cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA Methylation Precedes Chromatin Modifications under the Influence of the Strain-Specific Modifier Ssm1

Ssm1 is responsible for the mouse strain-specific DNA methylation of the transgene HRD. In adult mice of the C57BL/6 (B6) strain, the transgene is methylated at essentially all CpGs. However, when the transgene is bred into the DBA/2 (D2) strain, it is almost completely unmethylated. Strain-specific methylation arises during differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Here we show that Ssm1 causes striking chromatin changes during the development of the early embryo in both strains. In undifferentiated ES cells of both strains, the transgene is in a chromatin state between active and inactive. These states are still observed 1 week after beginning ES cell differentiation. However, 4 weeks after initiating differentiation, in B6, the transgene has become heterochromatic, and in D2, the transgene has become euchromatic. HRD is always expressed in D2, but in B6, it is expressed only in early embryos. The transgene is already more methylated in B6 ES cells than in D2 ES cells and becomes increasingly methylated during development in B6, until essentially all CpGs in the critical guanosine phosphoribosyl transferase core are methylated. Clearly, DNA methylation of HRD precedes chromatin compaction and loss of expression, suggesting that the B6 form of Ssm1 interacts with DNA to cause strain-specific methylation that ultimately results in inactive chromatin.
Looking to the Future—The Role of Master’s Programs in Counseling Psychology: A Response to Quality of Master’s Education: A Concern for Counseling Psychology?

The predoctoral relationship that counseling psychology programs have had with master’s programs over the decades is being challenged in current times. A model that is developing is one that provides greater responsibility for program definition and then full faculty engagement from doctoral program faculty. With change occurring in training models, economics, and political events, strategic planning and relevant mission development is essential for the viability of counseling psychology doctoral programs.
Why Do Financially Distressed Firms Increase (or Initiate) Dividends

This study focuses on the short- and long-term performance of financially distressed firms that suffer a negative net income in the observation quarter but consequently decide to change their dividend policy by increasing (or initiating) dividends. With the quarterly panel data over the period 1962-2006, we first document a general reversal pattern in financial performance: firms that suffer a negative income quarter tend to improve their performance to different degrees during the next quarter across all firm sizes, no matter what dividend policies those firms adopt. After further analysis, we find strong evidence that firms choosing to increase (or initiate) dividends after suffering a negative net income quarter exhibit significantly better financial performance in net income, ROE, and ROA, after changing their dividend practice. After removing the possible autocorrelation and seasonality (including the earnings reversal pattern) in earnings per share series, a regression model confirms that adding the change in dividend per share during the observation quarter predicts the change in earning per share in the follow-up quarters, evidenced by highly significant regression coefficients and improved mode fitness. Different from the previous findings that dividend changes don't signal future earnings growth, our results reveal information content in the change of dividend policy by financially distressed firms and are consistent with signaling and dividend smoothing hypotheses. Sorting firms by their enterprise values (a proxy for size), we further find that, except for the firms in the smallest quintile, this information content is strong, reliable, and persistent across all the other financially distressed firms that decide to change their dividend policies. This effect seems to last not only for the short term (up to 1 year) but also for the long term (up to 5 years).
Formally certified satisfiability solving

Satisfiability (SAT) and satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) solvers are high-performance automated propositional and first-order theorem provers, used as underlying tools in many formal verification and artificial intelligence systems. Theoretic and engineering advancement of solver technologies improved the performance of modern solvers; however, the increased complexity of those solvers calls for formal verification of those tools themselves. This thesis discusses two methods to formally certify SAT/SMT solvers. The first method is generating proofs from solvers and certifying those proofs. Because new theories are constantly added to SMT solvers, a flexible framework to safely add new inference rules is necessary. The proposal is to use a meta-language called LFSC, which is based on Edinburgh Logical Framework. SAT/SMT logics have been encoded in LFSC, and the encoding can be easily and modularly extended for new logics. It is shown that an optimized LFSC checker can certify SMT proofs efficiently. The second method is using a verified programming language to implement a SAT solver and verify the code statically. Guru is a pure functional programming language with support for dependent types and theorem proving; Guru also allows for efficient code generation by means of resource typing. A modern SAT solver, called versat, has been implemented and verified to be correct in Guru. The performance of versat is shown to be comparable with that of the current proof checking technology.
Design of a fast diaphragmless shock tube driver

In this paper, we developed a one-dimensional compressible flow model to study the behavior of various diaphragmless drivers numerically. We determined that the diameter ratio, $$\beta _{d}$$ , for the discharge orifice of the back chamber controls driver actuation. Driver performance is optimized by accelerating the barrier element before breaching to minimize the opening time of the driver. Our new two-body driver outperforms various designs and exhibits opening times comparable to those of aluminum burst diaphragms. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the new driver and show that it closely follows the pressure-Mach curve for the ideal case. Planar laser-induced fluorescence images and pressure traces confirm the consistent formation of shock waves about 41 diameters from the driver.
Decohesion Kinetics in Polymer Organic Solar Cells

