cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute Kidney Injury in Patients on Concomitant Vancomycin and Piperacillin/Tazobactam: Are Extended Infusions to Blame?

Background. Empirical combination therapy for hospital-acquired infections often consists of vancomycin (V) and piperacillin/tazobactam (PT). Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a treatment-limiting adverse event with V, and recent evidence has suggested that combination therapy with PT significantly increases this risk. At the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) we noted a rise in perceived V-associated AKI which coincided with two changes: a switch of preferred empiric Gram-negative coverage from cefepime to PT; and a switch from standard infusions (SI) to extended infusions (EI) of β-lactams. We hypothesized that EI PT, as opposed to SI PT, when given in combination with V was the driver of AKI. We therefore developed a retrospective cohort study to investigate the impact of EI PT in combination with V on AKI. Methods. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed at the DMC from December 2011 to December 2013. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they received a minimum of 48 hrs of combination treatment with V and PT started within 24 hours of one other. Patients were excluded if they had creatinine >1.2 mg/dL at the start of therapy or if they were receiving renal replacement therapy. Patients were divided into cases (those receiving EI PT with V) and controls (those receiving SI PT with V). EI cases were matched with SI controls by severity of illness, ICU status, duration of combination therapy, daily dose of V and number of concomitant nephrotoxic agents. The primary outcome was incidence of nephrotoxicity (NTX) according to RIFLE criteria. A propensity score was developed measuring the likelihood of receiving EI as opposed to SI PT. A propensity-adjustment analysis was then performed to determine the impact of EI PT on NTX. Results. Three hundred twenty patients were included in the analysis (160 EI, 160 SI). Mean age for the cohort was 54.8 years, 150 (46.9%) were women, and 204 (63.8%) were African-American. RIFLE defined AKI occurred in 52 (32.5%) of patients receiving EI and 53 (33.1%) of patients receiving SI (p = 0.69). Characteristics of EI and SI patients were very similar. In propensity-adjusted analysis, there was no association between EI PT and AKI (odds ratio = 0.90; 95% CI 0.53–1.53). Conclusion. Among patients receiving concomitant PT and V, PT delivered via EI was associated with a similar risk of NTX as PT delivered by SI. Disclosures. All authors: No reported disclosures.
Index of tobacco control sustainability (ITCS): a tool to measure the sustainability of national tobacco control programmes

Objective To produce a tool to assess and guide sustainability of national tobacco control programmes. Method A two-stage process adapting the Delphi and Nominal group techniques. A series of indicators of tobacco control sustainability were identified in grantee/country advisor reports to The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease under the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Control (2007–2015). Focus groups and key informant interviews in seven low and middle-income countries (52 government and civil society participants) provided consensus ratings of the indicators’ relative importance. Data were reviewed and the indicators were accorded relative weightings to produce the ‘Index of Tobacco Control Sustainability’ (ITCS). Results All 31 indicators were considered ‘Critical’ or ‘Important’ by the great majority of participants. There was consensus that a tool to measure progress towards tobacco control sustainability was important. The most critical indicators related to financial policies and allocations, a national law, a dedicated national tobacco control unit and civil society tobacco control network, a national policy against tobacco industry ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ (CSR), national mortality and morbidity data, and national policy evaluation mechanisms. Conclusions The 31 indicators were agreed to be ‘critical’ or ‘important’ factors for tobacco control sustainability. The Index comprises the weighted indicators as a tool to identify aspects of national tobacco control programmes requiring further development to augment their sustainability and to measure and compare progress over time. The next step is to apply the ITCS and produce tobacco control sustainability assessments.
Opening a new level II trauma center near an established level I trauma center: is this good for trauma care?

Objectives:To describe how the initiation and later removal of a provisional level II trauma center (PL2TC) status at a community hospital affected the volume and severity of injured patients seen at an established academic level 1 trauma center (AL1TC).Methods:Census data including counts of injury
Chapter 7 – Observation rubrics in science assessment

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the importance of developing rubrics that assess observation and allow teachers and students receive helpful feedback and gain information that can enhance metalearning. There are modern-day instances where direct observation of nature, combined with a passion for knowing, has promoted a gain in scientific knowledge. Biological theories are often supported and refined through observation. Observations can be direct, mediated by instruments, coupled with inference, pooled, collated across time and space, and distilled into principles. They can enable technological advances, unlock meaningful understanding within a knowledge domain, and drive both research and technology. The power of direct observation cannot be overestimated as a fundamental process of science. It has led to many discoveries and contributed to both scientific knowledge and scientific methods. Using the power of observation within a content area seems to have a good fit with meaningful learning theory. In fact, observation activities can serve as an anchor for many of the elements associated with meaningful learning.
Psychopharmacological Agents Associated with Sexual Dysfunction

