cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ACE and ACE2 Activity in Diabetic Mice

ACE-related carboxypeptidase (ACE2) may counterbalance the angiotensin (ANG) II-promoting effects of ACE in tissues where both enzymes are found. Alterations in renal ACE and ACE2 expression have been described in experimental models of diabetes, but ACE2 activity was not assessed in previous studies. We developed a microplate-based fluorometric method for the concurrent determination of ACE and ACE2 activity in tissue samples. Enzymatic activity (relative fluorescence unit [RFU] . microg protein(-1) . h(-1)) was examined in ACE and ACE2 knockout mice and in two rodent models of diabetes, the db/db and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. In kidney cortex, preparations consisting mainly of proximal tubules and cortical collecting tubules, ACE2 activity had a strong positive correlation with ACE2 protein expression (90-kDa band) in both knockout models and their respective wild-type littermates (r = 0.94, P < 0.01). ACE activity, likewise, had a strong positive correlation with renal cortex ACE protein expression (170-kDa band) (r = 0.838, P < 0.005). In renal cortex, ACE2 activity was increased in both models of diabetes (46.7 +/- 4.4 vs. 22.0 +/- 4.7 in db/db and db/m, respectively, P < 0.01, and 22.1 +/- 2.8 vs. 13.1 +/- 1.5 in STZ-induced diabetic versus untreated mice, respectively, P < 0.05). ACE2 mRNA levels in renal cortex from db/db and STZ-induced diabetic mice, by contrast, were not significantly different from their respective controls. In cardiac tissue, ACE2 activity was lower than in renal cortex, and there were no significant differences between diabetic and control mice (db/db 2.03 +/- 0.23 vs. db/m 1.85 +/- 0.10; STZ-induced diabetic 0.42 +/- 0.04 vs. untreated 0.52 +/- 0.07 mice). ACE2 activity in renal cortex correlated positively with ACE2 protein in db/db and db/m mice (r = 0.666, P < 0.005) as well as in STZ-induced diabetic and control mice (r = 0.621, P < 0.05) but not with ACE2 mRNA (r = -0.468 and r = -0.522, respectively). We conclude that in renal cortex from diabetic mice, ACE2 expression is increased at the posttranscriptional level. The availability of an assay for concurrent measurement of ACE and ACE2 activity should be helpful in the evaluation of kidney-specific alterations in the balance of these two carboxypeptidases, which are involved in the control of local ANG II formation and degradation.
Arthroscopic Treatment of Concomitant Superior Labral Anterior Posterior (SLAP) Lesions and Rotator Cuff Tears in Patients over the Age of 45 Years

BackgroundRotator cuff tears commonly occur in combination with other shoulder injuries such as superior labral anterior posterior (SLAP) lesions. The incidence of these associated lesions increases with age; however, the management of concomitant SLAP and rotator cuff tears has yet to be convincingly addressed in the literature.HypothesisPatients over the age of 45 years who have concomitant arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and debridement of their type II SLAP lesions will have improved patient satisfaction and functional outcome compared with those who undergo simultaneous rotator cuff and type II SLAP repair.Study DesignCohort study; Level of evidence, 2.MethodsWe recruited 48 patients (mean age, 51.9 years; range, 45-60 years) who had concomitant rotator cuff and type II SLAP tears. All underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with subacromial decompression. Patients were randomized intraoperatively into 2 groups: repair versus debridement of their type II SLAP lesions. Ten patients were lost at fi...
Effect of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers on Risk of Atrial Fibrillation before Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

OBJECTIVE:To review the primary literature evaluating the effect preoperative use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) has on the risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).DATA SOURCES:PubMed was searched from January 1, 2000, to May 17, 2012, using the MeSH terms coronary artery bypass, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor antagonists, and atrial fibrillation. Additional articles were identified from the reference lists of the articles identified in the PubMed search.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:Abstracts from the PubMed search were screened for relevance to the topic. Articles including information on the effect of ACE inhibitors or ARBs on postoperative atrial fibrillation following CABG were indentified for further review. Data extracted from these studies included patient baseline characteristics, outcome definitions, incidence of atrial fibrillation after CABG, and ...
Nonlinear Inter-Channel Crosstalk Compensation Using Electronic Pre-distortion in Carrier Phase Locked WDM

This paper shows electronic pre-compensation of nonlinear inter-channel crosstalk induced by four-wave mixing in 3-channel carrier phase-locked WDM. Experimental results show that carrier phase locking and electric pre-distortion successfully suppress the waveform distortion.
“Companion Diagnostics”: Has Their Time Come and Gone?