We investigate the role of molecular weight (MW) of the photoactive polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) on the temperature-dependent decohesion kinetics of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs). The MW of P3HT has been directly correlated to its carrier field effect mobilities and the ambient temperature also affects OSC in-service performance and P3HT arrangement within the BHJ layer. Under inert conditions, time-dependent decohesion readily occurs within the BHJ layer at loads well below its fracture resistance. We observe that by increasing the MW of P3HT, greater resistance to decohesion is achieved. However, failure consistently occurs within the BHJ layer representing the weakest layer within the device stack. Additionally, it was found that at temperatures below the glass transition temperature (∼41–45 °C), decohesion was characterized by brittle failure via molecular bond rupture. Above the glass transition temperature, decohesion growth occurred by a viscoelastic process in the B...
Two oldies join forces to guard homeostasis

the complement system appears early during the evolution of multicellular organisms ([10][1]). It is well-known that complement constitutes one of the first, innate, lines of defense against microbial invaders. But complement functions are not limited to immune processes. The complement system is
Cinematography of brain structures prepared by perfusion staining.

Brains of rats were stained by perfusion, frozen, and sectioned. Of more than 10 stains tried only thionin and a silver stain (Weil-Davenport) gave good contrast upon penetrating the brain by way of its vascular system. Each section was discarded but the exposed surface of the block was photographed as single frames on 16 mm motion picture film. Proper projection at 16 frames/sec was obtained by cutting 10–14 μ sections, with 3 exposures after each section. Thus the viewer could readily visualize neural organization in 3 dimensions. The method is valuable for teaching neuroanatomy and for determining the extent of lesions in neurological investigations.
Fuzzy inference of spatial gradation of slope positions

An important characteristic of slope positions(e.g.backslope,footslope) is that the transition between them is gradual.And the quantification of gradual transition of slope positions is very useful in many terrain-related geographical or ecological modelling(such as soil erosion on slope,soil surveying and mapping),especially on fine scale.Among current approaches of fuzzy slope position which are based on the gridded DEMs,fuzzy k-means approaches often focus on the parameter space and ignore the spatial information.Moreover,this type of approach can not extract some slope positions when they just exist with a very small proportion of application area.And the rule-based approach requires intensive operations and has a high demand for user knowledge of local landform.So the practicability is limited.This paper proposed a similarity-based approach to quantitative fuzzy representation of spatial gradation of slope positions.This approach includes two steps: the first is to extract the typical locations of each slope position.Then based on both local topographic attributes and regional terrain index,the similarity between other locations and typical locations is computed.This approach is carried out in both attribute domain(i.e.parameter space) and spatial domain.Both local topographic information and terrain context are taken into account.Application shows that results of proposed approach can quantitatively describe the spatial gradation of slope positions(such as ridge,slope shoulder,back slope,footslope,and valley).The analysis combining with spatial gradual transition of sand percentages in the A horizon of soil samples also indicates the reasonability of the results of the proposed approach.
Imaging of hypoxia in mouse atherosclerotic plaques with 64Cu-ATSM

Abstract Introduction Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The identification of vulnerable plaque at risk of rupture has been a major focus of research. Hypoxia has been identified as a potential factor in the formation of vulnerable plaque, and it is clear that decreased oxygen plays a role in the development of plaque angiogenesis leading to plaque destabilization. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of copper-64 labeled diacetyl-bis (N 4 -methylthiosemicarbazone) ( 64 Cu-ATSM), a positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical taken up in low-oxygen-tension cells, for the identification of hypoxic and potentially unstable atherosclerotic plaque in a mouse model. Methods 64 Cu-ATSM PET was performed in 21 atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE −/− ) mice, 6 of which were fed high-fat diet (HFD) while the others received standard-chow diet (SCD), and 13 control wild type mice fed SCD. 4 SCD ApoE −/− mice and 4 SCD wild type mice also underwent 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging one day prior to 64 Cu-ATSM PET. Results 64 Cu-ATSM uptake was increased in the aortic arch in SCD ApoE −/− mice (average aortic arch/muscle (A/M) standardized uptake value ratio 7.5–30min post injection: (5.66±0.23) compared to control mice (A/M SUV ratio 7.5–30min post injection (3.87±0.22), p −/− mice also showed similarly increased aortic arch uptake on PET imaging in comparison to control mice. Immunohistochemistry in both HFD and SCD ApoE −/− mice revealed noticeable hypoxia by pimonidazole stain in atherosclerosis which was co-localized to macrophage by CD68 staining. Autoradiography assessment demonstrated the presence of hypoxia by 64 Cu-ATSM uptake correlated with pimonidazole uptake within the ex vivo atherosclerotic aortic arch specimens. A significant increase in 18 F-FDG uptake in the SCD ApoE −/− mice in comparison to controls was also observed at delayed time points. Conclusion This pre-clinical study suggests that 64 Cu-ATSM is a potential PET tracer for hypoxia imaging in atherosclerosis. Advances in Knowledge and Implications for Patient Care While studies in humans are necessary for conclusive data, in the long term, a 64 Cu-ATSM PET imaging strategy could help facilitate the study of plaque biology in human patients.
Does Leaving the Eurozone Mean Leaving the Euro

