party, the seller, as penal damages while simultaneously treating such a Joss by the buyer as compensatory. Thus, this article supports the Study Group recommendation regarding consequential damages for sellers. It will explore how the rule denying recovery came to pass, will question the wisdom and correctness of judicial decisions to date which have interpreted the Code to bar a seller's recovery for consequential damages, and will suggest that any upcoming revision of Article 2 of the Code must include a specific provision placing sellers on equal footing with buyers with respect to consequential damages.
Applying the Voting Rights Act in Houston: Federal Intervention or Local Political Determination?

Has the Voting Rights Act (VRA) provision requiring local boundary changes to be precleared by federal officials to ensure minority voting strength been excessive national intervention, or has local political determination been retained? This question is examined in Houston, Texas, where the VRA was the catalyst for the reorganization of Houston's city council in 1979. At first glance, the Houston case seems to suggest overt federal intervention. On closer examination, however, we found that council change was born out of compromises among contending local groups. Federal officials were active participants in the processes of change, but acted as rules interpreters and referees rather-than as directors of change. Moreover, the application of the VRA in Houston did not result in less local autonomy; instead, it served to increase the representation of minorities on the council, thus laying the foundation for a more pluralistic local system.
Myelography with Iotrolan, an Isotonic Water Soluble Contrast Medium

Iotrolan, an isotonic water-soluble non-ionic contrast medium, has recently been developed to improve the biological activity of Metrizamide. We used the contrast medium for myelography and CT-myelography, and examined its contrast effect, side effects and desirable examination techniques. A satisfactory contrast effect was obtained in other cases than 3 patients in which contrast was unsatisfactory probably due to technical errors during the early period of use. If the head-end of the examination table was elevated higher than required to prevent the contrast medium from flowing into the ventricule after myelography, the contrast effect became unsatisfactory when cervical CT-myelograms were taken. Therefore, we put pillows of 10cm-height under the head-end of the table to slightly elevate the head-end by ca. 5°, and we placed patients in the prone position for 10-20 seconds just before lumbar CT-myelography. These points seemed to be indispensable to take a good myelogram. Side-effects were mild, and no severe or so-called “major” side effects such as disturbance of consciousness, generalized convulsion fits, etc. were observed. It is concluded that Iotrolan is a good myelographic contrast medium well tolerated by patients, if a radiologist gets skilled in the examination technique.
Interplay of local and global interfacial electronic structure of a strongly coupled dipolar organic semiconductor

We investigate the consequences of strong electronic coupling at the organic semiconductor/metal interface in both the ground and excited state manifold for the case of chloro-boron subphthalocyanine on Cu(111). Using a combination of low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and angle-resolved two-photon photoemission, we are able to connect local electronic interactions at the interface with thin film structure despite complex growth in the submonolayer regime. We show that strong coupling leads to charge transfer from the surface to the molecule, and we are able to correlate this observation with the specific molecular adsorption geometry. Strong coupling further results in molecular excited state anion resonances and is responsible for autoionization of highly excited image potential states, relating to the heterogeneous electronic environment in these thin films. This study provides a step towards disentangling interfacial electronic interactions at complex organic/metal interfaces.
The study on epidemiological characteristics of rabies from 2000 to 2012 in Anhui province

Objective To analyze epidemiological characteristics of rabies in Anhui province from 2000 to 2012 and provide evidence for rabies prevention and control. Methods Collecting and analyzing the data about human rabies occurred during 2000 ~ 2012 by Excel 2007 and Map Info 9. 5. Results A total of 972 cases of human rabies were reported from 2000 to 2012. The epidemic peak appeared from July to October accounting for 44. 2% of total cases. Rabies spread from the south to the north and then mainly occurred in the northern area. The cases were mainly farmers( 66. 0%),students( 17. 2%) and scattered children( 6. 3%) respectively. The sex ratio of male to female was 2. 1: 1. The higher incidence of disease was found in children and elder people. Conclusion The northern area was the epidemic one with higher incidence in Anhui province. The rural area was mostly affected,and children and the elder were the increased risk groups for rabies. Effective measures should be adopted for enhancing the management of dogs and immunization after exposure.
Awareness of Occupational Disease Prevention in Citizens of Shanghai and Related Impact Factors