Rapid development of molecularly targeted drugs requires a "companion diagnostic" that could delay drug development and limit availability of active drugs for relevant patients. Were the negative results from MetMab studies in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer due to drug failure or failure of the right companion diagnostic?
Hydraulic analysis of sudden flow changes in a complex pumping circuit

A problem arose as to what would happen if there were sudden failures of power to one or more pumps of a large-scale complex pumping circuit composed of several individual pumping systems. This paper describes the application of several published methods of hydraulic transient analysis to the problem. The performance of the system computed under several assumptions is discussed, and a comparison is made with experimentally determined values.
Public health surveillance and hajj pilgrimage as a mass gathering.

A mass gathering (MG) is defined by World Health Organization (WHO) as “any occasion, either organized or spontaneous, that attracts sufficient numbers of people to strain the planning and response resources of the community, city or nation hosting the event” (1). Hajj pilgrimage is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam which must be performed by those Muslims with adequate means and health once in their lifetime (2). Hajj as a mass gathering of pilgrims around the world can amplify the transmission of epidemic prone diseases at the Hajj place and the countries which departed pilgrims as well. This letter was aimed to highlight (i) the rationale for implementing syndromic surveillance in the era of public health issues of Hajj pilgrimage and (ii) challenges faced to Iranian health system. There are sufficient evidences that indicate public health issues of MG such as risk of infectious diseases, outbreaks, noncommunicable disease risks and so on (3-6). In other word, infections can spread from the host to home community once participants return to their country (3). Generally speaking, one of the main challenges for policy makers is the process of identifying known or potential diseases or outbreaks. As general recommendations, pilgrims should be taken counseling and screening for diseases before travel, educated well for respiratory and hand hygiene precautions (7). Vaccination against meningococcal disease and yellow fever is required by Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrims as well (8). To detect health events that occur during Hajj pilgrimage, syndromic surveillance system should be implemented. This system should communicate information for early recognition and reporting by clinicians using prediagnostic data. Communicating such data play an important role in the home country to prevention the spread of infections from Hajj pilgrims to their country. Moreover, there are some diseases with long incubation periods which might be affect pilgrims during Hajj. So that, such diseases can pose a risk among pilgrims and their relatives on return. Accordingly, complete evaluation of pilgrims using rapid diagnosis tests by their entrance to Iran, post travel counseling and postponing social activities were recommended by experts. If needed, health system should implements a passive surveillance system using innovative mobile networks and so on. In conclusion, we just presented here the outlines of challenges and their solutions in Iran in context of Hajj pilgrimage. So that, policy makers and public health surveillance stakeholders should be assured that the recommended strategies were applicable and efficient.
Authors’ response to: Cohort effects explain the increase in autism diagnosis: an identifiability problem of the age-period-cohort model

doi: 10.1093/ije/dyu214 Advance Access Publication Date: 31 October 2014 Authors’ response to: Cohort effects explain the increase in autism diagnosis: an identifiability problem of the age-period-cohort model From Katherine M Keyes, Ezra Susser, Keely Cheslack-Postava, Christine Fountain, Kayuet Liu and Peter S Bearman* Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Paul F. Lazarsfeld Center for the Social Sciences, Columbia University, New York
The Significance of Vitamin A and Carotenoid Status in Persons Infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Hyporetinemia is associated with increased childhood morbidity and mortality that is reversible with vitamin A supplementation. Although vitamin A deficiency is otherwise rare in developed countries, the prevalence of hyporetinemia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ‐ infected persons is up to 29%. Hyporetinemic HIV-infected patients have a 3.5 ‐ 5-fold increased risk of death. Furthermore, HIV-infected patients with very low or very high intake of vitamin A and b-carotene (a vitamin A precursor) have greater rates of disease progression than do patients with intermediate intake. In developing countries up to 60% of HIV-infected pregnant women are hyporetinemic. In such women the relative risk of perinatal HIV transmission may be increased more than fourfold. These data indicate that vitamin A deficiency is common in HIV-infected patients in the developed world and strongly suggest that vitamin A supplementation may be especially useful in adjunctive therapy for HIV-infected pregnant women who reside in the developing world. In developing countries, vitamin A deficiency is associated Vitamin A Metabolism with increased childhood morbidity and mortality due to a The term vitamin A refers to all retinoids having the biologivariety of infectious diseases [1 ‐ 4], and vitamin A supplemen- cal activity of all-trans retinol. Preformed vitamin A is found tation decreases the frequency and severity of such outcomes as retinyl esters in foods of animal origin such as eggs, whole [5 ‐ 9]. Although the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency is milk, butter, meat, and oily saltwater fish. Retinol is derived generally low in the developed world, theoretical considera- from hydrolysis of retinyl esters and from pro ‐ vitamin A carottions indicate that persons infected by HIV may be at special enoids. Although there are several hundred naturally occurring risk for vitamin A and other nutritional deficiencies as a conse- pro ‐ vitamin A carotenoids (including a-, b-, and g-carotene quence of malabsorption, diarrhea, decreased oral intake, in- and cryptoxanthin) in dark green and yellow-orange vegetables, creased utilization, and abnormal urinary losses [10, 11]. only 50 have significant biological activity. Of these, b-caroIndeed, the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in HIV-seropos- tene is most efficiently converted to retinol: C70% of the abitive patients in the United States, Australia, and France is sorbed dose is cleaved into two molecules of retinal and is greater than in control populations [12 ‐ 22], and such defi- subsequently reduced to retinol [23]. In addition, b-carotene ciency has been associated with increased morbidity and mor- may be directly, albeit slowly, converted to retinoic acid [23, tality [19, 20].
PML in discontinuous galerkin time domain methods

