cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Book review: A critique of dependence concepts

Abstract Harry Joe in the Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, is an expert on the topic of multivariate dependence concepts. He received his Ph.D. in statistics from Florida State University. Professor Joe has taught a graduate course entitled Multivariate Models for Non-normal Response, with Covariates at both the University of Pittsburgh and the University of British Columbia. The current book is based in part on the materials developed for that course. Ram Shanmugam was an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Colorado when this review was completed. He has been actively engaged in both teaching and research work in multivariate statistics. He is an elected fellow of the International Statistical Institute.
Optimizing the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations using pervasive mobility data

Abstract With the recent advances in battery technology and the resulting decrease in the charging times, public charging stations are becoming a viable option for Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers. Concurrently, emergence and the wide-spread use of location-tracking devices in mobile phones and wearable devices has paved the way to track individual-level human movements to an unprecedented spatial and temporal grain. Motivated by these developments, we propose a novel methodology to perform data-driven optimization of EV charging station locations. We formulate the problem as a discrete optimization problem on a geographical grid, with the objective of covering the entire demand region while minimizing a measure of drivers’ total excess driving distance to reach charging stations, the related energy overhead, and the number of charging stations. Since optimally solving the problem is computationally infeasible, we present computationally efficient solutions based on the genetic algorithm. We then apply the proposed methodology to optimize EV charging stations layout in the city of Boston, starting from Call Detail Records (CDR) of one million users over the span of 4 months. The results show that the genetic algorithm provides solutions that significantly reduce drivers’ excess driving distance to charging stations, energy overhead, and the number of charging stations required compared to both a locally-optimized feasible solution and the current charging station deployment in the Boston metro area. We further investigate the robustness of the proposed methodology and show that building upon well-known regularity of aggregate human mobility patterns, the layout computed for demands based on the single day movements preserves its advantage also in later days and months. When collectively considered, the results presented in this paper indicate the potential of data-driven approaches for optimally placing public charging facilities at urban scale.
Induction of pulmonary granulomas, macrophage procoagulant activity, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by trehalose glycolipids

Trehalose 6,6' dimycolate (TDM), a mycobacterial glycolipid, induces granulomas and hemorrhagic toxic reactions when administered in oil but not as a suspension in saline. It was previously demonstrated by us that TDM forms highly structured layers at oil-water interfaces and then postulated that its toxicity derives from the adhesive properties of these layers. To test this hypothesis, an evaluation was made of the ability of TDM and two analogs, trehalose 6-monomycolate (TMM) and galactose-galactose 6, 6' dimycolate (GDM), to induce pulmonary granulomas and stimulate expression of procoagulant activity (PCA) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Intravenous injection in mice of oil-in-water emulsions of TDM produced more and larger pulmonary granulomas than injection of TMM or GDM. Similarly, TDM on the surface of beads induced higher levels of PCA and TNF-alpha in human mononuclear cells than the analogs. The correlation of these results with the structure of surface layers of the glycolipids strengthens the hypothesis that the particular surface structure formed by TDM is necessary for its biologic activity.
Three dimensional measurement of cAMP gradients using hyperspectral confocal microscopy.

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger known to differentially regulate many cellular functions over a wide range of timescales. Several lines of evidence have suggested that the distribution of cAMP within cells is not uniform, and that cAMP compartmentalization is largely responsible for signaling specificity within the cAMP signaling pathway. However, to date, no studies have experimentally measured three dimensional (3D) cAMP distributions within cells. Here we use both 2D and 3D hyperspectral microscopy to visualize cAMP gradients in endothelial cells from the pulmonary microvasculature (PMVECs). cAMP levels were measured using a FRETbased cAMP sensor comprised of a cAMP binding domain from EPAC sandwiched between FRET donors and acceptors — Turquoise and Venus fluorescent proteins. Data were acquired using either a Nikon A1R spectral confocal microscope or custom spectral microscopy system. Analysis of hyperspectral image stacks from a single confocal slice or from summed images of all slices (2D analysis) indicated little or no cAMP gradients were formed within PMVECs under basal conditions or following agonist treatment. However, analysis of hyperspectral image stacks from 3D cellular geometries (z stacks) demonstrate marked cAMP gradients from the apical to basolateral membrane of PMVECs. These results strongly suggest that 2D imaging studies of cAMP compartmentalization — whether epifluorescence or confocal microscopy — may lead to erroneous conclusions about the existence of cAMP gradients, and that 3D studies are required to assess mechanisms of signaling specificity.
Flux-Profile Relationship for Dust Concentration in the Stratified Atmospheric Surface Layer