[Objective]To identify work priorities and dissemination goals of occupational disease prevention by questionnaires interviewing the public about the awareness and attitudes towards occupational disease prevention and related laws in Shanghai. [Methods]Convenience sampling method was used to recruit 7 876 participants from crowded public places in Shanghai. Chi-square test was employed for statistical analysis.[Results]Of the participants investigated, 95.9% of them knew the law and 95.7% were aware of compensation. They considered the municipal government and the health sectors should be responsible for occupational disease prevention. Most people praised the occupational disease prevention achievement, and only8.7% reported negative comments. In regard of attitudes towards occupational disease prevention, 53.5% of the participants didn't recognize occupational hazards in their workplaces; and the participants reported less common knowledge on acid/alkali, painting,and welding hazards prevention, but the male participants showed better related knowledge than the female. The qualified rate of occupational disease related knowledge increased as the increase of age or education level.[Conclusion]Pertinent approaches should developed for future occupational health education, in collaboration with society, enterprises, and individuals with different educational background and from various job categories. Occupational health and occupational safety weigh equally in health education. Moreover, identification of critical occupational hazards, target population, and key industries should also be considered in order to improve worker's awareness of occupational disease prevention and protect their health.
A comprehensive study of ferromagnetic resonance and structural properties of iron-rich nickel ferrite (NixFe3−xO4, x≤1) films grown by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract We report a detailed study of the structural and ferromagnetic resonance properties of spinel nickel ferrite (NFO) films, grown on (100)-oriented cubic MgAl 2 O 4 substrates by direct liquid injection chemical vapor deposition (DLI-CVD) technique. Three different compositions of NFO films (Ni x Fe 3− x O 4 where x =1, 0.8, 0.6) deposited at optimized growth temperature of 600 °C are characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM), and broadband ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) techniques. XRD confirms the growth of epitaxial, single crystalline Ni x Fe 3− x O 4 films. The out-of-plane lattice constant ( c ) obtained for Ni 0.8 Fe 2.2 O 4 film is slightly higher than the bulk value (0.833 nm), indicating only partial strain relaxation whereas for the other two compositions ( x =1 and x =0.6) films exhibit complete relaxation. The in-plane and out-of-plane FMR linewidths measurements at 10 GHz give the lowest values of 458 Oe and 98 Oe, respectively, for Ni 0.8 Fe 2.2 O 4 film as compared to the other two compositions. A comprehensive frequency (5–40 GHz) and temperature (10–300 K) dependent FMR study of the Ni 0.8 Fe 2.2 O 4 sample for both in-lane and out-of-plane configurations reveals two magnon scattering (TMS) as the dominant in-plane relaxation mechanism. It is observed that the TMS contribution to the FMR linewidth scales with the saturation magnetization M s . In-plane angle-dependent FMR measurements performed on the same sample show that the ferromagnetic resonance field ( H res ) and the FMR linewidth (Δ H ) have a four-fold symmetry that is consistent with the crystal symmetry of the spinel. SEM measurements show formation of pyramid-like microstructures at the surface of the Ni 0.8 Fe 2.2 O 4 sample, which can explain the observed four-fold symmetry of the FMR linewidth.
Impact of arsenic deactivation in polycrystalline silicon and at polysilicon-monosilicon interfaces on contact resistance

Arsenic deactivation in polycrystalline silicon, and in devices incorporating polysilicon in a 4 M SRAM BiCMOS process has been studied. The effects of anneal conditions and material characteristics (grain size and interfacial oxide) on sheet and contact resistance data, and npn bipolar characteristics, shows that arsenic deactivation in polysilicon and at poly/mono-silicon interfaces is a partially reversible process. Our data indicates that appropriate rapid thermal anneals can significantly reduce contact resistance (39%) and improve device performance by reactivating arsenic at the poly/mono-silicon interface. >
Primate Models for Understanding Brain Mechanisms of Cognitive Behavior