Discontinuous Galerkin methods are an attractive approach for the solution of time dependent problems. Discontinuous Galerkin methods were recently applied to the solutions of Maxwell's equations in the time domain[1]. They support elements of various types, non-matching grids and varying polynomial orders in each element. Moreover, they result in block diagonal mass matrices with block size equal to the number of degrees of freedom per element and therefore can lead to an fully explicit time marching scheme. Furthermore, continuity at element interfaces is weakly enforced with the addition of proper penalty terms on the variational formulation. This paper describes an interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin method for solving the two first order Maxwell's equations in the time domain. Firstly, the use of central fluxes along with a leap-frog time scheme leads to an energy conserving method. The proposed method is explicit and conditionally stable. Secondly, a local time-stepping strategy is applied to increase efficiency and reduce the computational time.
Comparison of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and metabolic activity in Boreal Forest ecosystems

The increasing seasonal amplitude of atmospheric CO 2 concentrations may reflect biotic influences such as increased photosynthesis due to higher CO 2 concentrations or increased winter respiration due to warmer temperatures. Boreal forests have a large role in the seasonal dynamics of atmospheric CO 2 in the Northern Hemisphere, and if terrestrial ecosystems contribute to the greater amplitude, such a signal should appear in the metabolic activity of boreal forests. Analyses in which a mechanistic model of photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition was driven with the observed annual increase in atmospheric CO 2 concentration and observed daily air temperature and precipitation show that from 1974 to 1982 the seasonal amplitude in metabolic activity in boreal forests near Fairbanks, Alaska, increased by 0.52 ± 0.03% year -1 . The increasing amplitude was due to increased tree photosynthesis as CO 2 concentration increased. However, the increase in annual aboveground biomass production was so small (3 g m -2 year -1 year -1 ) that it is undetectable given field sampling errors. The small biomass growth increase indicates that a larger seasonal amplitude of atmospheric CO 2 can occur without large changes in net primary production, nutrient availability, or nutrient use efficiency. The increase in CO 2 concentration that produced the higher biomass production was also small (1.1 ppm year -1 ), suggesting more attention should be paid to the ecological effects of small changes in CO 2 concentrations. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.1992.t01-2-00002.x
Microbiological and Biotechnological Aspects of Metabolism of Carbamates and Organophosphates

Several carbamate and organophosphate compounds are used to control a wide variety of insect pests, weeds, and disease-transmitting vectors. These chemicals were introduced to replace the recalcitrant and hazardous chlorinated pesticides. Although newly introduced pesticides were considered to be biodegradable, some of them are highly toxic and their residues are found in certain environments. In addition, degradation of some of the carbamates generates metabolites that are also toxic. In general, hydrolysis of the carbamate and organophosphates yields less toxic metabolites compared with the metabolites produced from oxidation. Although microorganisms capable of degrading many of these pesticides have been isolated, knowledge about the biochemical pathways and respective genes involved in the degradation is sparse. Recently, a great deal of interest in the mechanisms of biodegradation of carbamate and organophosphate compounds has been shown because (1) an efficient mineralization of the pesticides used for insect control could eliminate the problems of environmental pollution, (2) a balance between degradation and efficacy of pesticides could result in safer application and effective insect control, and (3) knowledge about the mechanisms of biodegradation could help to deal with situations leading to the generation of toxic metabolites and bioremediation of polluted environments. In addition, advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology offer great potential to exploit the degradative properties of microorganisms in order to develop bioremediation strategies and novel applications such as development of economic plants tolerant to herbicides. In this review, recent advances in the biochemical and genetic aspects of microbial degradation of carbamate and organophosphates are discussed and areas in need of further investigation identified.
Estimating functions in the Bayesian paradigm

