cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antenna pattern synthesis using partially tapered arrays

Optimization techniques were applied to the synthesis of binomial and partially tapered low-sidelobe array antennas. The resulting low sidelobe tapers depended on the cost function and minimization technique. >
ERROR INFERENCE FOR NONPARAMETRIC REGRESSION

This study examines means for inferring the distribution of the er- ror in nonparametric regression. The central objective is to develop confidence intervals for nonparametric regression. Our computational study would seem to affirm that our methods are potentially useful in cases of small sample size or heterogeneously distributed error. Theoretical developments offer sufficient conditions for asymptotic normality. exists but, aside from some smoothness properties, has unknown structure. Currently, the primary emphasis of the nonparametric regression literature is on providing estimators mn(x) of re(x), the subscript indicating that mn(z) is constructed from the first n terms of the data sequence. The thrust of the present study is in a different direction: a nonparametric regression construct mn (x) having been specified, our wish is to infer the distribution of mn (x) -m(x). A central motivation for inference of the error law was to construct confidence intervals for m(x). Another potential use is for hypothesis testing. Bhattacharya (1976) has given a definitive method for testing whether the regression function is constant. Our methodology, while not as focussed, could be adapted to test whether re(x) is positive, for instance. Another potential use is for estimating
Intrinsic laser-induced breakdown of silicate glasses

This paper is a survey of experimental results in laser- induced damage observed mainly at State Optical Institute (St. Petersburg, Russia) and at School of Optics/CREOL (Orlando, FL) which expounds conditions of observation of an intrinsic breakdown of high-purity silicate glasses and proposes the general idea of its mechanism. It is shown that the surface laser-induced breakdown of dielectrics is resulted from photo- and thermo-ionization of surface defects but not from interaction of laser radiation with dielectric material itself. Conditions of thermal ionization of the volume of dielectric materials are determined in dependence on features of absorption of material and temporal features of laser radiation. Statistical properties of laser-induced breakdown of high-purity glasses are caused by statistical properties of laser radiation while the breakdown itself is a deterministic process. Elimination of impact of self-focusing on the results of the breakdown threshold measurements is observed if the spot size of laser radiation in focal plane is less than the wavelength. No photoionization of glass matrix is detected before laser- induced breakdown, and there is no effect of photoionization of impurities and defects on intrinsic breakdown. A mechanism of intrinsic laser-induced breakdown is proposed which is a spasmodic transformation of the electronic level structure in a wide-bandgap dielectric caused by the electric field of laser radiation. This is a collective process converting a transparent material to the opaque state but not an individual process of any type of ionization.
Childhood cancer in relation to a modified residential wire code.

Several studies have found associations between wire configuration codes, a proxy for historical residential magnetic field exposure, and childhood cancer. The Wertheimer-Leeper coding method was m...
Characterization of the molecular mechanisms of the coupling between intracellular loops of prostacyclin receptor with the C-terminal domain of the Gαs protein in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells

Abstract The C-terminal domain of the Gs protein α subunit (Gαs Ct) and the first intracellular loop (iLP1) of prostacyclin receptor (IP) have been predicted to be involved in the receptor signaling mediated through the IP/Gs protein coupling by our previous NMR studies using synthetic peptides. To test whether the results of the peptide studies can be applied to the protein interaction between the IP receptor and the Gs protein in cells, a minigene technique was used to construct cDNAs that encoded either the amino acid residues of the Gαs or that of the individual intracellular loops of the IP receptor. The effects of the minigene-expressed protein fragments on cAMP production mediated by the IP/Gs coupling were evaluated through experiments that co-expressed peptides either through the Gαs Ct or the IP intracellular loops with the IP receptor in HEK293 cells. The first (iLP1) and third (iLP3) IP intracellular loops, as well as the Gαs Ct, which are important to the IP/Gs coupling-mediated signaling, were identified by the significant reduction of cAMP production when the corresponding peptides were expressed in the cells. Furthermore, the cAMP productions were significantly impaired in Gαs-knockout cells co-expressing the IP receptor with the Gαs C-terminal mutants (E392A, L393A and L394A), compared with the Gαs wild type. Blocking of the endogenous IP/Gs coupling by the minigene-expressed peptides of the Gαs CT, iLP1 and iLP3 was further observed in the human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (SMCs). These results indicate that the three residues (E392–L394) of the Gαs protein predicted from NMR peptide studies, and the IP iLP1 and iLP3 play important roles in the Gαs-mediated IP receptor signaling in the cells, which may be a general binding site for the corresponding regions of the other prostanoid receptors that couple to Gs protein.
Noise coupling between accommodation and accommodative vergence.