An approach to understanding cognitive brain function is described for behaviors that are best studied in primates. The approach begins with the development of an experimental paradigm that exhibits important aspects of the cognitive behavior, can be learned by a monkey, and allows quantification and experimental control. Behavioral and neural responses during task performance are then recorded and analyzed. Finally, biologically realistic neural network models of specific brain regions are created that generate appropriate behavioral and neural outputs. This approach is ambitious and depends on the combined efforts of many laboratories, but has a high payoff in providing a mechanistic explanation of cognitive function. To illustrate this approach, we discuss work that seeks to understand the neural basis of predictive control during smooth eye pursuit of visible, as well as imagined, targets in monkeys. This is a cognitive process that facilitates eye tracking based on the prediction of upcoming target motions from memory. Neural recording takes place in the flocculus/paraflocculus regions of the cerebellum and the frontal eye fields of the frontal lobe, regions that are involved in predictive eye pursuit. Mathematical modeling of neural/behavioral processing is done at several levels. Single-neuron-firing models are used to quantify single-neuron responses during task performance in terms of sensory, motor, and cognitive variables. Local-circuit models describe how these neural firing patterns might be processed using local synaptic and intracellular mechanisms. Finally, a neural network model is presented that describes how predictive eye tracking could be generated in the cerebellum.
Iodine and plutonium association with natural organic matter: A review of recent advances

Radionuclides reach the environment from natural or anthropogenic sources and are equilibrating over time with different phases through sorption and precipitation reactions onto inorganic phases and macromolecular natural organic matter (NOM). Strong binding to NOM can occur by chelation of clustered binding sites (i.e., binding sites from different branches in the macromolecule) in the absence of conventional chelating sites. Despite many years of research and strong evidence of its significance, transport of many radionuclides is still modeled without taking into consideration NOM as a redox regulator and a sorbent or chelating agent. Microbially mediated chelation and incorporation reactions can control a number of radionuclides, e.g., plutonium (Pu) and iodine (I) isotopes, leading to retardation or mobilization, depending on whether the carrier compound is in solution or particle-bound. The presence of NOM in contaminated soils complicates conventional remediation techniques for I, where base has been added to either increase the cation exchange capacity of soils or to promote direct co-precipitation of the cationic radionuclide in the waste stream. Even though Pu at waste sites did not have to be remediated, base addition would likely also bring surprises. This addition may then have unexpected consequences; while promoting the immobilization of inorganic Pu, it has been shown to also remobilize inorganic-I and low-molecular weight organic compounds that are bound to I and Pu. Iodine occurs in multiple oxidation states in aquatic systems, existing not only as inorganic species (iodide (I−) and iodate (IO3−)), but also as organic species where I is covalently bound to aromatic moieties. Thus, stable iodine, 127I, and its long-lived isotope, 129I, a major by-product of nuclear fission, undergo complex biogeochemical cycling in the environment, which renders them less mobile than when assuming that all I is in the form of the highly mobile form of iodide. In the laboratory and the field, plutonium strongly associates with NOM, when present, and is strongly chelated by specific moieties such as hydroxamate siderophores and other N-containing compounds. As a consequence, its mobility is controlled by the transport behavior of the anionic organic forms rather than the much more strongly sorbing cationic form of Pu(IV). NOM, even at trace levels, can play a significant role in controlling the fate and transport of radionuclides.
Minimally Invasive Robotic Laser Corpus Callosotomy: A Proof of Concept.

INTRODUCTION We describe the feasibility of using minimally invasive robotic laser interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) for achieving an anterior two-thirds as well as a complete corpus callosotomy. METHODS Ten probe trajectories were plotted on normal magentic resonance imaging (MRI) scans using the Brainlab Stereotactic Planning Software (Brainlab, Munich, Germany). The NeuroBlate® System (Monteris Medical, MN, USA) was used to conform the thermal burn to the corpus callosum along the trajectory of the probe. The distance of the ideal entry site from either the coronal suture and the torcula or nasion and the midline was calculated. The distance of the probe tip from the dorsal and ventral limits of the callosotomy in the sagittal plane were also calculated. RESULTS Anterior two-thirds callosotomy was possible in all patients using a posterior parieto-occipital paramedian trajectory through the non-dominant lobe. The average entry point was 3.64 cm from the midline, 10.6 cm behind the coronal suture, and 9.2 cm above the torcula. The probe tip was an average of 1.4 cm from the anterior commissure. For a total callosotomy, an additional contralaterally placed frontal probe was used to target the posterior one-third of the corpus callosum. The average entry site was 3.3 cm from the midline and 9.1 cm above the nasion. The average distance of the probe tip from the base of the splenium was 0.94 cm. CONCLUSION The directional thermoablation capability of the NeuroBlate® system allows for targeted lesioning of the corpus callosum, to achieve a two-thirds or complete corpus callosotomy. A laser distance of < 2 cm is sufficient to reach the entire corpus callosum through one trajectory for an anterior two-thirds callosotomy and two trajectories for a complete callosotomy.
Association of Anisocytosis with Markers of Immune Activation and Exhaustion in Treated HIV.