Flux-profile relationships are usually obtained under the assumption that the mean field of interest is in equilibrium with the associated surface fluxes. In this study, the existence of an equilibrium state for dust concentration in the atmospheric surface layer above sources and sinks is evaluated using large-eddy simulation. Results show that for steady-state turbulence and negligible horizontal advection, an equilibrium mean vertical profile of dust concentration is reached after one boundary-layer eddy turnover time. This is true for cases over a source or sink, under different atmospheric stabilities, and for particles with negligible or significant settling velocity. A new model relating the net surface flux to the vertical concentration profile that accounts for both atmospheric stability and particle settling velocity is proposed. The model compares well with the simulation results for all particle sizes and atmospheric stability conditions evaluated, and it can be used to estimate the concentration profile based on the surface flux, and also to estimate the surface flux by fitting the vertical concentration profile. The resulting equation can be considered as an extension of Monin-Obukhov similarity theory to the concentration of settling particles, such as mineral dust, sea-salt, pollen and other suspended aerosols.
Effective L/D: A Theoretical Approach to the Measurement of Aero-Structural Efficiency in Aircraft Design

There are many trade-offs in aircraft design that ultimately impact the overall performance and characteristics of the final design. One well recognized and well understood trade-off is that of wing weight and aerodynamic efficiency. Higher aerodynamic efficiency can be obtained by increasing wing span, usually at the expense of higher wing weight. The proper balance of these two competing factors depends on the objectives of the design. For example, aerodynamic efficiency is preeminent for sailplanes and long slender wings result. Although the wing weight-drag trade is universally recognized, aerodynamic efficiency and structural efficiency are not usually considered in combination. This paper discusses the concept of "aero-structural efficiency," which combines weight and drag characteristics. A metric to quantify aero-structural efficiency, termed effective L/D, is then derived and tested with various scenarios. Effective L/D is found to be a practical and robust means to simultaneously characterize aerodynamic and structural efficiency in the context of aircraft design. The primary value of the effective L/D metric is as a means to better communicate the combined system level impacts of drag and structural weight.
Fundamentally embodied: The experience of psychological agency.

This article develops a post-Cartesian, embodied conception of psychological agency. In contrast to reductionist approaches to agency in traditional intrapsychic and interpersonal psychoanalytic models, I present psychological agency as a fundamentally embodied, affective, and contextualized process. As such, I maintain that the multidimensional nature of agency can only truly be captured from an interdisciplinary approach that draws equally psychoanalysis, phenomenological philosophy, and neuroscience.
Expression of monoclonal antibody-defined tumor markers in four carcinomas

The specificity of monoclonal antibody-based, CA 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) immunoassays were evaluated by studying how these tumor markers are expressed, using serial serum specimens from patients with breast, ovarian, colorectal, and pancreatic carcinomas. It was found that none of the monoclonal defined markers was specific for any single malignant disease. Multiple markers of increased concentration were found in all serial specimens. However, only one dominant marker was associated with each type of malignant disease. Taking advantage of the different patterns of these tumor markers expressed among different carcinomas, it was demonstrated that the specificity of these monoclonal immunoassays for diagnosis and screening of cancers could be improved if ratios of the dominant marker to other markers were determined. For example, determining ratios of CA 15-3/CEA, CA 15-3/CA 125, and CA 15-3/CA 19-9 will improve the differentiation of elevated CA 15-3 of breast carcinoma from those of colon, ovarian, and pancreatic carcinomas, respectively.
Growth hormone-releasing hormone: therapeutic perspectives.

Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the hypothalamic peptide which stimulates the release of growth hormone (GH) from the pituitary, has been the center of intense study since its structure was described in 1982. It is in the area of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) that GHRH has its greatest clinical potential. Several studies have addressed the efficacy of GHRH as an alternative therapy in GHD. It appears that GHRH can be equally effective, whether given in a pulsatile manner or as discrete injections several times a day; i.e. the total dose may be more crucial than how it is given. While there are several issues that must be addressed before an optimal GHRH regimen can be devised, the available data would suggest that GHRH may become a safe, effective alternative to GH therapy in some patients with GHD.
Evaluation of methods for analyzing gene-gene interaction data for survival outcomes.

EVALUATION OF METHODS FOR ANALYZING GENE-GENE INTERACTION DATA FOR SURVIVAL OUTCOMES lie Zhang May 12,2011 In recent years, a number of computational and statistical problems for identifying SNP-SNP interactions in high dimensional survival data have been studied, and several data mining approaches have been proposed. However, the relative performance of these methods to detect SNP-SNP interactions has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we directly compared the performance of the four techniques to detect gene-gene interactions in a recently conducted study of genetic polymorphisms associated with breast cancer survival and recurrence. Four methods were evaluated for their ability to detect SNP-SNP interactions: Survival Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction, Cox regression with LJ (Lasso) and LJ-L2 (Elastic Net) penalties, and Random Survival Forest (RSF). Methods were contrasted on the basis of which SNPs they selected. The results of this study demonstrate how the methods perform in detecting gene-gene interactions for survival data, and are useful in informing researchers about choosing an analysis tool for their own real data applications.
Development of a Scintillation Proximity Assay for β-Ketoacyl-acyl Carrier Protein Synthase III