Events in the Eurozone have raised the possibility that a Eurozone member departs the currency union. We devise a simulation to examine whether trading firms in the departed country will continue to invoice their product in the Euro or elect another currency denomination strategy. Because trading firms have flexibility in choosing their invoicing currency, they make an excellent case for studying the currency usage patterns of other economic actors that may emerge after Eurozone departure. Results suggest that greater price discrimination leads to more use of the buyer’s currency while firms that set only one price will tend to denominate that price in the U.S. dollar. Low exchange rate volatility between the exiting country’s new currency and the Euro leads to more Euro usage.
Oral pioglitazone reduces infarction volume and improves neurologic function following MCAO in rats.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are neuroprotective in rodent stroke models using intra-peritoneal, intra-venous and inter-ventricular routes of administration.We tested if oral pioglitazone at doses similar to those used by humans to treat diabetes reduces infarction volume following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in the rat. Rats were fed DMSO or pioglitazone (0.65mg/kg equivalent to a 45mg dose in a 70kg man, 0.40mg/kg equivalent to a 30mg dose or 0.20mg/kg to a15mg dose) dissolved in DMSO daily for five days prior to 2 hour MCAO. Animals underwent serial functional analysis using the modified neurologic stroke scale (mNSS), the adhesive sticker test and the inclined plane, all of which test motor sensory function. Twenty one days later, MCAO rats were sacrificed and infarct volumes determined. We found significant reductions in the infarct volume using the 0.65 and 0.40mg/kg dose. Furthermore, these rats had improved performance on behavioural assays. The 0.20mg/kg dose did not significantly reduce infarction volume or improve behaviour.
Cultural Re-encounters in The Tempest

In The Tempest, Shakespeare abides by the classical unities, and therefore the action of this play covers a period of about six hours; yet through various narratives, the play dilates its boundaries to encompass events extending over a period of more than two decades. These events include the witch Sycorax’s trial and expulsion from Algiers, the birth and youth of her son Caliban, and her long tyrannous rule over the island; Prosperous troubles as Duke of Milan, his overthrow and banishment, and his twelve-year control of the island; the King of Naples’ voyage to Africa to marry his daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis, his voyage of return and shipwreck, and the royal party’s wandering on the island; and the reunion of Prospero and his former enemies. In its extended action, The Tempest centers on several cross-cultural encounters and in some ways provides a synthesis for the salient features of Shakespeare’s representation of cross-cultural interaction through gender inversion, textual negotiation, and alien habitats. But it also offers the unique example of a character who negotiates his cultural reintegration after exile in an alien space. I will argue that the dual process of estrangement and reintegration relies on the exaggeration of differences characteristic of Shakespeare’s cross-cultural representation.
Some bounds for seismic risk

abstract The seismic risk at a site may be defined as the probability that a given threshold level is exceeded by a chosen variate within a time period of interest, as a result of nearby seismic events. Typically, the probability has been evaluated assuming that the sequence of origin times of earthquakes felt at the site is Poisson. This paper presents bounds for the probability that apply to a general distribution of origin times. In particular, the expected value of a particular counting variate is seen to provide an upper bound for the risk. The results are discussed for some specific marked point processes. Exact expressions for the risk are set down using the conditional intensity function.
1973 Animal Conflict

Conflict among animals, whether characterized as dominance hierarchy, aggression, or as agonistic behavior, can be explained by game theory. Evolution drives the behavior of animals in conflict in ways that maximize their reproductive potential, even though sometimes that leads to risk of injury or death. Ritualized encounters, in which risk of injury is reduced, also play an important role in animal conflict. Game theory helps us to understand the nature of animal conflict and how outcomes are shaped.
Does Rare Vocabulary Use Distinguish Giftedness From Typical Development? A Study of School-Age African American Narrators.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine rare vocabulary produced in the spoken narratives of school-age African American children. Method Forty-three children from general and gifted class...
Phytochemical evaluation and lipid lowering property of leaves of Vitex negundo linn. in hyper cholestremic rats

The aim of the present study was to determine lipid lowering property of ethanol extract of Vitex negundo linn.The phytochemical studies performed as described by Wagner et al. Acute toxicity studies were performed initially in order to determine the safety of ethanol extract of Vitex negundo linn. (EEVN). In the present study the ethanol extract of Vitex negundo L. results a significant dose dependent reduction in Total Cholesterol and Low Density Lipoprotein level when compared with Cholesterol control group. Also all the treatment groups show a little bit increase in HDL level. Up on the triglycerides level the extracts posses a significant activity when compared to Lovastatin treated groups. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the leaf of Vitex negundo L. as an anti-atherogenic agent preventing coronary artery diseases.
The metatext of Bajirao Mastani: intolerance in the time of Modi

ABSTRACTSanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani (2015) utilizes an historical account to (re)tell a contemporary story. While Bhansali takes great pains to disavow any intention of religious critique, this article argues that such a critique – of fundamentalist Hindu forces – can be read as the metatext of the film. Such a metatext becomes particularly apparent in the contemporary Indian context, in which the always fraught relations between Hindus and Muslims have been further exacerbated since the 2014 election of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Modi to the post of prime minister. In this article, I read Bajirao Mastani in light of these current events, excavating in the process the film’s metatextual critique of such fundamentalism and arguing that, in an interesting corollary to Modi’s purported silence, it is Bhansali’s strategy of indirection – addressing contemporary events via a historical tale – that has paradoxically resulted in the film’s overwhelming success.
Blah, blah, blah: Quasi-quotation and Unquotation

In saying that “A&B” is logically equivalent to “B&A”, I use strict quotation to assert equivalence between two specific formulas of propositional logic. In saying that ⌜A&B⌝ is equivalent to ⌜B&A⌝, I use quasi-quotation and metavariables to assert equivalence between any conjunction and its reversal. In the case of quasi-quotation, select elements of the quotation are unquoted, unquotations being those elements, inside of quotation marks, that are read as if they are not inside. Unquotation and quasi-quotation are found also in natural language, e.g.: when asked who they are, they say “I am from such-and-such a village.”
Promises of conic relaxations in optimal transmission switching of power systems

This paper studies the problem of optimal transmission switching (OTS) for power systems. The goal is to identify a topology of the power grid that minimizes the cost of the system operation while satisfying the physical and operational constraints. Most of the existing methods are based on converting the OTS problem into a mixed-integer linear program (MILP), and then iteratively solving a series of convex problems. The performance of these methods depends heavily on the strength of the MILP formulation. In this paper, we first show that finding the strongest variable upper bounds to be used in the MILP formulation of the OTS problem based on the big-M method is NP-hard. Then, we propose a convex conic relaxation of the big-M MILP formulation based on a semidefinite program (SDP). Strong valid inequalities using the reformulation-linearization technique (RLT) are proposed to strengthen the SDP relaxation by multiplying different linear constraints and then convexifying them in a lifted space. We extensively evaluate the performance of the proposed method on IEEE benchmarks systems.
The daunting polygenicity of mental illness: making a new map.

An epochal opportunity to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of psychiatric disorders has emerged from advances in genomic technology, new computational tools and the growth of international conso...
Brain Storm Optimization for Electromagnetic Applications: Continuous and Discrete

Brain storm optimization (BSO) is a swarm intelligence optimization algorithm inspired by the collective behavior of human beings in solving problems. This paper provides a conceptual overview and detailed explanation of the BSO algorithm. For the first time, the effectiveness of BSO in electromagnetic applications is demonstrated using a Yagi–Uda antenna design and a Luneburg lens antenna design, and this effectiveness is further validated via optimization, prototyping, and measurement of a dual-band slotted patch antenna design. In addition, a novel binary version of BSO (BBSO) for optimizing discrete problems is proposed, and the process of transforming the concept of BSO into a binary language is discussed in detail. A method for selecting algorithm parameter values for BBSO is shown. Finally, BBSO is applied successfully to an array thinning example and a pixelated patch antenna design.
Very-low-nicotine-content cigarettes and dependence among non-daily smokers.

Abstract Background The US Food and Drug Administration is considering reductions in the nicotine content of cigarettes to reduce smoking and tobacco dependence. A randomized study showed that even non-daily, intermittent smokers (ITS) reduced their cigarette consumption when switched to very-low-nicotine-content cigarettes (VLNCCs). This paper assesses whether switching ITS to VLNCCs results in decreased dependence and whether subsequent cigarette consumption is mediated by decreased dependence. Methods ITS randomized to VLNCCs (n = 118) or normal nicotine content cigarettes (n = 120) completed multiple measures of dependence (Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence [FTND], Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale [NDSS], Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives [WISDM], and Hooked on Nicotine Checklist [HONC]) at Baseline and 2, 6, and 10 weeks after randomization. A principal component factor score captured common variance among these measures (except FTND). Cigarettes per day (CPD) was assessed by three convergent methods. Results Switching ITS to VLNCCs reduced dependence on all measures except the WISDM Secondary Dependence Motives and HONC. Except for the effects on the factor score, these effects of VLNCCs could be accounted for by contemporaneous CPD. Week-2 dependence measures did not prospectively predict weeks 3–4 CPD, once antecedent dependence and CPD were accounted for. "Cheating" among participants who appear to have smoked conventional cigarettes did not affect the findings. Discussion Among ITS, switching to VLNCCs results in reduced tobacco dependence. However, the reductions in dependence appear to be secondary to effects on cigarette consumption, and do not appear to be an independent predictor or cause of reduced cigarette consumption.
Scalable methods for ultra-smooth platinum in nanoscale devices