Background: Treated HIV infection is associated with heightened inflammation which can contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have previously shown that anisocytosis, as measured by red cell distribution width (RDW), is independently associated with prevalent CVD in people living with HIV (PLHIV). In this study, we sought to identify immune correlates of RDW in PLHIV receiving antiretroviral therapy. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of 147 virally-suppressed PLHIV, who had LDL <130 mg/dL and evidence of heightened inflammation, in a randomized trial of statin therapy. A complete blood count and biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation/exhaustion were measured in peripheral blood at entry and after 24 and 48 weeks. Associations with RDW were estimated using linear regression and linear mixed models. Results: The median age (IQR) for the cohort at enrollment was 46 (40–53) years; 78% were male and 68% were African American. The median RDW for the cohort was 13.4% (12.9–14.0). Compared with the lowest RDW tertile, patients in the highest tertile were less likely to be male, and more likely to be African American, have lower hemoglobin, lower mean corpuscular volume, and higher platelet counts (all P <0.05). At baseline, RDW weakly correlated with C-reactive protein (r=0.196), d-dimer (r=0.214), fibrinogen (r=0.192), interleukin-6 (r=0.257), CD4+DR+38+ T cells (r=0.195), and CD4+PD1+ T cells (r=0.227), all P <0.05. Only IL-6, CD4+38+DR+ T cells, and CD4+PD1+ T_cells remained associated after adjustment for clinical factors known to affect RDW in the general population. Over 48 weeks, RDW did not change and there was no significant effect of statin ( P =0.45). After adjustment for clinical parameters, RDW remained positively associated with CD4+38+DR+ and CD4+PD1+ T cells across all time points ( P =0.05). Conclusion: In this population of treated HIV+ subjects, anisocytosis was associated with biomarkers of inflammation and T-cell activation/exhaustion over time and independent of clinical confounders. Therefore, RDW may be a useful prognostic biomarker of cardiovascular risk that partially reflects chronic inflammation and immune exhaustion in PLHIV receiving antiretroviral therapy.
Short vs. continuous gemcitabine infusion in the in vitro cell culture bioreactor system

1558 Drug exposure impacts the antitumor activity for many chemotherapy agents. Maximum drug concentrations (C max ), Area Under the Curve (AUC), and steady state concentrations (C ss ) may influence antitumor activity. Fixed dose rate (continuous) gemcitabine infusion is superior to short infusion for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but has not been demonstrated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We have developed an in vitro bioreactor tissue culture system that allows for changing drug exposure to mimic measured changes in in vivo drug concentrations. H2009 cells were grown in the extracapillary space (E.C.S.), and gemcitabine was infused as 3 mg with a syringe pump over either 0.5 (n=5) or 2.5 hr (n=5), followed by mono-exponential elimination to simulate clinically relevant plasma concentrations. Gemcitabine concentrations were measured and cell death was assessed by flow cytometry and colony forming assay (CFA) five days after treatment. For the 0.5 hr infusion, the C max was (Mean ± SD) 50.8 ± 10.9 μM, clearance was 4.53 ± 0.14 mL/min and the AUC was 33.2 ± 6.21 μM*hr. For continuous infusions (n=5), the C max was 15.4 ± 3.91 μM, C ss was 13.0 ± 0.25, clearance was 4.49 ± 0.08 mL/min, and the AUC, 38.5 ± 9.75 μM*hr. SubG1 were as follows: 42.3 ± 12% 0.5 hr control, 69.6 ± 10% 0.5 hr gemcitabine, 57.2 ± 19.6% 2.5hr control, and 78.2 ± 19.6% 2.5 hr gemcitabine. TUNEL data were as follows: 16.6 ± 7.27% 0.5 hr control, 41.4 ± 16.8% 0.5 hr gemcitabine, 24.8 ± 12.8% 2.5 hr control, and 42.6 ± 19.6% 2.5 hr gemcitabine. CFA survival as follows: 7.08 ± 3.46% 0.5 hr control, 2.12 ± 1.30% 0.5 hr gemcitabine, 4.73 ± 2% 2.5 hr control, and 0.09 ± 0.03% 2.5 hr gemcitabine. Normalized to controls, survival was 15-fold lower for the continuous relative to the short infusion. Studies are on-going to evaluate cellular gemcitabine tri-phosphorylated metabolite amounts, to evaluate cell density on the hollow fibers by microscopy, and to minimize non-drug related cell death. This system can be used to determine the effects of C max and Css on the induction of cell death, and enables us to characterize optimal exposure-response relationships for investigational agents. Supported by Cancer and Leukemia Group B Junior Faculty Research Award.
Regulating carbon emissions from indirect land use change (ILUC): U.S. and California case studies.