For monocular viewing, the fluctuations in accommodative lens power in the frequency range from 0.5 to 3 Hz were found to be considerably greater than those in accommodative vergence movements of the covered eye. Considering the close synkinesis between these motor responses for step changes or slow variations in accommodative stimulus, this finding is unexpected. This apparent lack of synkinesis is found to result mainly from the fact that the decrease in small-signal linear gain with increasing frequency is more rapid in the case of the accommodative vergence system than in the case of the accommodation system, rather than from some nonlinear phenomenon.
The evolutional stage changes in sarcoidosis on gallium-67 scintigraphy

Gallium-67 scintigraphy has been proven as the imaging modality of choice in monitoring the presence of active disease in sarcoidosis. The purpose of this study is to analyze the patterns of evolutional stage changes of sarcoidosis while on steroid therapy by Ga-67 scintigraphy.Methods: Eighty-six consecutive patients with biopsy-proved sarcoidosis are evaluated by Ga-67 scintigraphy. Thirty-six of 86 patients have had a baseline and one to eight follow-up Ga-67 scintigraphs (total 136 studies). The initial follow-up scintigraphs are obtained on average about 4–12 months after the baseline study.Results: Seventeen of 36 patients (47.2%) are in stage IV at the time of the baseline study. Following their first course of corticosteroid therapy, 13 patients remained in the same stage and activity distribution pattern while 13 patients have shown reversion to other stages, eight patients showed complete remission while two patients became active from inactive stage.Conclusion: Evolutional stage changes are seen in 23 patients (63.9%), including eight patients (22.2%) who showed complete scintigraphic remission. The evolutionary stage changes remain quite variable and unpredictable. This, however, should not detract from the usefulness of Ga-67 scintigraphy in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of sarcoidosis, particularly when extrapulmonary involvement (Stage IV disease) is present.
Of fabric and fabrication: Lila Downs’ refashioning of transnational music

In this essay I argue that Lila Downs’ music persona represents an integrative approach between music, culture and ethnic identity, and thus provides scholars with an important site to study Latinidad from a more expansive transnational perspective. Central to this essay is the discussion of Downs’ use of the huipil, as fashion garment and as a metaphor, to explain her creative blending of ethnic identity and artistic performance. In so doing, indigeneity, folklore and authenticity gain relevance as she adopts and manipulates hybrid cultural and musical forms for transnational audiences beyond the confines of the national. That is, Downs embodies the politics of location and dis-location, immigration, crossing and transgressing borders that are also part of broader Latina/o experience.
Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships of controlled-release oxycodone

Plasma concentrations of oxycodone, oxymorphone, and noroxycodone were determined after administration of 20 mg oral controlled-release oxycodone tablets to four subject groups: young (aged 21 to 45 years) men, elderly (aged 65 to 79 years) men, young women, and elderly women. Area under the oxycodone and noroxycodone concentration-time curve (AUC) values were comparable among the four groups. Compared with oxycodone, the oxymorphone AUC values were small, with significant differences between subject groups. AUC values were also calculated for the pharmacodynamic variable "drug effect," scored on a 100 mm visual analog scale. The two groups with the highest oxycodone AUC values (young and elderly women) had the lowest oxymorphone AUC values and the greatest drug effect AUC values. The two groups with the lowest oxycodone AUC values (young and elderly men) had the highest oxymorphone AUC values and the lowest drug effect AUC values. These results support oxycodone, and not oxymorphone, as being primarily responsible for pharmacodynamic and analgesic effects.
Molecular motion and phase behavior of a double-tail sulfonate surfactant by NMR

Abstract 13C and 1H NMR were used to study the surfactant molecular motion of the double-tail surfactant sodium 4-(1′-heptylnonyl)benzenesulfonate (SHBS) in chloroform, water, chloroform/water, decane, and water/decane. This information in combination with other methods was used to establish the phase behavior of SHBS with these liquids. All carbon and proton resonances are observed as sharp only if the surfactant is in a fluid isotropic solution. For the lamellar liquid crystalline phase formed by surfactant and water, T1 measurements and linewidths indicate a pronounced motional gradient resulting from anisotropic motion as the ionic head group is approached. This behavior is observed at surfactant concentrations from 2 to 75 wt% and at temperatures from 25 to 80°C. The surfactant molecular motion is slower in the highly viscous surfactant/decane phase. This phase undergoes a transition around 50°C yielding a much more fluid phase in equilibrium with an isotropic solution containing ∼9 wt% surfactant. The surfactant molecular motion in the surfactant/water liquid crystalline phase becomes faster when either decane or chloroform is solubilized in the surfactant bilayers.
Numerical analysis of thermal fluctuations in new inflation.

The effects of thermal fluctuations on the evolution of the scalar field in a preinflationary period are explored numerically to complement a previous analytical investigation. The analysis is applicable to a weakly coupled scalar field in a double-well potential in new inflation. A critical value of the strength of the coupling to the thermal bath is found, above which thermal fluctuations do not allow the inflationary period to begin. The evolution of the scalar field is followed until the onset of the inflationary period.
Development of a bovine X chromosome linkage group and painting probes to assess cattle, sheep, and goat X chromosome segment homologies