The theory of estimating functions has been approached from the Bayesian view point by Ferreira (1982) and Ghosh (1990) using different theoretical operations of which the latter’s approach is more in conformity with the Bayesian paradigm. This paper generalises Ghosh (1990) in three directions. One is the removal of the regularity conditions on the posterior densities imposed by Ghosh, the second is the focus on posterior biased estimating functions apart from posterior unbiased estimating functions and the third is the analysis of the nuisance parameter situation not considered by Ghosh.
Partitioning Spatially Located Computations Using Rectangles

The ideal distribution of spatially located heterogeneous workloads is an important problem to address in parallel scientific computing. We investigate the problem of partitioning such workloads (represented as a matrix of positive integers) into rectangles, such that the load of the most loaded rectangle (processor) is minimized. Since finding the optimal arbitrary rectangle-based partition is an NP-hard problem, we investigate particular classes of solutions, namely, rectilinear partitions, jagged partitions and hierarchical partitions. We present a new class of solutions called m-way jagged partitions, propose new optimal algorithms for m-way jagged partitions and hierarchical partitions, propose new heuristic algorithms, and provide worst case performance analyses for some existing and new heuristics. Moreover, the algorithms are tested in simulation on a wide set of instances. Results show that two of the algorithms we introduce lead to a much better load balance than the state-of-the-art algorithms.
Asymmetry of neuron numbers in the hippocampal formation of prenatally malnourished and normally nourished rats: a stereological investigation

There is considerable evidence for lateralization of hippocampal function and hemispheric asymmetry in humans. In the rat, studies have reported asymmetries in the thicknesses of layers, the volumes of hippocampal subfields, and the density of cells at specific points along the septotemporal axis. To determine if there is an asymmetry of neuron numbers and whether prenatal malnutrition affects any asymmetries, 90-day old male Sprague-Dawley rats that were either normally nourished or malnourished prenatally were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde and the brains cut into 30-micro m sections. One interrupted series of sections through the entire hippocampus was analyzed stereologically to estimate the total number of neurons in the hilus of the dentate gyrus, the CA3/CA2 stratum pyramidale (SP), the CA1 SP, and the SP of the prosubiculum/subiculum of both hemispheres. Significant asymmetries (P < 0.05) were found in the CA1 and CA3/CA2 subfields, with the right hemisphere containing 21 and 6% fewer neurons, respectively. Malnutrition reduced neuron numbers in the CA1 subfield by 12%, but did not alter the hemispheric asymmetry. Our findings agree with previous reports of left dominant asymmetries in the rat brain and suggest that this may result from differences in total numbers of neurons.
Bromodeoxyuridine-Labeled Viral Particles as a Tool for Visualization of the Immediate-Early Events of Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

We describe here a simple method for labeling the genome of human cytomegalovirus, a large double-stranded DNA virus, with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). The labeled DNA was incorporated into viral particles, which were then collected in cell supernatant. To demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of this method, labeled virions were used to study the immediate-early events of virus-host cell interaction via indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. It is our hope that this new methodology will prove useful in the study of binding, entry and viral genome deposition in diverse virus systems.
Marketing's Broadening Concept Is Real in University Extension:

Educators are expressing a need for adult and continuing education professionals to develop marketing skills within their own staff or to seek the aid of professional marketers in the man agement, organization, and dissemination of information about their programs. This study offers empirical evidence to continuing and adult education administrators and marketers alike that exten sion service units perform marketing-like activities in carrying out their service mission. A survey questionnaire was administered to member institutions of the National Association of State Univer sities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) yielding 90 usable questionnaires. A variety of marketing variables is discussed along with their importance to the extension service function of the insti tution. The need for the marketing function to be fully understood and practiced by extension administrators in order to effectively manage transactions in the extension environment is discussed.
Emotional TV Viewing and Minority Audience: How Mexican Americans Process and Evaluate TV News About In-Group Members

A total of 90 Mexican American and White American participants viewed 12 emotional television news stories, featuring Mexican Americans, that were positive or negative in valence and high or low in arousal. Participants completed a cued recall test and evaluated recalled news stories. Analyses revealed a strong main effect of arousal on participants’ attention and memory. Mexican American participants rated Mexican American news stories more favorably and as more arousing, recalled the news more, and evaluated recalled news more positively than did their White American counterparts. Consistent with the principles of self-schema and social identity theory, these findings demonstrate that people process and evaluate self-referencing information differently than they process nonself-referencing information. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are also discussed.
Testbed evaluation of navigation and text display techniques in an information-rich virtual environment

The fundamental question for an information-rich virtual environment is how to access and display abstract information. We investigated two existing navigation techniques: hand-centered object manipulation extending ray-casting (HOMER) and go-go navigation, and two text layout techniques: within-the-world display (WWD) and heads-up display (HUD). Four search tasks were performed to measure participants' performance in a densely packed environment. HUD enabled significantly better performance than WWD and the go-go technique enabled better performance than the HOMER technique for most of the tasks. We found that using HOMER navigation combined with the WWD technique was significantly worse than other combinations for difficult naive search tasks. Users also preferred the combination of go-go and HUD for all tasks.
Analyzing theme, space, and time: an ontology-based approach