Assays of beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthases III (KASIII; FabH), a key enzyme initiating bacterial type II fatty acid biosynthesis, usually involve incubation of radiolabeled acetyl-coenzyme A and malonyl-acyl carrier protein (MACP). The radiolabeled acetoacetyl-ACP product is precipitated and separated from the substrate before quantitation. We have developed a scintillation proximity assay (SPA) where use of biotinylated MACP (BMACP) allows the generation of a biotinylated acetoacetyl-ACP. This product, when captured by the streptavidin-coated scintillant-impregnated microspheres, generates an SPA signal. A BMACP K(m) of 7.1 microM was determined using this SPA with the Streptomyces glaucescens FabH. A similar MACP K(m) (6 microM) was determined in a precipitation assay, demonstrating that BMACP is an effective substrate for FabH. IC(50) values of 15.2 microM (SPA) and 24.8 microM were obtained with iodoacetamide and the S. glaucescens FabH. Comparable IC(50) values of 160 microM (SPA) and 125 microM were also obtained with the antibiotic thiolactomycin and the Escherichia coli FabH. These observations demonstrate that FabH inhibitors can be readily detected using a SPA with BMACP and that the effectiveness of inhibitors in the SPA is comparable to that obtained using MACP and a standard TCA precipitation assay. A FabH SPA adaptable to high-throughput screening should facilitate the discovery of potential novel antibiotics.
The detective magazine: Images and stereotypes in popular culture

While extensive study in the humanities and social sciences has been directed toward the analysis of detective fiction, a related area of popular stories has been virtually ignored. These are the stories of detective fact contained in the detective magazine. These magazines, some established in the late 1920’s, each with circulations approximating a hundred thousand each month, are an insightful source of information on popular culture.
Opportunities to Enhance Laboratory Professionals' Role On the Diagnostic Team.

Background: The 2015 Institue of Medicine report Improving Diagnosis in Health Care highlighted that diagnostic errors cause patient harm and that improvement in the diagnostic process requires better collaboration among physicians and laboratory professionals. The purpose of this study is to understand why physicians do not contact laboratory professionals when facing diagnostic challenges and identify opportunities for laboratory professionals to become more recognized members of the clinical care team. Methods: A random sample of 31,689 physicians from the American Medical Association Masterfile were surveyed about diagnostic challenges in laboratory test ordering and results interpretation, solutions to these challenges, and interactions with laboratory professionals. Results: We received responses from 1768 physicians (5.6%). When faced with diagnostic challenges, they reported using electronic resources because they find it difficult and time-consuming to contact the laboratory. Only 20% had an effective way to access laboratory professionals, mostly seeking help for logistical but less for clinical issues. Continuing medical education, professional articles, and updates from the laboratory were helpful. Conclusions: Laboratory professionals have an opportunity to play a greater role in the diagnostic process by becoming active members of the clinical care team, beyond providing results. This study provides strategies to increase laboratory professionals’ role in the diagnostic process. * Abbreviations : AMA : American Medical Association CDC : Center for Disease Control and Prevention CLIHC : Clinical Laboratory Integration into Healthcare Collaborative CME : Continuing Medical Education IOM : Institute of Medicine (recently renamed to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)
Out-of-Pocket Spending and Financial Burden Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Cancer

Importance Medicare beneficiaries with cancer are at risk for financial hardship given increasingly expensive cancer care and significant cost sharing by beneficiaries. Objectives To measure out-of-pocket (OOP) costs incurred by Medicare beneficiaries with cancer and identify which factors and services contribute to high OOP costs. Design, Setting, and Participants We prospectively collected survey data from 18 166 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries, including 1409 individuals who were diagnosed with cancer during the study period, who participated in the January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2012, waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative panel study of US residents older than 50 years. Data analysis was performed from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures Out-of-pocket medical spending and financial burden (OOP expenditures divided by total household income). Results Among the 1409 participants (median age, 73 years [interquartile range, 69-79 years]; 46.4% female and 53.6% male) diagnosed with cancer during the study period, the type of supplementary insurance was significantly associated with mean annual OOP costs incurred after a cancer diagnosis ($2116 among those insured by Medicaid, $2367 among those insured by the Veterans Health Administration, $5976 among those insured by a Medicare health maintenance organization, $5492 among those with employer-sponsored insurance, $5670 among those with Medigap insurance coverage, and $8115 among those insured by traditional fee-for-service Medicare but without supplemental insurance coverage). A new diagnosis of cancer or common chronic noncancer condition was associated with increased odds of incurring costs in the highest decile of OOP expenditures (cancer: adjusted odds ratio, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.55-2.23; P P Conclusions and Relevance Medicare beneficiaries without supplemental insurance incur significant OOP costs following a diagnosis of cancer. Costs associated with hospitalization may be a primary contributor to these high OOP costs. Medicare reform proposals that restructure the benefit design for hospital-based services and incorporate an OOP maximum may help alleviate financial burden, as can interventions that reduce hospitalization in this population.
The Essential Medicinal Chemistry of Curcumin