Abstract The X chromosome linkage group is conserved in placental mammals. However, X chromosome morphological differences, due to internal chromosome rearrangements, exist among mammalian species. We have developed bovine chromosome painting probes for Xp and Xq to assess segment homologies between the submetacentric bovine X chromosome and the acrocentric sheep and goat X chromosomes. These painting probes and their corresponding DNA libraries were developed by chromosome micromanipulation, DNA micropurification, microcloning, and PCR amplification. The bovine Xp painting probe identified an interstitially located homologous segment in the sheep and goat Xq region, most probably resulting from chromosome inversion. Ten type II (microsatellite) markers obtained from the bovine Xq library and five other X chromosome assigned, but unlinked, markers were used to generate a linkage map for Xq spanning 89.4 centimorgans. The chromosome painting probes and molecular markers generated in this study would be useful for comparative mapping and tracing of internal X chromosome rearrangements in all ruminant species and would contribute to the understanding of mammalian sex chromosome evolution.
Benzothiadiazole (BTH) induces resistance in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var botrytis) to downy mildew of crucifers caused by Peronospora parasitica

Abstract Seedlings of Billabong, a downy mildew susceptible cauliflower F1 hybrid, were screened for their ability to develop induced resistance following treatment with CGA 245704, also known as benzothiadiazole (BTH). The seedlings were sprayed with a water solution containing the following doses of the elicitor: 0.0015, 0.005, 0.01, 0.015, 0.045, 0.075, 0.15 and 0.25 mg active ingredient (a.i.) per ml. In the dose–response experiments, the treated seedlings were challenged four days later with inocula prepared from either frozen or fresh produced spores of the virulent downy mildew isolate FP06. Results obtained showed that up to a concentration of 0.45 mg a.i./ml, the efficacies of the induced resistance was lower with fresh spores than with frozen ones. At 0.45 mg a.i./ml or higher, no differences were seen. Similar results were obtained on 30 day-old plants (young plants). In the time-course experiments, the treated seedlings were inoculated with isolate FP06 −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15 and 30 days later. Results obtained showed that no resistance was induced when the inoculation was done just after BTH treatment or one day before. The seedlings as well as the young plants exhibited induced resistance when challenged 1–30 days after treatment and this resistance was shown to be sytemic. Furthermore, it was shown that BTH solutions kept at 4–5°C were still able to induce resistance 30 days after their preparation. In all experiments, growth reduction affecting seedling's height was noticed and its importance was dose-dependent. The reduction was of 5.9% for the lowest concentration (0.0015 mg a.i./ml) to 38.3 for the highest one (0.25 mg a.i./ml). At concentrations of 0.045 and 0.05 mg a.i./ml, induction of resistance was maximum and the height reduction was of approximatively 22%. On young plants, the growth reduction concerned only leaf length and width. At a concentration of 0.05 mg a.i./ml, the corresponding leaf growth reduction were of 14.1 for the width and 12.3% for the length. No direct effect of BTH on spore morphology or germination was shown.
Variation with a period of two solar cycles in the cosmic‐ray diurnal anisotropy and the superposed variations correlated with magnetic activity

Annual means of the diurnal anisotropy from 1937 to 1967 are shown to result from the addition of two distinct diurnal components. One component, with maximum in the asymptotic direction 128° east of the sun, contains a well-determined wave, W, with a period of two solar cycles. W passes through zero in 1958 when the sun’s poloidal field reversed. The remaining component with W eliminated, has its maximum in the asymptotic direction 90° east of the sun. Annual means of this component, with maximum at 18.0 hours local asymptotic time, are well correlated (r = +0.75) with magnetic activity and determine a solar cycle variation with minimum near sunspot minimum and amplitude about two-thirds that of W. These results derive from a statistical investigation of the variability of annual means of the diurnal variation from ion-chamber data at Cheltenham-Fredericksburg, Huancayo, and Christchurch. The absolute, or total, diurnal anisotropy and the atmospheric diurnal temperature effect are in reasonable agreement with those derived independently through a comparison between the diurnal anisotropy from ion-chamber data and from Simpson's 1953–1966, IGY neutron monitor data at Huancayo.
High-resolution, real-time three-dimensional shape measurement on graphics processing unit

A three-dimensional (3-D) shape measurement system that can simultaneously achieve 3-D shape acquisition, reconstruction, and display at 30 frames per second (fps) with 480,000 measurement points per frame is presented. The entire processing pipeline was realized on a graphics processing unit (GPU) without the need of substantial central processing unit (CPU) power, making it achievable on a portable device, namely a laptop computer. Furthermore, the system is extremely inexpensive compared with similar state-of-art systems, making it possible to be accessed by the general public. Specifically, advanced GPU techniques such as multipass rendering and offscreen rendering were used in conjunction with direct memory access to achieve the aforementioned performance. The developed system, implementation details, and experimental results to verify the performance of the proposed technique are presented.
Intimate Partner Violence and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among High-Risk Women: Does Pregnancy Matter?