AbstractAn assessment of patient appropriateness for behaviorally-oriented sex therapy by necessity includes an assessment as to whether the presenting sexual difficulty is a pharmacological side effect. Numerous commonly prescribed psychiatric drugs have been reported to be associated with retarded ejaculation, erectile incapacity, and female anorgasmia. This information is reviewed as it is of potential extreme usefulness to practicing sexual therapists.
Factitious disorder in the emergency department

Factitious disorders can represent diagnostic and treatment dilemmas for all clinicians who come in contact with these perplexing patients. Presentations are unusual; symptoms may be incongruent with known diagnoses or match textbook descriptions. As demanding as it may be to care for such patients in the long term, it is equally challenging to assess a case in the initial emergency department where patients can present without historic data, demonstrate the ability to deceive, have unclear motivation, and exhibit puzzling symptoms. Missing a serious condition can be disastrous but there can also be sequelae of inadvertently ordered expensive and potentially harmful treatment. This article presents two patients who sought care in the psychiatric emergency services of a large, county hospital and discusses diagnostic and treatment issues. The authors propose psychological explanations for staff and clinicians' reactions and suggest interventions useful in the emergency setting. The article emphasizes the necessity of caring for the patient in an ethical and appropriate manner and raises issues of risk management.
Research Professionals’ Perspectives, Barriers, and Recommendations Regarding Minority Participation in Clinical Trials

This study aims to investigate research professionals’ perspectives regarding minority participation in clinical trials. A web-based survey of research professionals at US institutions receiving NIH and/or AHRQ funding to conduct clinical research in 2013. Descriptive statistics, mean, standard deviation (SD), and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test were utilized for analysis. Distributed were 13,041 surveys with 967 (7.4%) responses. Overall and race-stratified analyses included 633 and 521 surveys, respectively. A majority agreed that patients’ race (mean, 3.4; SD = 1.0) and primary language (mean, 4.0; SD = 0.9) have an effect on enrollment. They had more success in enrolling those whose primary language was the same as their own (mean, 3.8; SD = 1.0), and that a language barrier and time spent arranging for interpreters had prevented them from offering a study to potential candidates (mean, 3.2; SD = 1.2). Non-Caucasian respondents were more likely to agree that “fear of unknown side effects” was a deterrent for minorities (p < 0.01), “minorities are more likely to be unavailable for follow-up phone calls” (p = 0.07), and “the unavailability of translated material discourages non-English speakers from participation” (p = 0.08). They also were more likely to be neutral or agree with being discouraged from enrolling minorities because of the possibility of their withdrawal or being less likely to be available for phone follow-ups and follow-up visits (all p < 0.01). Despite a few subtle racial differences in research professionals’ perspectives, a majority expressed no hesitation in enrolling minorities. Patients’ race and primary language appeared to influence enrollment. A language barrier appeared to be the strongest barrier for research professionals.
MYOELECTRIC ANALYSIS OF NORMAL HUMAN SPINE FUNCTION

In this study, power spectral analysis of myoelectric signals was used to quantify the rate of fatigue in the erector spinae musculature of four normal human males during isometric back extension exercise. With repeated trials at load levels at 50% of maximum voluntary extension force, signals obtained from bipolar surface electrodes revealed mean and median power frequencies which decreased exponentially to final values at total fatigue ranging from 40% to 84% of initial frequencies. Fatigue time constants derived from linear regressions of the mean power frequency curves showed high repeatability and significant correlations (r = .905 to .997, p<.001). Median power frequency time constants showed slightly lower repeatability and correlations (r = .853 to .996, p<.001).
MOUNTAIN METEOROLOGY | Cold Air Damming

Cold air damming (CAD) occurs when cold, stable air becomes topographically blocked by relatively long, continuous mountain ranges. The cold air becomes rotationally trapped against the mountain to form a pressure wedge and low-level jet parallel to the barrier. The cold dome can be further modified by diabatic processes within the planetary boundary layer. This article summarizes the structure and evolution of CAD. The large-scale flow patterns that favor CAD are highlighted, with particular emphasis on the Appalachian Mountains and Rocky Mountains. Finally, some of the societal impacts and forecast challenges are discussed.
Understanding the Struggles to Be a Medical Provider: View Through Medical Student Essays.