Abstract As lifecycle emissions accounting becomes more widely used in policy, it is important to understand how it has been applied. This paper analyses policy-making for two U.S. fuel regulations—the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)—that were pioneering not only in using life cycle assessment (LCA) in performance-based environmental regulations, but especially for including emissions from indirect land use change (ILUC). The case studies in this paper focus, in particular, on the decision to include ILUC in lifecycle emissions accounting. Tracing the development of these policies shows the key role of environmental policy entrepreneurs in advocating for ILUC emissions accounting during policy formulation. Moreover, it highlights a paradox in the use of science: although ILUC policy proponents were motivated by best available research, they were also politically enabled by scientific uncertainty and lack of understanding. Understanding this political dimension of decision-making is valuable for scholars as well as practitioners facing similar decisions.
Contributions to the Field and Policy Implications

This chapter reviews what we have learned about housing cycles. The filtered work is undertaken in nominal terms. Work using real data will have to contend with combination of cycles from both the nominal series and the deflator series, which could generate spurious measures of co-movement. The spectral work indicates that there is evidence of the ‘great moderation’ in Price, Construction Expenditure, Income, and Consumption within longer cycles in the post 1984 era. Secured lending is not closely related to income or house prices, supporting Goodhart and Hoffman in that that neither broad money nor credit in the 1985–2006 era affect house price inflation. Unsecured lending, by contrast, is. Indeed, it implies that the wealth effect may be expressed through unsecured lending.
Evidence Gaps in the Era of Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants.

Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) were first introduced in the 1920s from studies on the “hemorrhagic” effect of spoiled sweet clover consumption by cattle[1][1] and have evolved ever since to the cornerstone of oral anticoagulation therapy. The most commonly used VKA in the United States is warfarin
Decimation by sea star wasting disease and rapid genetic change in a keystone species, Pisaster ochraceus.

Standing genetic variation enables or restricts a population’s capacity to respond to changing conditions, including the extreme disturbances expected to increase in frequency and intensity with continuing anthropogenic climate change. However, we know little about how populations might respond to extreme events with rapid genetic shifts, or how population dynamics may influence and be influenced by population genomic change. We use a range-wide epizootic, sea star wasting disease, that onset in mid-2013 and caused mass mortality in Pisaster ochraceus to explore how a keystone marine species responded to an extreme perturbation. We integrated field surveys with restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data to (i) describe the population dynamics of mortality and recovery, and (ii) compare allele frequencies in mature P. ochraceus before the disease outbreak with allele frequencies in adults and new juveniles after the outbreak, to identify whether selection may have occurred. We found P. ochraceus suffered 81% mortality in the study region between 2012 and 2015, and experienced a concurrent 74-fold increase in recruitment beginning in late 2013. Comparison of pre- and postoutbreak adults revealed significant allele frequency changes at three loci, which showed consistent changes across the large majority of locations. Allele frequency shifts in juvenile P. ochraceus (spawned from premortality adults) were consistent with those seen in adult survivors. Such parallel shifts suggest detectable signals of selection and highlight the potential for persistence of this change in subsequent generations, which may influence the resilience of this keystone species to future outbreaks.
Adenosine Triphosphate Conservation in Biosynthetic Regulation ESCHERICHIA COLI PHOSPHORIBOSYLPYROPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE

Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthase (EC 2.7.6.1.) from Escherichia coli is inhibited by adenosine diphosphate and to a much smaller extent by other nucleotides and by tryptophan. We propose (a) that the adenosine diphosphate effect is part of a general adenosine triphosphate conservation system that causes the rate of expenditure of ATP to be sharply curtailed when the energy charge of the cell decreases slightly; and (b) that, as appears to be the case with phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate synthase, such ATP conservation control may be superposed on product negative feedback regulation of the same enzyme.
The New Implementation Schemes of the TTM Cryptosystem Are Not Secure