The W3C's Semantic Web Activity is illustrating the use of semantics for information integration, search, and analysis. However, the majority of the work in this community has focused more on the thematic aspects of information and has paid less attention to its spatial and temporal dimensions. In this paper, we present an integrative ontology-based framework incorporating the thematic, spatial, and temporal dimensions of information. This framework is built around the RDF metadata model. Our ultimate goal is to provide an information system which allows searching and analysis of relationships in any or all of the three dimensions of space, time, and theme. Toward this end, we present an upper-level ontology combining concepts and relationships from both the thematic and spatial dimensions and show how to incorporate temporal semantics into this ontology. We also introduce the notion of a thematic context linking entities of differing dimensions and define a set of query operators built upon these contexts.
Universal Single-Mode Dispersion-Flattened Fluoride Fibers Designed For Optimum Performance From 1.5 To 2.9 μm

We present theoretical calculations for chromatic dispersion, splice loss, macrobending loss and microbending loss in single-mode fluoride fibers designed to give optimum performance for future long distance communication systems in the 1.5 to 2.9 μm wavelength region. It is shown that these fibers offer dramatic improvements over silica fibers,even when compared to dispersion-flattened silica fibers.
Notes on the Life History of Coho Salmon

This chapter provides an overview on migration and homing of salmon, sketches the principal developmental stages in the life cycle of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), and presents the evidence for imprinting.
The role of inflammation and cell death in the pathogenesis, progression and treatment of heart failure

Chronic inflammation underlies a variety of seemingly unrelated conditions including coronary artery disease. The interest in exploring the role of inflammation in heart failure (CHF) arises from earlier observations that circulating pro-inflammatory biomarker levels are elevated in patients with both ischaemic and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathies and correlate with severity of disease and prognosis (McMurray et al. in Eur Heart J 33:1787-1847, 2012; Mosterd and Hoes in Heart 93:1137-1146, 2007; Owan et al. in New Engl J Med 355:251-259, 2006). In acute decompensated HF, pro-inflammatory biomarker levels have been associated with mortality and readmission rates (Cowie et al. in Heart 83:505-510, 2000). Similar to neurohormonal activation and inflammation, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is a response to stress in an attempt to restore cellular function. However, sustained expression and exposure to cytokines can lead to left ventricular dysfunction, negative inotropic effects, altered cardiac metabolism, myocardial remodelling and HF progression. However, it is unclear whether elevated levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, signify an ongoing inflammatory process that leads to HF progression, or are merely markers of advanced disease. Beta-blockers, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis antagonists, statins and immunosuppressants have been found to decrease the levels of cytokines in small clinical studies of patients with HF (Hobbs et al. in Heart J 28:1128-1134, 2007). However, 'immunomodulatory' approaches applied in the RECOVER, RENAISSANCE, ATTACH, IMAC and ACCLAIM double-blind, placebo-controlled studies had neutral or negative effects on outcomes of patients with HF. In the present review, we focus on the role of inflammation in pathogenesis and progression of the HF, the value of pro-inflammatory cytokines as biomarkers and the potential therapeutic applications of immunomodulation in HF patients.
Ultrasonic vibration assisted grinding of bio-ceramic materials: an experimental study on edge chippings with Hertzian indentation tests

Bio-ceramics are biocompatible ceramic materials that are widely used for biomedical engineering applications due to their excellent properties. Because of their inherent hardness and brittleness properties, bio-ceramics are difficult to machine. Abrasive machining such as diamond grinding is one of the most widely used machining for bio-ceramic materials. However, one of the key technical challenges resulted from grinding is edge chipping. The presence of edge chipping in a workpiece affects its dimensional accuracy, machining cost, and potential service time. It is, therefore, crucial to develop a new cost-effective manufacturing process relevant to control edge chipping in diamond grinding of bio-ceramics. In this paper, an ultrasonic vibration-assisted grinding (UVAG) system is developed to investigate the effect of ultrasonic vibration on edge chippings. Hertzian indentation tests are also conducted to validate the experimental results. Results reveal that edge chipping of bio-ceramic materials can be reduced significantly with the assistance of ultrasonic vibration. The results of this study can be applied to other manufacturing process when edge chippings of brittle materials are expected to be controlled.
Manganese Oxide Nanoarray-Based Monolithic Catalysts: Tunable Morphology and High Efficiency for CO Oxidation.