Abstract Background The clinical learning environment helps to shape the professional identity of medical students. This process begins from existing personal identity and is influenced by various factors, including clinical experiences and clinical learning environment. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine medical students’ reflections as a way to identify and better characterize the modern struggles that medical students face, in order to inform the development of professional identity. Methods Students rotating in their emergency medicine clerkship wrote reflections on dilemmas that highlighted common struggles of becoming a doctor. Qualitative analysis was performed to determine common themes from the essays. The research team coded 173 reflections and identified themes and major domains. Results The first domain was Patient–Provider Conflict, including challenging patient (34%), difficult communication (25%), competing priorities between patients’ interest and trainees need to learn (19%), and bias (13%). The second domain was Provider-Specific Issues, such as the “gray zone,” in which there is not a clear standard of practice (29%), end-of-life care (14%), emotional struggle (6%), and fear of litigation (5%). The final domain was Systems Issues, such as cost of care (12%) and role of the emergency department (6%). Conclusions The reflections point to a wide variety of challenges that students confront in practice that will contribute to how they develop into physicians.
Optimal and Autonomous Control Using Reinforcement Learning: A Survey

This paper reviews the current state of the art on reinforcement learning (RL)-based feedback control solutions to optimal regulation and tracking of single and multiagent systems. Existing RL solutions to both optimal $\mathcal {H}_{2}$ and $\mathcal {H}_\infty $ control problems, as well as graphical games, will be reviewed. RL methods learn the solution to optimal control and game problems online and using measured data along the system trajectories. We discuss Q-learning and the integral RL algorithm as core algorithms for discrete-time (DT) and continuous-time (CT) systems, respectively. Moreover, we discuss a new direction of off-policy RL for both CT and DT systems. Finally, we review several applications.
Sensorimotor Learning during a Marksmanship Task in Immersive Virtual Reality.

Sensorimotor learning refers to improvements that occur through practice in the performance of sensory-guided motor behaviors. Leveraging novel technical capabilities of an immersive virtual environment, we probed the component kinematic processes that mediate sensorimotor learning. Twenty naive subjects performed a simulated marksmanship task modeled after Olympic Trap Shooting standards. We measured movement kinematics and shooting performance as participants practiced 350 trials while receiving trial-by-trial feedback about shooting success. Spatiotemporal analysis of motion tracking elucidated the ballistic and refinement phases of hand movements. We found systematic changes in movement kinematics that accompanied improvements in shot accuracy during training, though reaction and response times did not change over blocks. In particular, we observed longer, slower, and more precise ballistic movements that replaced effort spent on corrections and refinement. Collectively, these results leverage developments in immersive virtual reality technology to quantify and compare the kinematics of movement during early learning of full-body sensorimotor orienting.
Grouper: graph-based clustering and annotation for improved de novo transcriptome analysis.

Motivation De novo transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq offers a promising means to study gene expression in non-model organisms. Yet, the difficulty of transcriptome assembly means that the contigs provided by the assembler often represent a fractured and incomplete view of the transcriptome, complicating downstream analysis. We introduce Grouper, a new method for clustering contigs from de novo assemblies that are likely to belong to the same transcripts and genes; these groups can subsequently be analyzed more robustly. When provided with access to the genome of a related organism, Grouper can transfer annotations to the de novo assembly, further improving the clustering. Results On de novo assemblies from four different species, we show that Grouper is able to accurately cluster a larger number of contigs than the existing state-of-the-art method. The Grouper pipeline is able to map greater than 10% more reads against the contigs, leading to accurate downstream differential expression analyses. The labeling module, in the presence of a closely related annotated genome, can efficiently transfer annotations to the contigs and use this information to further improve clustering. Overall, Grouper provides a complete and efficient pipeline for processing de novo transcriptomic assemblies. Availability and implementation The Grouper software is freely available at https://github.com/COMBINE-lab/grouper under the 2-clause BSD license. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Intra-organismal variation in the structure of plant vascular transport tissues in poplar trees