Curcumin is a constituent (up to ∼5%) of the traditional medicine known as turmeric. Interest in the therapeutic use of turmeric and the relative ease of isolation of curcuminoids has led to their extensive investigation. Curcumin has recently been classified as both a PAINS (pan-assay interference compounds) and an IMPS (invalid metabolic panaceas) candidate. The likely false activity of curcumin in vitro and in vivo has resulted in >120 clinical trials of curcuminoids against several diseases. No double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial of curcumin has been successful. This manuscript reviews the essential medicinal chemistry of curcumin and provides evidence that curcumin is an unstable, reactive, nonbioavailable compound and, therefore, a highly improbable lead. On the basis of this in-depth evaluation, potential new directions for research on curcuminoids are discussed.
Gray-Box Approach for Thermal Modelling of Buildings for Applications in District Heating and Cooling Networks

District-heating-and-cooling (DHC) systems are a proven energy solution that has been deployed for many years in a growing number of urban areas worldwide. They comprise a variety of technologies that seek to develop synergies between the production and supply of heat, cooling, domestic hot water and electricity. Although the benefits of DHC systems are significant and have been widely acclaimed, yet the full potential of modern DHC systems remains largely untapped. There are several opportunities for development of energy efficient DHC systems, which will enable the effective exploitation of alternative renewable resources, waste heat recovery, etc., in order to increase the overall efficiency and facilitate the transition towards the next generation of DHC systems. This motivated the need for modelling these complex systems. Large-scale modelling of DHC-networks is challenging, as it has several components such as buildings, pipes, valves, heating source, etc., interacting with each other. In this paper, we focus on building modelling. In particular, we present a gray-box methodology for thermal modelling of buildings. Gray-box modelling is a hybrid of data driven and physics based models where, coefficients of the equations from physics based models are learned using data. This approach allows us to capture the dynamics of the buildings more effectively as compared to pure data driven approach. Additionally, this approach results in a simpler models as compared to pure physics based models. We first develop the individual components of the building such as temperature evolution, flow controller, etc. These individual models are then integrated in to the complete gray-box model for the building. The model is validated using data collected from one of the buildings at Lulea, a city on the coast of northern Sweden.
Radiofrequency wire for the recanalization of chronic arterial occlusions that have failed conventional endovascular techniques

Purpose Describe the technique and present the results of RF wire puncture for the recanalization of chronic arterial occlusions in symptomatic patients. Materials and Methods Between January and June 2012, 6 patients (5 male), age ranging from 58-72 years, presented with signs and symptoms of arterial occlusive disease. The lesions ranged from TASC C to D and were identified within the common iliac and superficial femoral artery. Despite multiple repeat attempts at recanalization using conventional endovascular techniques, the lesions were unable to be crossed. PowerWire RF wire (Baylis Medical, Canada) was advanced (via intra-luminal or subintimal approach) within a 5-Fr KMP catheter using a 10 mm snare (iliac lesions) or arterial wall calcification (femoral lesions) as a target. Pre-stent balloon angioplasty was followed by stent placement. If the RF wire puncture was inadequate, a new location was pursued. Clinical assessment along with targeted diagnostic and imaging follow up was performed at 30 days and then at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results All patients were successfully treated with RF wire after previous failed attempts at recanalization using different combinations of catheter/wire techniques. There were no complications. All patients improved clinically and imaging of the treated segment showed patency at 10 months mean follow-up. Conclusion RF wire is a safe alternative in the recanalization of chronic arterial occlusions when conventional techniques have failed and provides an endovascular solution for patients who would otherwise be forced into undergoing surgical repair.
High-Speed Friction Stir Welding of AA7075-T6 Sheet: Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Micro-texture, and Thermal History

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a cost-effective and high-quality joining process for aluminum alloys (especially heat-treatable alloys) that is historically operated at lower joining speeds (up to hundreds of millimeters per minute). In this study, we present a microstructural analysis of friction stir welded AA7075-T6 blanks with high welding speeds up to 3 M/min. Textures, microstructures, mechanical properties, and weld quality are analyzed using TEM, EBSD, metallographic imaging, and Vickers hardness. The higher welding speed results in narrower, stronger heat-affected zones (HAZs) and also higher hardness in the nugget zones. The material flow direction in the nugget zone is found to be leaning towards the welding direction as the welding speed increases. Results are coupled with welding parameters and thermal history to aid in the understanding of the complex material flow and texture gradients within the welds in an effort to optimize welding parameters for high-speed processing.
Engineering targeted in vivo drug delivery. I. The physiological and physicochemical principles governing opportunities and limitations.