A generic one-pot hydrothermal synthesis route has been successfully designed and utilized to in situ grow uniform manganese oxide nanorods and nanowires onto the cordierite honeycomb monolithic substrates, forming a series of nanoarray-based monolithic catalysts. During the synthesis process, three types of potassium salt oxidants have been used with different reduction potentials, i.e., K2Cr2O7, KClO3, and K2S2O8, denoted as HM-DCM, HM-PCR, and HM-PSF, respectively. The different reduction potentials of the manganese source (Mn2+) and oxidants induced the formation of manganese oxide nanoarrays with different morphology, surface area, and reactivity of carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation. K2Cr2O7 and KClO3 can induce sharp and long nanowires with slow growth rates due to their low reduction potentials. In comparison, the nanoarrays of HM-PSF presented shorter nanorods but displayed an efficient 90% CO oxidation conversion at 200 °C (T90) without noble-metal loading. Reducibility tests for the three monolithi...
Model and Data Uncertainty Effects on Reliability Estimation

This paper proposes a probabilistic framework to include both aleatory and epistemic uncertainty within model-based reliability estimation of engineering systems. Epistemic uncertainty is considered due to both data and model sources. Sparse point and/or interval data regarding the input random variables leads to uncertainty regarding their distribution types, distribution parameters, and correlations; this statistical uncertainty is included in the reliability analysis through a combination of likelihood-based representation, Bayesian hypothesis testing and Bayesian model averaging techniques. Model errors, which include numerical solution errors and model form errors, are quantified through Gaussian process models and included in the reliability analysis. The probability integral transform helps to implement an auxiliary variable approach that facilitates a single-level representation of both aleatory and epistemic uncertainty. This strategy results in an efficient single-loop implementation of Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and FORM/SORM techniques for reliability estimation under aleatory and epistemic uncertainty. An aeroelasticity example is used to demonstrate the proposed methodology.
A rare intracranial tumor consisting of malignant anaplastic and papillary meningioma subtypes.

BACKGROUND Intracranial tumors with heterogeneous histopathology are a well-described pathologic entity. Pathologically, distinct tumors in direct contact with one another, also known as collision tumors are exceptionally rare, and collision between meningioma subtypes has not been previously described in the literature. CASE DESCRIPTION A 79-year-old female with a history of breast carcinoma presenting with visual and motor deficits and imaging/intraoperative findings consistent with separate, distinct lesions. Histopathologic findings provided evidence for a collision between World Health Organization Grade III anaplastic and papillary meningioma. CONCLUSION We report a possible collision tumor between two separate meningioma subtypes based on the unique radiologic, intraoperative, and histopathologic findings. Submission of multiple pathologic specimens during surgical resection is key for accurate histopathologic diagnosis.
Electrochemistry of DNA Monolayers Modified With a Perylenediimide Base Surrogate

Electrochemistry of self-assembled DNA monolayers represents an attractive strategy for understanding the intrinsic properties of DNA and for developing DNA-based sensors. Thus, there is much interest in the discovery and characterization of new redox-active probes for application in DNA-based technologies. Herein, we report a detailed study of the electrochemical properties of a perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide base surrogate, when incorporated at various positions within a DNA monolayer. We demonstrate that the redox chemistry of this perylenediimide probe is mediated by the DNA base pair stack, dependent on its location within the DNA monolayer, and activated thermally. The electrochemical features and general synthetic flexibility of the perylenediimide base surrogate appear favorable for assays that leverage DNA-mediated charge transport.
Expression of Protease-Activated Receptor-1 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Its Significance

Objective To investigate the expression of PAR1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)and its significance.Methods Immunohistochemical(SP method)was used to detect PAR1 expression in 28 cases of benign nasopharyngeal tissues and 61 cases of NPC.The relationship between the expression of PAR1 in NPC and the clinical parameters was retrospectively analyzed.Receptor expression on protein and mRNA level was evaluated in two human NPC cell lines(CNE-2 and CNE-1) by Western Blot,and RT-PCR.Results Of 61 cases of NPC examined,PAR1 expresses in 48 cases;of 28 cases of nasopharyngeal benign lesions examined,PAR1 expressed in 10 cases.The rate of PAR1 expressed in NPC was higher than that in the nasopharyngeal benign lesions(P0.01).The more malignant and metastasis cell line(CNE-2)expressed higher mRNA and protein level of PAR1 than the lowly malignant and metastasis cell line(CNE-1)by RT-PCR and Western Blot.Conclusion The expression of PAR1 is correlated with carcinogenesis、growth pattern、clinical staging、malignancy of NPC.PAR1 may contribute to the malignant phenotype and biological behavior in NPC.
Optimizational Fusion Application of Multi-protocol Network

To establish internets rapidly,this article discussed the fusion practical application of multi-protocol environment and pointed out the basic principle in designing,especially in the core-layer which using routing protocol such as OSPF and EIGRP.The experiment’s environment is composed by Cisco products.
Granulocyte Transfusion—A Review