Abstract Ultra-smooth metal structures are increasingly important in nanoscale device applications, from photonics to molecular electronics and 2D material growth. We describe three methods for achieving ultra-smooth platinum: patterned template stripping, chemical mechanical polishing and giant grain growth. Specifically, we demonstrate 1) the first use of spin-on glass as an adhesive for the transfer of a patterned platinum film via template stripping, enabling the film to be exposed to harsher solvents and at higher temperatures; 2) an updated CMP process for platinum with slurry materials that are currently available; 3) a giant grain growth process on a 4″ quartz substrate that uses a thinner Pt film than previously reported. Overall, root mean squared film roughness was decreased from ~14 A for as-deposited platinum to
What Research Reveals: Deficits of Electoral Accountability

This chapter explains how, since the end of the Cold War, academic research has advocated increasing levels of skepticism about the empowerment of voters through the electoral accountability of governments. This recommendation is visible from three different angles on the scholarly literature: a review of empirical studies covering topics such as economic performance and governmental corruption; a reconsideration of the thought of V. O. Key, often misread as having vindicated the idea of electoral accountability; and a survey of research on a wide variety of conditions and institutions that hinder accountability, yielding a “top ten” list of reasons to embrace electoral skepticism.
Expression profiling of the mature C. elegans nervous system by single-cell RNA-Sequencing

Abstract A single neuron and its synapses define the fundamental structural motif of the brain but the underlying gene expression programs that specify individual neuron types are poorly understood. To address this question in a model organism, we have produced a gene expression profile of >90% of the individual neuron classes in the C. elegans nervous system, an ensemble of neurons for which both the anatomy and connectivity are uniquely defined at single cell resolution. We generated single cell transcriptomes for 52,412 neurons that resolve as clusters corresponding to 109 of the canonical 118 neuron classes in the mature hermaphrodite nervous system. Detailed analysis revealed molecular signatures that further subdivide identified classes into specific neuronal subtypes. Notably, neuropeptide-related genes are often differentially expressed between subtypes of the given neuron class which points to distinct functional characteristics. All of these data are publicly available at our website (http://www.cengen.org) and can be interrogated at the web application SCeNGEA (https://cengen.shinyapps.io/SCeNGEA). We expect that this gene expression catalog will spur the goal of delineating the underlying mechanisms that define the developmental lineage, detailed anatomy, synaptic connectivity and function of each type of C. elegans neuron.
Brands in History and History in Brands

This chapter deals with the historical dimensions of branding and argues that branding is not a modern phenomenon tied to the development of capitalism and the growth of industrialization, but has existed for thousands of years. It takes issue, then, with views like Naomi Klein’s about the origins of branding in post-industrial Europe. Next, I deal with the social significance of brands and their role in shaping our everyday behavior. This leads to a discussion of postmodernism, which represented a major shift in American culture and replaced modernism in the United States around 1960. Postmodernism is a culture of consumption and therefore of brands.
Recent Advances in Controlled Release Technologies for the Co-delivery of Antimicrobial and Osteoconductive Therapeutics

Bone defects are a significant cause of morbidity in the fields of orthopedics, maxillofacial surgery, and oral implantology, yet their treatment currently faces many challenges including the defect size and location, underlying disease, and microbial infection. Bacteria may be introduced to healing bone through several routes including colonization during open-wound trauma, introduction during surgery, from blood-borne bacteria, or infection of a medical device such as a bone screw. Unfortunately, current treatment strategies are often inadequate and lead to severe and costly consequences. To tackle the problem of infection during bone healing, novel biomaterials such as scaffolds, cements, surface-modified implants, and particles have been developed that comprise both antimicrobial and osteoconductive properties. The antimicrobial properties of these biomaterials typically stem from the addition of antimicrobial agents like antibiotics and silver nanoparticles to the composite material, while osteoconductive properties are conveyed by biomolecules such as growth factors or hydroxyapatite. By controlling modes of delivery and/or release kinetics, these antibacterial and osteoconductive therapeutic constructs are potentially capable of significantly improving bone healing. Recent findings have shown very promising results in the application of these constructs with dual functions in treating infected bone defects. Here, we summarize the advances within the last decade in particle technologies, implant coatings, tissue engineering, and bone cements with both antimicrobial and osteoconductive activity with an emphasis on fabrication and the performance of constructs in various in vitro and in vivo models.
Identification of a Novel Genetic Variant Causing abca3 Surfactant Deficiency in a Newborn