A physiologically based model is presented to aid prediction of the pharmacological benefits to be derived from the administration of a drug as a targeted drug–carrier combination. An improvement in the therapeutic index and an increase in the therapeutic availability are the primary benefits sought. A measure of the former is obtained from the value of the drug targeting index, a newly derived parameter. Both the drug targeting index and the therapeutic availability are directly calculable. The minimum information needed for approximating both parameters is the candidate drug's total-body clearance and some knowledge of the target site's anatomy and blood flow. Drugs with high total-body clearance values that are known to act at target tissues having effective blood flows that are small relative to the blood flow to the normal eliminating organs will benefit most from combination with an efficient, targeted carrier. Direct elimination of the drug at the target site or at the tissue where toxicity originates dramatically improves the drug targeting index value. The fraction of drug actually released from the carrier at both target and nontarget sites can radically affect index values. In some cases a 1% change in the fraction of the dose delivered to the target can result in a 50% change in the drug targeting index value. It is argued that most drugs already developed have a low potential to benefit from combination with a drug carrier. The approach allows one to distinguish clearly those drugs that can benefit from combination with targeted in vivo drug carriers from those drugs that cannot.
Peptidoglycan recognition by the innate immune system

The innate immune system recognizes microbial products using germline-encoded receptors that initiate inflammatory responses to infection. The bacterial cell wall component peptidoglycan is a prime example of a conserved pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) for which the innate immune system has evolved sensing mechanisms. Peptidoglycan is a direct target for innate immune receptors and also regulates the accessibility of other PAMPs to additional innate immune receptors. Subtle structural modifications to peptidoglycan can influence the ability of the innate immune system to detect bacteria and can allow bacteria to evade or alter host defences. This Review focuses on the mechanisms of peptidoglycan recognition that are used by mammalian cells and discusses new insights into the role of peptidoglycan recognition in inflammation, metabolism, immune homeostasis and disease.
Automated Question Answering System for Community-Based Questions

We present our attempt at developing an efficient Question Answering system for both factoid and non-factoid questions from any domain. Empirical evaluation of our system using multiple datasets demonstrates that our system outperforms the best system from the TREC LiveQA tracks, while keeping the response time to under less than half a minute.
Probing the Mechanism of Binding of the Thiamin Pyrophosphate Co-enzyme on Yeast Pyruvate Decarboxylase

Several aspects of the co-enzyme function of thiamin pyrophosphate and Mg(II) in the action of brewer’s yeast pyruvate decarboxylase were examined. All experiments to be reported were performed by first resolving then reconstituting holoenzyme. The principal findings are the following: (1) An aminopyrimidine derivative and the 2,4-dinitrophenylether of thiamin were inhibitory; (2) upon reconstitution of apoenzyme with either pyrophosphate or Mg(II) there is an enhancement in the UV absorption between 300–400 nm and this enhancement develops with at, of ca 2 min. There is a lagtime in the regaining of the activity as well and it is demonstrated that the formation of the enhanced absorption is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for regaining of the activity; (3) reconstitution with Eu(III) in place of Mg(II) affords ca 50% of the activity compared to Mg(II) and leads to a large enhancement in the fluorescence emission spectrum which enhancement can be subsequently quenched by the addition of thiamin pyrophosphate. The fluorescence data for the apoenzyme-Eu(III) binary complex indicate the existence of two types of binding sites with Kd’s of 200 μm and (6±2) μm respectively. A qualitative assessment of the quenching curve by thiamin pyrophosphate indicates that there is an apparent Kd of the apoenzyme-Eu(III) complex of ca 1 μm.
Is the Urban World Small? The Evidence for Small World Structure in Urban Networks