Advances in component transfusion therapy over the last two decades have improved the management of hematologic diseases. In patients undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia, hemorrhagic problems have been minimized with platelet transfusions. However, infectious complications due to severe granulocytopenia have surfaced as the leading cause of death in these patients. This finding stimulated vigorous research in the use of granulocytes for transfusion, resulting in progress in granulocyte collection, short-term liquid storage and clinical use. The effectiveness of granulocyte concentrates in the management of infections in severely neutropenic patients (fewer than 500 neutrophils per μl]) with documented bacterial sepsis has been amply demonstrated. Serious untoward reactions to granulocyte transfusions have been relatively rare. Some areas of granulocyte transfusion that require further investigation are 1) more precise definition of criteria for the selection of patients most likely to benefit; 2) improvements in efficiency of collection and preservation; and 3) better understanding of immunologic factors affecting efficacy of therapy.
Uncoordinated MAC for Adaptive Multi-Beam Directional Networks: Analysis and Evaluation

In this paper, we consider medium access control (MAC) policies for emerging systems that are equipped with fully digital antenna arrays which are capable of adaptive multi-beam directional communications. With this technology, a user can form multiple simultaneous transmit or receive beams, allowing for greater spatial reuse and higher network throughput. The enabling technology that we consider is the ability to use digital post-processing to form multiple receive beams in real-time without a priori knowledge of the time and angle-of-arrival of the transmission. We present a novel unslotted, uncoordinated ALOHA-like random access MAC policy for multi-beam directional systems that asymptotically achieves the capacity of the network. Such an approach is particularly useful for systems where propagation delay makes the overhead associated with any sort of coordination prohibitive. We also consider the impact of numerous practical considerations including power constraints, latency, and beamwidth on the performance of our MAC policy.
Popup Networks: Creating Decentralized Social Media on Top of Commodity Wireless Routers

Recent news has made social media notorious for both abusing user data and allowing governments to scrutinize personal information. Nevertheless, people still enjoy connecting with friends and families through social media but fail to use it to connect to local communities where we live our daily lives. In this paper, we present Popup Networks, a new platform for building hyper-local social computing applications, running on home wireless routers via an underlying mesh network. Summative interviews illustrate interests in using Popup Networks to create new local ties and as a backup in the case of Internet disruption. By utilizing locality to ward off external risks, Popup Networks provide alternative privacy, visibility, and economic models compared to traditional social media. While deploying Popup Networks would be an ideal evaluation, we argue that the technical tests and user interviews we conducted are suitable for socially complex systems such as Popup Networks--advocating an agenda moving forward for social computing systems research.
Deep eutectic solvents’ ability to solubilize lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose; thermal stability; and density

An environmentally-friendly method to separate cellulose and hemicelluloses from lignin in recalcitrant biomass for subsequent conversion is desirable to reduce greenhouse gas generation. Easily-prepared, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have low volatility, wide liquid range, non-flammability, nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. This study shows the DESs (formic acid:choline chloride, lactic acid:choline chloride, acetic acid:choline chloride, lactic acid:betaine, and lactic acid:proline) to be capable of preferentially dissolving lignin at 60°C. Thermogravimetric analysis show DES to be stable at typical biomass processing temperatures. Pretreating loblolly pine in one DES increased glucose yield after enzymatic hydrolysis to more than seven times that of raw or glycerol-pretreated pine. The density of DES-pretreated biomass was found to be 40% higher than the untreated pine's density.
Continuous heart rate monitoring using smartphone

Health monitoring is an important aspect of everyday life for many people. In this study, the design of a heart rate monitor with Bluetooth connectivity is discussed. The AD8232 Single Lead Heart Rate Monitor is the centerpiece of the design. The output of this monitor is an analog output, so an analog-to-digital converter is used on the Dragon12-Plus2 board. Data is wirelessly transferred to smartphone via Bluetooth. The data received from the monitor is analyzed to determine a heart rate in beats per minute. MIT App Inventor 2 is used to design an app to display the heart rate on Smartphone.
Glial contributions to neuronal health and disease: new insights from Drosophila

Glial cells are essential for proper formation and maintenance of the nervous system. During development, glia keep neuronal cell numbers in check and ensure that mature neural circuits are appropriately sculpted by engulfing superfluous cells and projections. In the adult brain, glial cells offer metabolic sustenance and provide critical immune support in the face of acute and chronic challenges. Dysfunctional glial immune activity is believed to contribute to age-related cognitive decline, as well as neurodegenerative disease risk, but we still know surprisingly little about the specific molecular pathways that govern glia-neuron communication in the healthy or diseased brain. Drosophila offers a versatile in vivo model to explore the conserved molecular underpinnings of glial cell biology and glial cell contributions to brain function, health, and disease susceptibility. This review addresses recent findings describing how Drosophila glial cells influence neuronal activity in the adult fly brain to support optimal brain function and, importantly, highlights new insights into specific glial defects that may contribute to neuronal demise.
The Securities Arbitrators' Nightmare