Interviews from 655 women participating in the Chicago Women’s Health Risk Study (CWHRS) were used to assess prevalence and factors associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Black women had the highest rate of IPV overall and among pregnant women, and had decreased odds of PTSD compared to Black nonpregnant women. Hispanic pregnant women, however, had decreased odds of IPV and PTSD compared to Hispanic nonpregnant women. Disparities in IPV by race/ ethnicity and pregnancy status complicate the study of IPV and PTSD and have implications for the public health community.
Relationship between Vitamin D, Parathyroid Hormone, and Bone Health

Vitamin D insufficiency as it relates to bone health occurs at a serum 25OHD level < 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/liter).
An intelligent robotic walker: Mechanical design and control system

This paper presents the mechanical and control system design of a mobile robot designed as a mobility aid for the elderly. Today, with advanced computer control and robotics technologies it is possible to design more intelligent robots, which can help elderly people in their dally life tasks. We have designed an intelligent robotic walker. The main functions of this advanced walker are: following its path with observed control, changing its structural shape to prevent unbalancing the user when walking on a slope, and braking to stop the user falling down. The base of the robot is considered another linkage in the manipulator system, in the adoption of the robot to the slope.A simulation of the system shows the effectiveness of the proposed control method.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Experimental and theoretical studies of the electron transport chain. I. The effect of respiratory chain inhibitors on the carbon monoxide blocked respiratory chain.

Abstract A mathematical model for the oxidation kinetics of cytochromes a , c , and c 1 in CO-inhibited pigeon heart mitochondria is presented and compared with the experimental data. The model attempts to explain the effect of the respiratory chain inhibitors: malonate, rotenone, TTFB and antimycin A on the cytochrome kinetics. It is found that the agreement between the experimental data and the model is good. The possibility of using the model presented in more complicated systems is discussed.
Carbon dioxide emissions from Deccan volcanism and a K/T boundary greenhouse effect.

A greenhouse warming caused by increased emissions of carbon dioxide from the Deccan Traps volcanism has been suggested as the cause of the terminal Cretaceous extinctions on land and in the sea. Total eruptive and noneruptive CO2 output by the Deccan eruptions (from 6 to 20 x 10 to the 16th moles) over a period of several hundred thousand years is estimated based on best estimates of the CO2 weight fraction of the original basalts and basaltic melts, the fraction of CO2 degassed, and the volume of the Deccan Traps eruptions. Results of a model designed to estimate the effects of increased CO2 on climate and ocean chemistry suggest that increases in atmospheric pCO2 due to Deccan Traps CO2 emissions would have been less than 75 ppm, leading to a predicted global warming of less than 1 C over several hundred thousand years. It is concluded that the direct climate effects of CO2 emissions from the Deccan eruptions would have been too weak to be an important factor in the end-Cretaceous mass extinctions.
Analysis of MEMS based rotor flux sensing in a hybrid reluctance permanent magnet motor

Hybrid reluctance permanent magnet (HRPM) motors have potential advantages for electric vehicle propulsion. However, their introduction into practical applications has been limited due to the complexity of controlling the nonlinear reluctance torque. This paper presents the results of an investigation into the use of micro-electromechanical sensors (MEMS) to detect magnetic flux levels in the rotor of a hybrid reluctance permanent magnet motor. It is found that a small network of rotor flux sensors provides an accurate estimate of the instantaneous reluctance effect torque in the machine. This provides a method for controlling the torque of the HRPM machine by separating the linear permanent magnet portion from the nonlinear reluctance torque component, thereby overcoming a significant obstacle in the commercial adoption of HRPM technology.
Chapter 1. Siting, Sighting, and Citing the Dead

From the Middle Archaic through Mississippian periods of the prehistoric American Midwest (ca. 7000–700 B.P.), the specific location, form, and intensity of funerary activity varied through time, but always within a limited, yet evolving, range of alternatives. This material record can be understood as resulting from the interaction of traditional (i.e., meaningful) symbolic systems, the agency of the participants, and specific (i.e., historical) social, economic, and political contexts. In particular, we examine the shifting emphasis on mortuary ritual versus ancestor cult and how this is manifested in terms of the location and form of burial mounds and cemeteries.
Depolarization diffusion during weak suprathreshold stimulation of cardiac tissue

The theory of stimulation of cardiac tissue based on virtual electrode (VE) polarization was presented by Wikswo and his group (Wikswo, Biophys. J., 1995). Four basic regimes, were distinguished: anodal make, anodal break, cathodal make, and cathodal break. We sought to determine applicability of this theory for near-threshold stimulus intensities. For the experiments we, used fluorescence optical imaging to map virtual electrode polarization at the epicardium of Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts stained with voltage-sensitive dyes. Unipolar cathodal pacing was applied during diastole via a platinum-iridium electrodes. During near-threshold cathodal make stimulation we found deviations from Wikswo's theory. We observed that after quick virtual electrode polarization activation starts at hyperpolarized regions and then causes a subsequent activation of the depolarized regions. Such an activation pattern appears similar to break activation. The effect of the depolarization diffusion from depolarized to hyperpolarized regions of the VE obtained by us experimentally was confirmed theoretically by 2D active bidomain simulations. In conclusion, for weak near-threshold stimuli the activation pattern does not fit completely into the established model of Roth and Wikswo thus revealing its limitations.
Altitude is a phenotypic modifier in hereditary paraganglioma type 1: evidence for an oxygen-sensing defect