The initial definition of small world networks triggered a rush among network scientists, working in a variety of fields and with data from many different contexts, to identify and document empirical examples of small world networks. Researchers studying urban networks – networks of cities and networks in cities – have also participated in this exercise, but because their work took place in a variety of disciplines, no definitive answer has emerged to the question: Is the urban world small? I answer this question through a systematic review of the evidence for small world structure in 172 urban networks. I find that although authors often claim urban networks are small world (71.5%), such claims are rarely grounded in a formal index or guided by a specific decision rule, and may overestimate the ubiquity of this structure. However, existing indices of small worldliness offer promising options for summarizing the extent to which an urban network is small world. I conclude with recommendations that urban network researchers make use of these indices and begin conceptualizing small worldliness as a continuous, rather than binary, characteristic.
Versatile Ring-Opening Copolymerization and Postprinting Functionalization of Lactone and Poly(propylene fumarate) Block Copolymers: Resorbable Building Blocks for Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing has the potential to change medicine, but clinical applications are limited by a lack of resorbable, printable materials. Herein, we report the first synthesis of polylactone and poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) block copolymers with well-defined molecular masses and molecular mass distributions using sequential, ring-opening polymerization and ring-opening copolymerization methods. These new copolymers represent a diverse platform of resorbable printable materials. Furthermore, these polymers open a previously unexplored range of accessible properties among stereolithographically printable materials, which we demonstrate by printing a polymer with a molecular mass nearly 4 times that of the largest PPF homopolymer previously printed. To further demonstrate the potential of these materials in regenerative medicine, we report the postprinting “click” functionalization of the material using a copper-mediated azide–alkyne cycloaddition.
Gaining Insight from Operational Data for Automated Responses

Facilitating autonomic behavior is largely achieved by automating routine maintenance procedures, including problem detection, determination and resolution. System monitoring provides effective means for problem detection. Coupled with automated ticket creation, it ensures that a degradation of the vital signs, defined by acceptable thresholds or known patterns, is flagged as a problem candidate. It is a known practice to define thresholds or conditions that are conservative in nature, thus erring on the side of caution. This practice leads to a large number of tickets that require no action (false positives). Elimination of false positive alerts is imperative for effective delivery of IT Services. It is also critical for the subsequent problem determination and resolution. All operational data, including events and problem records, will be used for automated resolution recommendation.
Liquid crystal phase behavior of a DNA dodecamer and the chromonic dye Sunset Yellow

Sunset Yellow (SSY) is an aromatic heterocycle nano-sheet functionalized by hydrophilic sulphanate groups. SSY forms chromonic stacks and liquid crystal (LC) phases in aqueous solution. The DNA oligomer 5\ensuremath{'}-GCGCTTAAGCGC-3\ensuremath{'} is a self-complementary strand which forms duplexed B-form helices in aqueous solution, which, similarly, aggregate into chromonic stacks and form LC phases. Binary aqueous solutions of these two molecules were investigated using polarized optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and spectroscopy. At lower solute concentrations and/or higher temperatures these solutions form uniformly mixed single phases, including isotropic, chiral nematic, and hexagonal columnar LCs. At higher solute concentrations and/or lower temperatures, the uniform columnar solution separates into two columnar phases, one containing SSY with trace DNA and the other containing both SSY and DNA aggregates. The study of these solutions indicates that the mixed and unmixed phases are composed of single component SSY or DNA chromonic stacks, with the DNA stacks containing a small fraction of intercalated SSY, evidenced by structurally induced circular dichroism in the SSY absorption band. In the columnar monophase, the hexagonal lattice sites are occupied randomly by either DNA or SSY columns, with the column spacing varying continuously with the SSY-DNA mass ratio. The results demonstrate significant selectivity in the chromonic stacking of both molecules. The binding mode of these chromonic LCs may have applications to adaptive optics and nucleic acid chemistry.
The Dominant and Poorly Penetrant Phenotypes of Maize Unstable factor for orange1 Are Caused by DNA Methylation Changes at a Linked Transposon

The maize (Zea mays) mutant Unstable factor for orange1 (Ufo1) has been implicated in the epigenetic modifications of pericarp color1 (p1), which regulates the production of the flavonoid pigments phlobaphenes. Here, we show that the ufo1 gene maps to a genetically recalcitrant region near the centromere of chromosome 10. Transcriptome analysis of Ufo1-1 mutant and wild-type plants identified a candidate gene in the mapping region using a comparative sequence-based approach. The candidate gene, GRMZM2G053177, is overexpressed by >45-fold in multiple tissues of Ufo1-1, explaining the dominance of Ufo1-1 and its phenotypes. In the mutant stock, GRMZM2G053177 has a unique transcript originating within a CACTA transposon inserted in its first intron, and it is missing the first four codons of the wild-type transcript. GRMZM2G053177 expression is regulated by the DNA methylation status of the CACTA transposon, explaining the incomplete penetrance and poor expressivity of Ufo1-1. Transgenic overexpression lines of GRMZM2G053177 (Ufo1-1) phenocopy the p1-induced pigmentation in coleoptiles, tassels, leaf sheaths, husks, pericarps, and cob glumes. Transcriptome analysis of Ufo1 versus wild-type tissues revealed changes in several pathways related to abiotic and biotic stress. Thus, this study addresses the enigma of Ufo1 identity in maize, which had gone unsolved for more than 50 years.
Discovering the smallest observed near-earth objects with the space surveillance telescope