We show that the new TTM implementation schemes have a defect. There exist linearization equations $$\sum\limits_{i = 1,j = 1}^{n,m} {{a_{ij}}{x_i}{y_j}({x_1}, \ldots ,{x_n}) + \sum\limits_{i = 1}^n {{b_i}{x_i} + \sum\limits_{j = 1}^m {{c_j}{y_j}({x_1}, \ldots ,{x_n}) + d = 0,} } }$$ which are satisfied by the components y3 (x1 … xn) of the ciphers of the TTM schemes. The inventor of TTM used two versions of the paper [2] to refute a claim in [3]. When we do a linear substitution with the linear equations derived from the linearization equations for a given ciphertext,we can find the plaintext by an iteration of the procedure of first search for linear equations by linear combinations and then linear substitution. The computational complexity of the attack on these two schemes is less than 235 over a finite field of size 28.
Fibrous Dysplasia of the Temporal Bone: The use of Computerized Tomography

Fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone is a rare condition characterized histologically by proliferation of fibrous tissue with scattered trabeculae of immature bone. Eighteen cases of monostotic fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone have been reported in the literature. The clinical course of temporal bone fibrous dysplasia is unpredictable. Potential complications include cholesteatoma, recurrence, and malignant transformation. Surgery has been the recommended treatment, but the indications, approach, and extent have not been clearly established. The introduction of computerized tomography with high-resolution bone reconstruction is a significant advance in the therapeutic approach to temporal bone fibrous dysplasia. It accurately defines the extent of the disease within the temporal bone, and periodic scanning will reveal any progression. This information can be used to resolve many surgical dilemmas and to minimize secondary complications. This article includes a comprehensive review of the literature on temporal bone fibrous dysplasia and summarizes a case in which computerized tomography was used.
Amino Acids and Chirality

Amino acids are at the heart of this book, and this chapter discusses them in a general way—for non-experts in organic chemistry. It also discusses linear and circular polarization of light, again for non-experts. This leads to the discussion of the Buckingham ­effect (Chem Phys Lett 398:1, 2004; Chem Phys 324:111, 2006), by which one can discriminate between left- and right-handed amino acids given the right conditions. A short description of quantum mechanics, again for non-experts, shows how the Buckingham ­effect would manifest itself in chiral molecules. Then more complex molecules of life—DNA and RNA—are discussed, as well as possible means by which they might be produced once the amino acids have been produced. Finally, evidence is presented which suggests that the usually assumed hostile environment of outer space might provide a nursery for the complex basic molecules.
Implementing transfer and articulation: A case study of community colleges and state universities

ABSTRACTThis study examined the cultural aspects of a transfer articulation policy between public community colleges and state universities enacted by a newly consolidated state governing board for higher education in a northeastern state. A qualitative multisite case study design explored how key stakeholders, faculty, administrators and staff viewed the transfer policy from their unique perspectives. Tierney’s (2008) cultural analysis of governance was used to examine the effectiveness of communication and decision-making on the part of the board. The study also applied Handel’s (2011) theory of a transfer affirming culture along with Jain, Herrera, Bernal, and Solorzano’s (2011) research on the requisite services for pretransfer and posttransfer success of nontraditional students. The use of several theoretical frameworks provides “a more powerful lens than when using only one in helping to interpret and understand culture” (Kezar & Eckel, 2002, p. 440). The study was guided by the following question: ...
Hemispheric specialization for visual words is shaped by attention to sublexical units during initial learning.

Selective attention to grapheme–phoneme mappings during learning can impact the circuitry subsequently recruited during reading. Here we trained literate adults to read two novel scripts of glyph words containing embedded letters under different instructions. For one script, learners linked each embedded letter to its corresponding sound within the word (grapheme–phoneme focus); for the other, decoding was prevented so entire words had to be memorized. Post-training, ERPs were recorded during a reading task on the trained words within each condition and on untrained but decodable (transfer) words. Within this condition, reaction-time patterns suggested both trained and transfer words were accessed via sublexical units, yet a left-lateralized, late ERP response showed an enhanced left lateralization for transfer words relative to trained words, potentially reflecting effortful decoding. Collectively, these findings show that selective attention to grapheme–phoneme mappings during learning drives the lateralization of circuitry that supports later word recognition. This study thus provides a model example of how different instructional approaches to the same material may impact changes in brain circuitry.
Projected effects of US tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber and newsprint imports: a cobweb model