Securities arbitration panels have arisen to deal with the rising tide of securities litigation. However, the application of arbitration procedure to securities claims has caused problems with clashes of procedure and enforcement issues. The United States Arbitration Act was passed to The Supreme Court addressed some of those issues in Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. v. Byrd, but did not determine whether Wilko v. Swan’s effective repeal of the Arbitration Act as it applies to securities claims brought under the Securities Act of 1933 also covered securities claims brought under the Securities Act of 1934. The author eventually determines that because of the policy advantages of arbitration, the securities industry should relax its standards to prevent brokers and buyers from forming contracts of adhesion through securities agreements that include mandatory arbitration provisions.
Why Latin@s Become Greek: Exploring Why Latin@s Join Latino Greek-Letter Organizations:

This study explored the reasons Latin@s join Latino fraternities and Latina sororities at a university in the southwestern United States. Via a phenomenological approach, it uncovered the unique pl...
Treatment of Prominent Ear Anomalies

Two-thirds of the prominent ear cases result from an underdeveloped antihelical fold, while one-third of the cases result from an excess of conchal bowl cartilage. Associated secondary anomalies include excessive helical root protrusion, overprojected lobule, excessive antitragal protrusion, insufficient helical curling, cup ear deformity, and macrotia. The authors discuss the development and anatomy of the ear, the timing of otoplasty, surgical principles, preferred surgical management, and complications. Thoughtful and logical approach to reconstruction with careful surgical planning will provide consistent, optimized outcomes in form and symmetry.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Methods

Psychosocial rehabilitation offers a number of program models, refined over years of research and practice, which aim to improve the social inclusion of people with serious mental illness and to reduce the symptoms of illness and the handicap which they create. But the field is more than a series of programs. Rehabilitation practice is based on a set of principles or values which we inherit from 200 years of social psychiatry. These principles, set out in Table 19.1, have been “rediscovered” in the great social movements in psychiatry of the past two centuries, the latest of these being the Recovery Model or Movement. The fact that these values have been rediscovered on several occasions tells us that they have been periodically abandoned, so it is important for us to recognize and accept the centrality of these principles to the work that we do. The best treatment models available will not thrive in a treatment setting which neglects the values on which they are based.
Understanding Cancer at the Genomic Level

According to mainstream thinking in the past three decades, cancer is a disease of the genome. That is, cancer evolves from benign to malignant lesions by accumulating a series of genetic mutations over time. This model was initially developed for colorectal cancers based on mutations in the APC gene (Fearon and Vogelstein 1990) and a few other recurring genomic mutations that have been observed in colorectal cancers. To drive the genetic basis of this and other cancers, extensive collaborative efforts have been established to sequence the genomes of numerous cancer types, predominantly solid tumors. This undertaking has led to the public availability of thousands of cancer genomes and the identification of myriad genomic mutations, including single-point mutations, copy-number changes and genomic rearrangements. Analyses of the sequenced genomes have observed that a cancer genome may harbor tens to a few tens of thousands of mutations across different cancer types. One somewhat surprising observation has been that cancer genomes tend to have a high degree of heterogeneity in terms of their mutation patterns among tissue samples of the same cancer type, even among different cells in the same cancer tissue (Xu et al. 2012). From this, an obvious question is: Which of the observed mutations contribute to the initiation and development of a sporadic cancer, and how? Or, from another perspective, are any of these mutations responsible for tumor initiation, progression and metastasis?
Estimating the Spatial Temperature Distribution in a Steam Methane Reforming Furnace Using Bayesian Modelling

Abstract In this work, we propose a parallelized Bayesian model identification approach to derive a data-driven model for the outer reforming tube wall temperature (ORTWT) distribution in a steam methane reforming furnace as a function of the fuel distribution and total fuel flow rate. The parallelization ensures that the data-driven models for all ORTWT can be derived simultaneously from the reformer data and independently from one another. The identification of the models is based on Bayesian variable selection, Bayesian model averaging, sparse nonlinear regression, reformer geometry, and theories of thermal radiation so that the model building process for each ORTWT can systematically identify predictors and simultaneously collect a corresponding library of sub-models. A collection of data-driven models for all ORTWT is defined as a data-driven model for the ORTWT distribution. The Bayesian model identification is executed on the Hoffman2 cluster at UCLA to construct the data-driven model for the ORTWT distribution from the training data set, and the results from the resubstitution and forecast tests of the data-driven model are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.