Hereditary paraganglioma type 1 (PGL1) is char- acterized by slow-growing and vascularized tumors that often develop in the carotid body (CB) and is caused by mutations in the gene for succinate dehydrogenase D (SDHD) of mitochondrial complex II. The mechanisms of tumorigenesis and the factors affecting penetrance and ex- pressivity are unknown. Because chronic hypoxic stimu- lation at high altitudes causes sporadic CB paragangliomas, it has been hypothesized that the SDHD gene product may be involved in oxygen sensing. On this background, we examined genotype-phenotype-environment relationships and tested whether higher altitudes adversely affect the phe- notype in PGL1. An analysis of 58 subjects from 23 fam- ilies revealed that nonsense/splicing mutation carriers de- veloped symptoms 8.5 years earlier than missense muta- tion carriers (P<0.012). We also found that subjects who were diagnosed with single tumors at their first clinical evaluation lived at lower average altitudes and were ex- posed to lower altitude-years than those with multiple tu- mors (P<0.012). Pheochromocytomas developed in six sub- jects (approximately 10%), five of whom had nonsense mutations (P=0.052). Subjects with pheochromocytomas also lived at higher average altitudes and were exposed to higher altitude-years than those without them (P=0.026). To test whether altitude is also associated with the more frequent detection of germ-line founder mutations among sporadic cases in The Netherlands than in the USA (P= 0.00033), we calculated population-weighted elevations of the two countries. We found that the population-weighted elevations were approximately 260 m for the US and 2 m for the central-western Netherlands (P~0), where three Dutch founder mutations were discovered. This finding suggests that low altitudes in The Netherlands reduce pen- etrance and relax the natural selection on SDHD muta- tions. Collectively, these data suggest that higher altitudes and nonsense/splicing mutations are associated with phe- notypic severity in PGL1 and support the hypothesis that SDHD mutations impair oxygen sensing.
Ultrasound Visualization of Aortic Dissection by Right Parasternal Scanning, Including Systolic Flutter of the Intimal Flap

Dilation of the ascending aorta and an intimal flap within it (indicating dissecting aneurysm) were visualized by M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography, from the right but not from the left parasternal area. The diagnosis was confirmed by aortography and at surgery. Systolic flutter of the intimal flap, seen on M-mode echocardiography, was attributable to the jet from a mildly stenotic aortic valve impinging on it.
Trovafloxacin enhances TNF-induced inflammatory stress and cell death signaling and reduces TNF clearance in a murine model of idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity.

Therapy employing the fluoroquinolone antibiotic, trovafloxacin (TVX) was curtailed due to idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity. Previous studies in mice showed that a nonhepatotoxic inflammatory stress induced by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) synergized with a nonhepatotoxic dose of TVX to cause liver injury. The purpose of this study was to explore mechanisms by which TVX interacts with TNF to cause liver injury. TVX pretreatment prolonged the peak of plasma TNF after its administration. This prolongation of TNF by TVX was critical to the development of hepatotoxicity. The prolongation of TNF concentration in plasma was primarily due to reduced clearance when compared with secondary biosynthesis. TNF is cleared from plasma by binding to soluble TNF receptors (TNFRs) which are eliminated by the kidney; however, the plasma concentrations of soluble TNFRs were not reduced, and biomarkers of renal dysfunction were not elevated in TVX/TNF-treated mice. Two injections of TNF mimicked the prolongation of the TNF peak by TVX and caused liver injury, but injury was less severe than after TVX/TNF coexposure. TVX enhanced the induction of proinflammatory cytokines by TNF. Additionally, TVX sensitized Hepa1c1c7 cells to TNF-induced killing in a concentration-dependent manner and increased both potency and efficacy of TNF to activate effector caspases that were critically involved in cell death from TVX/TNF coexposure. In summary, TVX reduced the clearance of TNF independent of either receptor shedding or kidney dysfunction. Additionally, TVX interacted with TNF to enhance inflammation and sensitize hepatocytes to TNF-induced cell death.
Developing, Staffing, and Assessing Parent Programs.

Given the time and energy that student affairs administrators currently devote to parents, thoughtful needs assessment, development of a clear philosophy, and identification of resources are critical to the success of outreach efforts.
Full-term delivery following nephrectomy.

Pregnancy following nephrectomy in 88 patients who were delivered of 139 infants at The New York Lying-In Hosptal from 1932 through 1965 is reviewed. Antepartum complications occurred in 27 per cent of patients, but no postpartum complications due to previous nephrectomy were found. Pregnancy following nephrectomy may be safely undertaken provided careful selection of the patient is made.
Bootstrapping Knowledge Base Acceleration

The Streaming Slot Filler (SSF) task in TREC Knowledge Base Acceleration track involves detecting changes to slot values (relations) over time. To handle this task, the system needs to extract relations to identify slot-ller values and detect novel values. Being the rst attempt at KBA, the biggest challenge that we faced was the scale of the data. We present the approach used by University of Wisconsin for the SSF task and the large scale challenge. We used Elementary, a scalable statistical inference and learning system, developed in University of Wisconsin as our core system. We used Stanford NLP Toolkit to generate parse trees, dependency graphs and named-entity recognition information. These were then converted to features for the logistic regression learner of Elementary. To handle the lack of early SSF training data, we used our existing Knowledge Base Population system to bootstrap a logistic regression model and added rules to handle the new relations.
Analysis of regulatory elements and genes required for carbon tetrachloride degradation in Pseudomonas stutzeri strain KC.