Abstract The Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) is an advanced optical sensor designed and tested by MIT Lincoln Laboratory for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which is currently in the process of being integrated into the Space Surveillance Network. By operating the telescope in a manner normally intended for the discovery of small, artificial space objects, SST is serendipitously sensitive to the detection of very small asteroids as they traverse close to the Earth, passing rapidly through SST's search volume. This mode of operation stands in contrast to the standard approach for the search and discovery of asteroids and near-Earth objects (NEOs), in which longer revisit times restrict survey sensitivities to objects moving no faster than about 20 °/day. From data collected during SST's observation runs in New Mexico, we detail the discovery of 92 new candidate objects in heliocentric orbit whose absolute magnitudes range from H = 26.4 to 35.9 (approximately 18-m to 25-cm in size). Some of these discoveries represent the smallest natural objects ever observed in orbit. We compare the candidate objects with bolide observations (Brown et al., 2016).
Exosomes regulate neurogenesis and circuit assembly

Exosomes are thought to be released by all cells in the body and to be involved in intercellular communication. We tested whether neural exosomes can regulate the development of neural circuits. We show that exosome treatment increases proliferation in developing neural cultures and in vivo in dentate gyrus of P4 mouse brain. We compared the protein cargo and signaling bioactivity of exosomes released by hiPSC-derived neural cultures lacking MECP2, a model of the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome, with exosomes released by isogenic rescue control neural cultures. Quantitative proteomic analysis indicates that control exosomes contain multiple functional signaling networks known to be important for neuronal circuit development. Treating MECP2-knockdown human primary neural cultures with control exosomes rescues deficits in neuronal proliferation, differentiation, synaptogenesis, and synchronized firing, whereas exosomes from MECP2-deficient hiPSC neural cultures lack this capability. These data indicate that exosomes carry signaling information required to regulate neural circuit development.
Modified Harris Hip Score as patient-reported outcome measure in osteoarthritic patients: psychometric properties of the Greek version.

Introduction:This study explored the psychometric properties of the modified Harris Hip Score-Greek version (mHHS-Gr) as a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure in osteoarthritic hip patients.Meth...
Serum SNTF, a Surrogate Marker of Axonal Injury, Is Prognostic for Lasting Brain Dysfunction in Mild TBI Treated in the Emergency Department

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) causes persisting post-concussion syndrome for many patients without abnormalities on conventional neuroimaging. Currently, there is no method for identifying at-risk cases at an early stage for directing concussion management and treatment. SNTF is a calpain-derived N-terminal proteolytic fragment of spectrin (αII-spectrin1-1176) generated in damaged axons following mTBI. Preliminary human studies suggest that elevated blood SNTF on the day of mTBI correlates with white matter disruption and lasting brain dysfunction. Here, we further evaluated serum SNTF as a prognostic marker for persistent brain dysfunction in uncomplicated mTBI patients treated in a Level I trauma center emergency department. Compared with healthy controls (n = 40), serum SNTF increased by 92% within 24 h of mTBI (n = 95; p < 0.0001), and as a diagnostic marker exhibited 100% specificity and 37% sensitivity (AUC = 0.87). To determine whether the subset of mTBI cases positive for SNTF preferentially developed lasting brain dysfunction, serum levels on the day of mTBI were compared with multiple measures of brain performance at 90 days post-injury. Elevated serum SNTF correlated significantly with persistent impairments in cognition and sensory-motor integration, and predicted worse performance in each test on a case by case basis (AUC = 0.68 and 0.76, respectively). SNTF also predicted poorer recovery of cognitive stress function from 30 to 90 days (AUC = 0.79-0.90). These results suggest that serum SNTF, a surrogate marker for axonal injury after mTBI, may have potential for the rapid prognosis of lasting post-concussion syndrome and impaired functional recovery following CT-negative mTBI. They provide further evidence linking axonal injury to persisting brain dysfunction after uncomplicated mTBI. A SNTF blood test, either alone or combined with other markers of axonal injury, may have important utilities for research, prognosis, management and treatment of concussion.
Rethinking modern Hinduism: Hinduism before reform, by Brian A. Hatcher, Cambridge, MA and London, Harvard University Press, 2020, Pp. 321+x, $39.95 (Cloth), ISBN 978-0-67498-822-4

In his 1904 article titled ‘Reform or Revival,’ the Indian anticolonial thinker Lala Lajpat Rai sought to determine what was at stake in the raging debates between the so-called reformers and reviv...
Comparing Diuresis Patterns in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Versus Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background:Congestion predominates in exacerbations of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but evidence suggests that excess volume may be d...
Machine Learning and Deep Learning in Chemical Health and Safety: A Systematic Review of Techniques and Applications

Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) are a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that can automatically learn from data and can perform tasks such as predictions and decision-making. Inter...
CO2 Laser Sidewall Polishing of Millimeter-scale Fused Silica Light Pipes

The sidewalls of fused silica light pipes with millimeter-scale cross-sections, having two rough surfaces from etching, were polished using a CO2 laser. Surface profilometry and thermal management were used to achieve optical quality results.
Trends in the Evaluation and Management of Back Pain in Emergency Departments, United States, 2007-2016.