Starting from the cobweb theorem, a model of demand, supply, multilateral trade, and prices was formulated for the softwood lumber and newsprint markets in Canada, the United States (US), and the r...
Examiner Accuracy in Cognitive Testing in Multisite Brain-Tumor Clinical Trials: An Analysis From the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

Background Cognitive function is an important outcome in brain-tumor clinical trials. Cognitive examiners are often needed across multiple sites, many of whom have no prior testing experience. To ensure quality, we looked at examiner errors in administering a commonly used cognitive test battery, determined whether the errors were correctable upon central review, and considered whether the same errors would be detected using onsite electronic data entry. Methods We looked at 500 cognitive exams administered for brain-tumor trials led by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Alliance). Of 2277 tests examined, 32 noncorrectable errors were detected with routine central review (1.4% of tests administered), and thus removed from the database of the respective trial. The invalidation rate for each test was 0.8% for each part of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, 0.8% for Controlled Oral Word Association, 1.8% for Trail Making Test-A and 2.6% for Trail Making Test-B. It was estimated that, with onsite data entry and no central review, 4.9% of the tests entered would have uncorrected errors and 1.3% of entered tests would be frankly invalid but not removed. Conclusions Cognitive test results are useful and robust outcome measures for brain-tumor clinical trials. Error rates are extremely low, and almost all are correctable with central review of scoring, which is easy to accomplish. We caution that many errors could be missed if onsite electronic entry is utilized instead of central review, and it would be important to mitigate the risk of invalid scores being entered. Clinicaltrialsgov identifiers NCT01781468 (Alliance A221101), NCT01372774 (NCCTG N107C), NCT00731731 (NCCTG N0874), and NCT00887146 (NCCTG N0577).
Adaptive Model Reduction for Parareal in Time Method for Transient Stability Simulations

Real time or faster than real time simulation can enable system operators to foresee the effect of crucial contingencies on the power system dynamics and take timely actions to prevent system instability. Parareal in time method uses concurrent computations on different segments of the time domain of interest to speed up the dynamic simulations. This paper describes the application of an adaptive nonlinear model reduction method in improving computational speed of the Parareal solver. The proposed method adaptively switches between a hybrid system with selective linearization and a completely linear system based on the size of a disturbance. The functions in the hybrid system are linearized based on the electrical distance between specific generators and the area where disturbances originated. The proposed method is tested on the 327-machine 2383-bus Polish system.
The eclipse that made Einstein famous

Relativity9s relationship with the first world war and the story of the eclipse that confirmed a key component of Einstein9s theory are the subject of two remarkable books published for the centenary of the latter9s observations. No Shadow of a Doubt by physicist and Einstein scholar Daniel Kennefick is intended more for academics than for general readers, with far more technical detail on the eclipse observations than Einstein9s War by historian of science and Eddington scholar Matthew Stanley. His book skillfully interweaves the lives of Einstein and Eddington into a readable narrative.
Lower extremity joints and muscle groups in the human locomotor system alter mechanical functions to meet task demand.

ABSTRACT To facilitate movement through mechanically complex environments, terrestrial animals have evolved locomotor systems capable of flexibly altering internal mechanics to meet external demands. They do this by shifting imposed workloads between joints/muscle groups (central mechanical flexibility) and/or by altering the function of individual joints/muscle groups (local mechanical flexibility). In human locomotion research, central mechanical flexibility is well established and regularly reported. Local mechanical flexibility at major lower extremity joints and muscle groups, however, has received relatively less attention. We used an emerging biomechanical analysis known as functional indexing to test the hypothesis that lower extremity joints and muscle groups within the human locomotor system alter their mechanical function to meet altered locomotor demands. Thirteen healthy adults walked across a range of speeds (0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2.0 m s−1) and slopes (0 deg, +5 deg, +10 deg) to determine whether hip, knee and ankle joints and their extensors and flexors altered their mechanical function in response to increased speed and slope. As walking speed increased, the knee and its extensors altered their function to behave more like mechanical springs while the ankle and its extensors altered their function to behave more like motors. As slope increased, all three joints and their extensors decreased spring- and damper-like behavior and increased motor-like behavior. Our results indicate that humans – similarly to many other terrestrial animals – utilize local mechanical flexibility to meet the demands of the locomotor task at hand.