Previously, we described the generation and initial characterization of four Tn5 mutants of Pseudo- monas stutzeri strain KC with impaired ability to degrade carbon tetrachloride (Sepulveda-Torres et al., 1999). In this study, we show cloning and sequencing of an 8.3 kbp region in which all four transposons were located. This fragment encodes eight potential genes and is located in the central part of the 25 kbp fragment recently identified by Lewis et al .( 2000) and shown by them to be sufficient to confer carbon tetrachloride transfor- mation capability upon other pseudomonads. The four transposon insertion mutants mapped in ORF's F and I designated by Lewis et al .( 2000). This is consistent with the results by Lewis et al. (2000) that orfF is required for carbon tetrachloride degradation. We further established that orfI is required for CCl4 degradation since the three mutants in this ORF were unable to degrade carbon tetrachloride. We present our analysis of the gene and protein sequences from the 8.3 kbp region and propose a tentative model for the role of different genes in the synthesis and activity of pyridine-2,6-bis(thiocarboxylate) (PDTC), the secreted factor responsible for carbon tetrachlor- ide dechlorination. We also found a putative promoter that overlaps with a Fur-box-like sequence in the region upstream of mutated genes. To test this putative promoter region and Fur-box, we generated and ligated DNA fragments containing wild-type and mutant Fur-boxes to a lacZ reporter. The wild-type fragment showed promoter activity that is regulated by the concen- tration of iron in the medium. Finally, we screened a selection of Pseudomonas strains, including P. putida DSMZ 3601 - a strain known to produce PDTC - for the presence of the genes characterized in this study. None of the strains tested positive, suggesting that Pseudomonas stutzeri strain KC may possess a distinct biosynthetic pathway for PDTC production.
Diagnostic Reference Levels of CT Radiation Dose in Whole-Body PET/CT

The role of CT in PET/CT imaging includes acquisition techniques for diagnostic, anatomic localization, and attenuation correction purposes. Diagnostic reference levels of the volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol) are available for dedicated CT procedures on selected body regions, but similar reference levels for whole-body CT used in PET/CT examinations are limited. This work reports CTDIvol values from sites that conduct whole-body oncologic PET/CT examinations and participated in the scanner validation program of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Clinical Trials Network. Methods: From 2010 to 2014, a total of 154 sites submitted CT acquisition parameters used in their clinical 18F-FDG PET/CT oncology protocols. From these parameters, the CTDIvol was estimated using the ImPACT CTDI dosimetry tables. Histograms of CTDIvol values were created for each year, and descriptive statistics, including mean, median, and 75th percentile, were reported. Repeated-measures ANOVA was performed to determine whether significant differences occurred between reporting years. Results: A wide range of technical parameters was reported, most notably in tube current. Between 2010 and 2014, the median CTDIvol ranged from 4.9 to 6.2 mGy and the 75th percentile from 9.7 to 10.2 mGy. There was no significant change in CTDIvol between reporting years (repeated-measures ANOVA, P = 0.985). Conclusion: The 75th percentile CTDIvol reported in this work was 9.8 mGy averaged over all reporting years. These data provide a resource for establishing CTDIvol reference values specific to performing CT in PET/CT whole-body examinations. The wide ranges of CT acquisition parameters reported by sites suggest that CTDIvol reference levels may be beneficial for optimization of CT protocols.
Developing Social Work Power in a Medical Organization

■ Social workers who would be change agents in medical organizations must understand how power is distributed, how decisions are made, and how changes would affect other elements of the organization. They must then proceed in a systematic way to develop and apply power in order that social work knowledge and values may have their appropriate effect on the delivery and deployment of medical services. ■
Case Study: Vantin: A Prodrug of Cefpodoxime