OBJECTIVE Back pain is one of the most common pain syndromes in the United States, but there has been limited recent description of the role of emergency departments (EDs) in caring for patients with back pain. We investigated trends in the evaluation and management of back pain in U.S. EDs from 2007 to 2016. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a nationally representative annual survey of ED visits, which includes data on patient-, hospital-, and visit-level characteristics. We evaluated trends among adult ED visits for back pain, including demographics, resource utilization, and disposition. Trends were assessed through the use of survey-weighted analyses. RESULTS Visit rates as a proportion of overall ED visits were stable from 2007 to 2016 (9.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.5-9.6] vs. 9.3% [95% CI: 8.6-10.0]; P = 0.44). Admission rates declined from 6.4% (95% CI: 5.1-8.0) to 5.0% (95% CI: 3.5-6.9; P < 0.001). Imaging utilization increased from 51.7% (95% CI: 49.3-54.1) to 57.6% (95% CI: 53.3-61.7; P = 0.023), with an increase of 58.3% in computed tomography. Overall opioid utilization declined from 53.5% (95% CI: 49.4-57.5) to 46.5% (95% CI: 43.2-49.8; P < 0.001). Tramadol use increased over the study period (4.1% [95% CI: 3.0-5.8] vs. 8.4% [95% CI: 6.6-10.7]; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Opioid utilization during ED visits for back pain decreased from 2007 to 2016, whereas tramadol use more than doubled. Care intensity increased significantly despite declining admission rates. Further research into optimal strategies for back pain management in the ED is needed.
Smart Design and Its Applications: Challenges and Techniques

In the last few decades, several smart applications are designed based on user requirements and specifications. Each requirement and specification is derived from everyday purposes and increases rapidly. These applications are entirely based on real-life issues and problems. Each application design is associated with one or more techniques based on the derived parameters of the problem. Some of the parameters are precise, whereas some imprecise based on the application’s nature. So, there is a need for some intelligent techniques that help solve smart design’s proposed issue. There are several intelligent techniques used in smart design. Some of them are: machine learning, nature-inspired computing, soft computing, computational intelligence, etc. Each of the techniques is covered under an umbrella, which is known as artificial intelligence. This introductory chapter comprises several smart designs and its associated application, which is used in the real-life and different challenges and techniques associated with this smart design.
Ibrutinib Inhibits VLA-4-Dependent Adhesion in CLL-Reply.

We thank Zucchetto and colleagues for their valuable comments on our article ([1][1]). They make two points: first, in their hands, in contrast to our report, inhibition of integrin β-1 (CD29) and integrin α-4 (CD49d) was equally effective in reducing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell
Persistent organic pollutants at the synapse: Shared phenotypes and converging mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity

The developing nervous system is sensitive to environmental and physiological perturbations in part due to its protracted period of prenatal and postnatal development. Epidemiological and experimental studies link developmental exposures to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and benzo(a)pyrene to increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Mechanistic studies reveal that many of the complex cellular processes that occur during sensitive periods of rapid brain development are cellular targets for developmental neurotoxicants. One area of research interest has focused on synapse formation and plasticity, processes that involve the growth and retraction of dendrites and dendritic spines. For each chemical discussed in this review, we summarize the morphological and electrophysiological data that provide evidence that developmental POP exposure produces long-lasting effects on dendritic morphology, spine formation, glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling systems, and synaptic transmission. We also discuss shared intracellular mechanisms, with a focus on calcium and thyroid hormone homeostasis, by which these chemicals act to modify synapses. We conclude our review highlighting research gaps that merit consideration when characterizing synaptic pathology elicited by chemical exposure. These gaps include low-dose and non-monotonic dose-response effects, revealing the temporal relationship between dendritic growth, spine formation, and synaptic activity, excitation-inhibition balance, hormonal effects, and the critical need for more studies in females to identify sex differences. By identifying converging pathological mechanisms elicited by POP exposure at the synapse, we can define future research directions that will advance our understanding of these chemicals on synapse structure and function.
Abstract MP49: Application Of A Novel Assessment Of County-level Cardiovascular Health Profile And Its Association With County-level Disease Rates

Background: The AHA’s definition of cardiovascular health (CVH) is based on seven metrics known as Life’s Simple 7 (LS7): smoking, diet, obesity, physical inactivity, high blood cholesterol, high b...