Background Surfactant is produced by alveolar type 2 cells and secreted into the alveoli to prevent atelectasis. Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is caused by surfactant deficiency due to immature lungs in premature infants. Congenital surfactant deficiency is a rare condition caused by mutations in specific surfactant proteins, which can present like RDS in term infants. Mutations in ATP-binding cassette subfamily A3 (ABCA3) are the most common causes of genetic surfactant deficiency. ABCA3-associated surfactant deficiency is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and has been associated with lethal neonatal respiratory failure and childhood interstitial lung disease (ILD). …
Thermal Conductivity of β-Ga 2 O 3 Thin Films Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

β-Ga 2 O 3 is considered as a promising material for future power electronic applications. In this work, we used time-domain thermoreflectance to measure the thermal conductivity and thermal boundary conductance (TBC) of thin films of β-Ga 2 O 3 grown using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on c-Al 2 O 3 (sapphire) and 4H-SiC substrates. One sample was 119 nm thick on sapphire, while the other sample was 81 nm thick on 4H-SiC. The Ga 2 O 3 layer on c-sapphire presented a through-plane thermal conductivity of 3.2 ± 0.3 W/m-K with a Ga 2 O 3 /sapphire TBC of 155.6 ± 65.3 MW/m2-K. The thermal conductivity of the Ga 2 O 3 layer on 4H-SiC was measured as 3.1 ± 0.5 W/m-K with a Ga 2 O 3 /SiC TBC of 141.8 ± 63.8 MW/m2-K. When compared with the thermal conductivity of films grown using pulsed-laser deposition from a previous study, thermal conductivity of layers grown by MBE show higher values, which suggests that the films grown by epitaxial method such as MBE can improve the thermal conductivity of thin films.
Does Implant Selection Affect the Inpatient Cost of Care for Geriatric Intertrochanteric Femur Fractures

Introduction:Geriatric intertrochanteric (IT) femur fractures are a common and costly injury, expected to increase in incidence as the population ages. Understanding cost drivers will be essential ...
Meta-analysis of trials in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with therapeutic interventions for metabolic syndrome.

Abstract Aims Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] is associated with metabolic syndrome [MS]. Current guidelines restrict therapy for NAFLD, other than weight loss, in early non-fibrotic disease. It was postulated that intervention with therapies for MS may improve liver fat content. Methods A systematic evaluation of Cochrane and PubMed databases was performed for NAFLD or NASH if they were: 1) interventions for metabolic syndrome or diabetes mellitus 2) randomized controlled trials [RCT], with 3) primary outcomes of liver fat content [LFC] (by magnetic resonance spectroscopy [MRS] or liver biopsy (Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Activity Score [NAS]). Results There were 30 RCT (in 24 publications) of 2409 subjects. LFC decreased with pioglitazone (MRS, −8.0 ± 1.0 %, p Conclusions Therapies of MS with weight loss, antiglycemic and triglyceride lowering medicines improved LFC and NAS scores. Further studies are necessary to demonstrate if these therapies would pre-emptively limit progression of disease.
TopoRoot: A method for computing hierarchy and fine-grained traits of maize roots from X-ray CT images

Abstract Background 3D imaging, such as X-ray CT and MRI, has been widely deployed to study plant root structures. Many computational tools exist to extract coarse-grained features from 3D root images, such as total volume, root number and total root length. However, methods that can accurately and efficiently compute fine-grained root traits, such as root number and geometry at each hierarchy level, are still lacking. These traits would allow biologists to gain deeper insights into the root system architecture (RSA). Results We present TopoRoot, a high-throughput computational method that computes fine-grained architectural traits from 3D X-ray CT images of field-excavated maize root crowns. These traits include the number, length, thickness, angle, tortuosity, and number of children for the roots at each level of the hierarchy. TopoRoot combines state-of-the-art algorithms in computer graphics, such as topological simplification and geometric skeletonization, with customized heuristics for robustly obtaining the branching structure and hierarchical information. TopoRoot is validated on both real and simulated root images, and in both cases it was shown to improve the accuracy of traits over existing methods. We also demonstrate TopoRoot in differentiating a maize root mutant from its wild type segregant using fine-grained traits. TopoRoot runs within a few minutes on a desktop workstation for volumes at the resolution range of 400^3, without need for human intervention. Conclusions TopoRoot improves the state-of-the-art methods in obtaining more accurate and comprehensive fine-grained traits of maize roots from 3D CT images. The automation and efficiency makes TopoRoot suitable for batch processing on a large number of root images. Our method is thus useful for phenomic studies aimed at finding the genetic basis behind root system architecture and the subsequent development of more productive crops.
Mathematical Thought and its Objects

Preface 1. Objects and logic 2. Structuralism and nominalism 3. Modality and structuralism 4. A problem about sets 5. Intuition 6. Numbers as objects 7. Intuitive arithmetic and its limits 8. Mathematical induction 9. Reason.
Dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6