Cefpodoxime proxetil is an ester prodrug of the extended spectrum antibiotic cefpodoxime, developed by Sankyo Co., Ltd, Japan. It was designed to overcome the poor oral bioavailability of the parent drug. Cefpodoxime (pKa ∼2.20 ± 0.10) exists predominantly in the ionic form at intestinal pH and thus exhibits poor permeability (Fujimoto et al., 1987). The free carboxylic acid moiety in cefpodoxime offers opportunities for the preparation of prodrugs. Esterification of this carboxylic acid functional group with an isopropyloxycarbonyloxyethyl group removes the ionizable group and improves lipohilicity, enabling the compound to be absorbed by passive diffusion after oral administration (Fujimoto et al., 1987). Approximately 50% of the drug is reported to be absorbed systemically as cefpodoxime (Tremblay et al., 1990).
Tryptophan-Dependent Control of Colony Formation After DNA Damage via Sea3-Regulated TORC1 Signaling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Iml1 complex inhibits TORC1 signaling and SEACAT antagonizes the Iml1 complex. Conditions in which SEACAT functions to inhibit Iml1 and, hence, TORC1 signaling, remain largely unknown. The SEACAT member Sea3 was linked previously to telomere maintenance and DNA repair via genome-wide genetic and physical interaction studies. Therefore, we questioned whether Sea3 functioned through TORC1 to influence these pathways. Deletion of SEA3 delayed the emergence of telomerase-independent survivors that use break-induced replication (BIR) to maintain their telomeres. Similarly, sea3∆ mutants exhibited a delay in colony formation in a BIR assay strain after double-strand break (DSB) induction as well as on the DNA-damaging agent bleomycin. Deletion of IML1 rescued the impaired growth of sea3∆ mutants after DNA damage, consistent with Sea3 functioning as a regulator of TORC1 signaling. The delay was not attributable to slowed DSB repair or termination of the DNA damage checkpoint but to tryptophan auxotrophy. High levels of tryptophan in yeast peptone dextrose media did not rescue the delay in colony formation, suggesting a defect in tryptophan import, although levels of the high-affinity tryptophan permease Tat2 were not perturbed in the sea3 Δ mutant. Addition of quinolinic acid, an intermediate of the de novo NAD+ biosynthetic pathway, however, rescued the delay in colony formation in the sea3 Δ mutant. Together, these findings highlight the importance of enforcement of TORC1 signaling and suggest that internal tryptophan levels influence growth recovery post DNA damage through the role of tryptophan in NAD+ synthesis.
Are You Connected to the Best Apps

While the vast majority of pharmacists use computers to access medical information, many prefer a mobile device to find information quickly. This review discusses pharmacists' use of mobile device applications (apps) and highlights an assortment of apps that are particularly helpful. Epocrates, which provides drug information and clinical content, was the first popular smartphone app developed in this area and was used to introduce the concept. Today, apps that provide a wide range of drug information can be supplemented with apps that fine-tune specific information about drug monitoring, disease states, and cost.
P10.15 The epidemiology of hepatitis c virus in afghanistan: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Our study aims to characterise hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemiology in Afghanistan, as part of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) HCV Epidemiology Synthesis Project. The MENA HCV Epidemiology Synthesis Project is an ongoing effort to characterise HCV epidemiology and inform research, policy, and programming priorities in MENA countries. Methods We systematically reviewed and synthesised HCV prevalence and incidence data following PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analyses using DerSimonian-Laird random effects model with inverse weighting were implemented to estimate HCV prevalence among populations at various risk of HCV infection. A risk of bias assessment was incorporated. Results Our search identified 48 HCV prevalence and one HCV incidence measures. Our meta-analyses estimated HCV prevalence at 0.7% among the general population (range: 0.0–4.0%; 95% CI: 0.3–1.3%), 31.8% among people who inject drugs (PWID; range: 9.5–70.0%; 95% CI: 24.1–40.1%), and 2.5% among populations at intermediate risk (range: 0.0–8.3%; 95% CI: 1.4–3.9%). Among PWID, HCV incidence at 6 months was assessed at 66.7 per 100 person-years in one study. Geographic and temporal variations in HCV prevalence among PWID and prisoners appear to be present. While prevalence among PWID appeared to decline over few years from 36.0% to 27.6% in Kabul, from 12.5% to 9.5% in Jalalabad, and from 24.1% to 18.8% in Mazar-i-Sharif, it increased from 49.1% to 70% in Herat. Among prisoners, HCV prevalence appeared to increase from 1.7% to 4.6% in Kabul and declined from 4.1% to 1.4% in Herat. Risk factors among PWID included a range of injecting behaviours and socio-demographic characteristics. Conclusions HCV prevalence among the general population in Afghanistan is comparable to developing and developed countries globally. There is an immediate need for increasing access to harm reduction programs among specific populations at risk, specifically PWID and prisoners. Disclosure of interest statement This publication was made possible by NPRP grant number [NPRP 4–924–3–251] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). Additional support was provided by the Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Biomathematics Research Core at the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. The funders had no role in the design, conduct, or analysis of the study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
The Finite Injury Method

A positive solution to Post’s problem was finally achieved by Friedberg in [Friedberg 1957] and independently by Muchnik in [Muchnik 1956], who built c.e. sets A and B of incomparable (Turing) degree. Friedberg then produced other results on c.e. sets in [Friedberg 1957b], [Friedberg 1957c] and [Friedberg 1958].
Exotic plants in early and late seral vegetation of fifteen northern Rocky Mountain environments (HTs)

We determined the capacity of exotic plants to invade major environmental types of the northern Rocky Mountains. We did this by observing their presence on disturbed and undisturbed sites in relatively well inoculated locations--corridors adjacent to highways--on transects across the mountains in Glacier National Park and Grand Teton National Park and on low-altitude sites between them. We draw 3 primary conclusions. First, of 29 exotics commonly found, the most dominant are intentionally introduced grasses ( Agrostis, Bromus, Dactylis , and especially Phleum pratense and Poa pratensis ) and legumes ( Melilotus, Medicago , and Trifolium ) rather than the forbs more often listed as noxious. Second, in the environmental types studied, disturbed sites are invasible, except in the alpine. Third, invasion of undisturbed sites declines from grasslands and open forests to alpine to moist forests. This gradient probably represents a decline in resource (light, water, nutrients) availability for herbs, except in the alpine, where a physical limitation is suggested by the poor performance of exotics on noncompetitive disturbed sites.
Treatment approaches of hard-to-treat non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Even after recent advancements with monoclonal antibodies, antibody drug conjugates and immune therapies, relapsed and refractory lymphomas remain challenging to treat; and the definition and treatment approaches of hard-to-treat lymphomas (HTL) continue to evolve.Areas covered: In this review, we will address HTL encompassing diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL) and peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCL). DLBCL, which comprises 30–40% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas is a highly aggressive and heterogeneous malignancy, with primary refractory or relapsed disease remaining a therapeutic challenge. Similarly, early relapse within 2 years of primary treatment in the more indolent FL is associated with inferior outcomes. Finally, PTCL are universally aggressive and carry a poor prognosis.Expert commentary: Recently, novel antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, immunotherapies and cellular therapy (CAR therapy) have shown promising results in early phase clinical trials. Th...
Expression and activity of PXR target genes CYP3A4 and MDR1 in sarcoma tumors predict response to chemotherapeutic agents

4754 Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that orphan steroid pregnane X receptor (PXR) modulation of target genes involved in drug metabolism and transport may be involved in drug resistance of sarcomas. We examined cytotoxicity, inducibility, expression and activity of CYP3A4/5 and the multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) using a specific PXR ligand, rifampin, and selected chemotherapeutic agents in primary sarcoma cell lines. Methods: Total RNA from primary sarcoma cell lines was extracted before and after exposure to etoposide, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, rifampin or phenobarbitol and real-time PCR assays carried out for CYP3A4/5, PXR and MDR1. Protein expression was measured by western blot analysis. Catalytic activity of CYP3A was measured using 7-benzyl-trifluoromethyl coumarin, a CYP3A specific substrate, and/or testosterone 6β-hydroxylation, and a rhodamine 123 assay was used to measure MDR1 activity. Cytotoxicity was determined by lactate dehydrogenase release, Bax/Bcl-2 ratios and PARP cleavage and/or annexin V staining. Results: We observed variations in baseline gene and protein expression of CYP3A4/5, PXR and MDR1 in the different primary sarcoma cell lines. Furthermore, differences were observed in the induction, expression and activity of CYP3A4/5 and MDR1 in response to the PXR specific ligand, rifampin, and the xenobiotics mentioned above, which correlate with the cytotoxic effects of the chemotherapeutic agents. Our results suggest substantial differences in the cytotoxicity profile mediated by these genes. Resistance of primary sarcoma cell lines to etoposide correlated best with increased CYP3A activity and PXR protein expression. Interestingly, while rifampin showed a selective increase in CYP3A activity without any cytotoxic effect, etoposide induced CYP3A activity with variable cytotoxicity in sarcoma cell lines much more efficiently than rifampin, and the activity was reversible by ketoconazole, a CYP3A4 inhibitor. MDR1 expression and function in tumor cells correlated with resistance to doxorubicin, while ifosfamide sensitivity correlated best with baseline CYP3A activity in the tumor. Conclusion: We speculate that one mechanism of etoposide resistance in sarcoma occurs due to binding on PXR and conclude that expression and functional activity of PXR and target genes CYP3A4 and MDR1 in sarcoma tumors may play an important role in resistance and may be used as biomarkers of therapeutic response.
Surgery for Acute Complicated Diverticulitis: Hartmann vs. Primary Anastomosis

Acute diverticulitis is a significant and growing problem within the United States, accounting for over 160,000 hospitalizations per year and 875,000 days of inpatient care [1]. Rates of admission for acute diverticulitis are increasing, especially in the younger population [1, 2]. While the vast majority of cases can be managed without surgery, approximately 14 % require surgical intervention [1].
#Indigenous: Tracking the Connective Actions of Native American Advocates on Twitter

With fewer than 66% of eligible voters registered and voter turnout rates 5-14 percentage points lower than any other ethnic group, Native Americans comprise the least participatory ethnic group in U.S. political elections [42, 57, 49, 25]. While discourse surrounding Native American issues and interests has increasingly moved to social media [55, 56], there is a lack of data about Native American political discourse on these platforms. Given the heterogeneity of Native American peoples in the U.S., one way to begin approaching a holistic understanding of Native American political discourse on social media is to characterize how Native American advocates utilize social media platforms for connective action. Using a post-structural, interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach, we use theories of connective action [5] and media richness [14] to analyze a Twitter data set culled from influential Native American advocates and their followers during the 2016 primary presidential election season. Our study sheds light on how Native American advocates use social media to propagate political information and identifies which issues are central to the political discourse of Native American advocates. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the bandwidth characteristics of content impact its propagation and we discuss this in the context of pernicious digital divide effects present in Indian Country.