[14187-32-7] C20H24O6 (MW 360.41) InChI = 1S/C20H24O6/c1-2-6-18-17(5-1)23-13-9-21-11-15-25-19-7-3-4-8-20(19)26-16-12-22-10-14-24-18/h1-8H,9-16H2 InChIKey = YSSSPARMOAYJTE-UHFFFAOYSA-N (solubilization and activation of a variety of potassium salts) Physical Data: mp 162.5–163.5 °C. UV maxima: (MeOH solution) 223 nm (e 17 500) and 275 nm (e 5500). 1H NMR: (CDCl3) 6.8–7.0 ppm (8H multiplet) and 3.8–4.3 ppm (16H multiplet). Form Supplied in: white fibrous needles. Preparative Methods: dibenzo-18-crown-6 was first prepared in 39–48% yield from the reaction of catechol and bis(2-chloroethyl) ether using sodium hydroxide as the base and n-butanol as the solvent.1 The ditosylate of diethylene glycol has been substituted for the dichloride with accompanying yields of 32–35%.2 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: toxic; use in a well-ventilated fume hood.
Correspondence clustering: an approach to cluster multiple related spatial datasets

Domain experts are frequently interested to analyze multiple related spatial datasets. This capability is important for change analysis and contrast mining. In this paper, a novel clustering approach called correspondence clustering is introduced that clusters two or more spatial datasets by maximizing cluster interestingness and correspondence between clusters derived from different datasets. A representative-based correspondence clustering framework and clustering algorithms are introduced. In addition, the paper proposes a novel cluster similarity assessment measure that relies on re-clustering techniques and co-occurrence matrices. We conducted experiments in which two earthquake datasets had to be clustered by maximizing cluster interestingness and agreement between the spatial clusters obtained. The results show that correspondence clustering can reduce the variance inherent to representative-based clustering algorithms, which is important for reducing the likelihood of false positives in change analysis. Moreover, high agreements could be obtained by only slightly lowering cluster quality.
Characterization of cDNA clones for the 2-methyl branched-chain enoyl-CoA reductase. An enzyme involved in branched-chain fatty acid synthesis in anaerobic mitochondria of the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum.

Abstract The 2-methyl branched-chain enoyl-CoA reductase plays a pivotal role in the reversal of beta-oxidation operating in anaerobic mitochondria of the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum. An affinity-purified polyclonal anti-serum against the reductase was used to screen a cDNA library constructed in lambda gt11 with poly(A)+ RNA from adult A. suum muscle. A 1.2-kilobase partial cDNA clone was isolated, subcloned, and sequenced in both directions. Additional sequence at the 5' end of the mRNA was determined by the RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) procedure. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cDNAs revealed the 22-nucleotide trans-spliced leader sequence characteristic of many nematode mRNAs, an open reading frame of 1236 nucleotides and a 3'-untranslated sequence of 109 nucleotides including a short poly(A) tail 14 nucleotides from a polyadenylation signal (AATAAA). The open reading frame encoded a 396-amino acid sequence (M(r) 43,046) including a 16-amino acid leader peptide. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the purified reductase yielded multiple spots with two distinct but overlapping amino-terminal amino acid sequences. Both sequences overlapped with the sequence predicted from the mRNA, and one of the sequences was identical to the predicted sequence. Comparison of the ascarid sequence with that of mammalian acyl-CoA dehydrogenases revealed a high degree of sequence identity, suggesting that these enzymes may have evolved from a common ancestral gene even though the ascarid enzyme functions as a reductase, not as a dehydrogenase. Immunoblotting of A. suum larval stages and adult tissues with antisera that cross-reacted with each of the spots separated on two-dimensional gels suggested that the reductase was only found in adult muscle. Northern blotting using the partial cDNA revealed a hybridization band of about 1.5 kilobases and also suggested that the enzyme was tissue-specific and developmentally regulated in agreement with the results of the immunoblotting.
Fatal nonpowder firearm wounds: case report and review of the literature

A previously unreported fatality due to a head wound from a CO2-powered BB pistol is described. In a review of the English language medical literature (primarily forensic), ten previous reports of fatality due to nonpowder firearms were found. A common mechanism is identified in the head wounds leading to fatality. Modern day technology has elevated the BB gun from toy to weapon. Often appearing trivial, BB and pellet gun injuries must be considered in the same class as those from small-caliber low-velocity powder firearms. A patient with a nonpowder firearm injury must be evaluated with a high index of suspicion for injuries that are not apparent during a general physical examination.
A toxicology suite adapted for comparing parallel toxicity responses of model human lung cells to diesel exhaust particles and their extracts

Epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to airborne particulate matter can be an important risk factor for some common respiratory diseases. While many studies have shown that particulate matter exposures are associated with inflammatory reactions, the role of specific cellular responses in the manifestation of primary hypersensitivities, and the progression of respiratory diseases remains unclear. In order to better understand mechanisms by which particulate matter can exert adverse health effects, more robust approaches to support in vitro studies are warranted. In response to this need, a group of accepted toxicology assays were adapted to create an analytical suite for screening and evaluating the effects of important, ubiquitous atmospheric pollutants on two model human lung cell lines (epithelial and immature macrophage). To demonstrate the utility of this suite, responses to intact diesel exhaust particles, and mass-based equivalent doses of their organic extracts were examined. Results suggest that extracts have the potential to induce greater biological responses than those associated with their colloidal counterpart. Additionally, macrophage cells appear to be more susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of both intact diesel exhaust particles and their organic extract, than epithelial cells tested in parallel. As designed, the suite provided a more robust basis for characterizing toxicity mechanisms than the analysis of any individual assay. Findings suggest that cellular responses to particulate matter are cell line dependent, and show that the collection and preparation of PM and/or their extracts have the potential to impact cellular responses relevant to screening fundamental elements of respiratory toxicity.
Epidemiology of severe sepsis: 2008-2012

Abstract Introduction Severe sepsis continues to be a significant burden on society. Methods Using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes, we analyzed the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample in order to estimate epidemiologic trends of severe sepsis from the years 2008 to 2012. The 2010 US Census, which included 308745538 individuals, was used to calculate incidence per 100000 persons. Results There were a total of 6067789 discharges for severe sepsis. The annual incidence increased from 346/100000 to 436/100000 persons ( P P P P P Conclusions The incidence of severe sepsis continues to increase, whereas mortality decreases. However, one third of patients (those with ≥3 organ system failures) account for two thirds of the total number of deaths. More people are discharged home, whereas stable numbers go to facilities.
Geocoding sidescan sonar data-an inverse problem

The authors consider the construction of the seabed reflectivity given overlapping sidescan sonar beam coverage of the seabed.
A YidC-like Protein in the Archaeal Plasma Membrane

Cells possess specialized machinery to direct the insertion of membrane proteins into the lipid bilayer. In bacteria, the essential protein YidC inserts certain proteins into the plasma membrane, and eukaryotic orthologs are present in the mitochondrial inner membrane and the chloroplast thylakoid membrane. The existence of homologous insertases in archaea has been proposed based on phylogenetic analysis. However, limited sequence identity, distinct architecture, and the absence of experimental data have made this assignment ambiguous. Here we describe the 3.5-A crystal structure of an archaeal DUF106 protein from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (Mj0480), revealing a lipid-exposed hydrophilic surface presented by a conserved YidC-like fold. Functional analysis reveals selective binding of Mj0480 to ribosomes displaying a stalled YidC substrate, and a direct interaction between the buried hydrophilic surface of Mj0480 and the nascent chain. These data provide direct experimental evidence that the archaeal DUF106 proteins are YidC/Oxa1/Alb3-like insertases of the archaeal plasma membrane.
Transitioning from Engineering to Product Management

Abstract:Product management as an organizational design has been around for decades as companies continually strive for competitive advantage. The goal is to create a system whereby new products are developed, and existing products managed, by an individual (or team), whose primary responsibility is the business success of those products. The person with the title product manager is expected to understand the technical side of the business as it relates to product design and manufacture, as well as the business side as it relates to satisfying customer needs profitably. However, many people are hired into product manager positions without a clear understanding of the skills and abilities required to be successful. Five specific product manager competencies (along with 18 subcategories) are described in this article, with a final tool for developing a product manager scorecard. The intent of this article is to help engineers who are moving into product management positions better understand the requirement...
Adverse events following influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccines reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, United States, October 1, 2009-January 31, 2010.

The United States (US) influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent (2009-H1N1) vaccination program began in October 2009. Reports to the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS), a US spontaneous reporting system, were reviewed to identify potential rare events or unusual adverse event (AE) patterns after 2009-H1N1 vaccination. The adverse event profile after 2009-H1N1 vaccine in VAERS (∼10,000 reports) was consistent with that of seasonal influenza vaccines, although the reporting rate was higher after 2009-H1N1 than seasonal influenza vaccines, this may be, at least in part, a reflection of stimulated reporting. Death, Guillain-Barre syndrome and anaphylaxis reports after 2009-H1N1 vaccination were rare (each <2 per million doses administered).
Stripping analysis of nanomolar perchlorate in drinking water with a voltammetric ion-selective electrode based on thin-layer liquid membrane.

A highly sensitive analytical method is required for the assessment of nanomolar perchlorate contamination in drinking water as an emerging environmental problem. We developed the novel approach based on a voltammetric ion-selective electrode to enable the electrochemical detection of “redox-inactive” perchlorate at a nanomolar level without its electrolysis. The perchlorate-selective electrode is based on the submicrometer-thick plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane spin-coated on the poly(3-octylthiophene)-modified gold electrode. The liquid membrane serves as the first thin-layer cell for ion-transfer stripping voltammetry to give low detection limits of 0.2−0.5 nM perchlorate in deionized water, commercial bottled water, and tap water under a rotating electrode configuration. The detection limits are not only much lower than the action limit (∼246 nM) set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency but also are comparable to the detection limits of the most sensitive analytical methods for detecti...