Phloem and xylem conduit structure vary greatly throughout the body of Populus trichocarpa trees, particularly between roots and shoots. This has implications for understanding organ and whole plant vascular function. Woody plant vascular transport occurs predominantly within secondary xylem and phloem, which are both produced by the vascular cambium during secondary growth. We examined how vessel and sieve tube structure varied throughout the plant body of P. trichocarpa trees and whether xylem and phloem conduit structure was correlated across different positions within the plant. We excavated entire juvenile P. trichocarpa trees and measured vessel and sieve tube structural traits of current-year growth in 1 m increments along the main root:shoot axis. Trees were > 4 m tall and had roots that extended 4–5 m at their longest length. We found that both sieve tube and vessel diameters greatly varied throughout the plant body and with organ diameter. Roots had wider diameter conduits than shoots. Sieve tube diameter was strongly correlated with vessel diameter, which may be related to their common developmental origin. Other structural traits, such as pit membrane area and pit density for xylem, and sieve plate area and number of sieve areas per plate for phloem, also varied and were correlated with changes in conduit diameter. The median air-seeding pressure of vessels (Pm) and vessel length did not differ between roots and shoots. Understanding plant vascular function will likely require increased knowledge of whole plant structure and function, since plant performance may be limited by any point along the transport pathway. Considering intra-organismal variation may be a way to evaluate structure–function hypotheses while controlling for confounding sources of variation that may impact inter-specific comparisons.
Production of natural bamboo fibers-1: experimental approaches to different processes and analyses

This research is dedicated to explore practicable processes for natural bamboo fiber production. The mechanical process, steam explosion, chemical process, enzymatic process, and combined process w...
A High-Level Language for L-systems and Its Applications

A high-level language which incorporates several extensions of the L-system’s grammar is described. A computer program ELSYS, consisting of a L-system compiler for this language, a graphic module and a user interface for Sun workstations, has been developed. Some applications of the ELSYS to animation, architecture, optical scattering and remote sensing are given.
An Expert Survey on the Material Types used to Start Cookstoves.

Abstract Household air pollution generated using solid-fuel cookstoves is a leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many studies have quantified cookstove emissions with respect to the main fuels used (e.g., wood, charcoal and other biomass fuels). Anecdotal evidence suggests a variety of fuels are used to ignite cookstoves, however quantitative information on startup fuel types is lacking. Emissions from startup materials contribute to household air pollution. As such, understanding startup practices and the choices of startup materials is integral to understanding the full burden of household air pollution from cookstoves on health and the environment. We conducted an expert elicitation style survey to gather information about startup practices worldwide. Twenty-three respondents from academic and private sectors responded to a survey instrument on cookstove startup, providing information that covered 48 geographic locations across 22 countries. Responses to the open-ended questions were analyzed to quantify how startup materials vary according to factors such as location, seasonality, and the main cooking fuel/stove type. A wide variety of materials were reportedly used to ignite cookstoves, including many non-biomass materials that may have toxic combustion byproducts. Paper, plastic, agricultural wastes, waxes and other petroleum fuels (e.g., kerosene), and rubber-like materials (e.g., tires, footwear) were the most commonly indicated startup materials. Additional materials mentioned included fabrics, plastic packaging, soda bottles, snack food wrappers, and trash. Results from this survey can be used to direct future research on the impacts of startup materials on health and the environment, such as justifying the choice of materials to test in the laboratory.
Primary cosmic-ray alpha-particles. IV.—Energy spectrum at 41°N geomagnetic latitude

From the analysis of an emulsion stack exposed to the primary cosmic radiation over Texas on February 8, 1959, the α-particle integral energy spectrum was found to be well represented by a simple power law of the total energyN(W)=CW −γ in the kinetic energy range (2.5⋎7.5) GeV/nucleon. The value of exponent was found to bey=1.56±0.18, which is not appreciably different, but perhaps somewhat lower than a valuey≅1.65 found at solar minimum in the kinetic energy range (1.8⋎3) GeV/nucleon. A slightly smaller exponent at solar maximum is consistent with a solar modulating mechanism which preferentially removes low-energy particles from the primary cosmic-ray spectrum. These emulsions were exposed at a time near solar maximum, and the result is not consistent with a valuey=1.0 in this energy range at solar maximum, as has been suggested. By using glass-backed plates and a low-temperature isothermal processing technique, the emulsion noise was reduced to a level where measurements could be extended to α-particle kinetic energies of 7.5 GeV/nucleon. Agreement of the point on the integral spectrum at a kinetic energy of 7 GeV/nucleon with flux values found at Guam during a period of similar cosmic-ray intensity shows that there is no significant noise contribution in these emulsions which varies with cell size in the same way as the Coulomb scattering signal.
Device and non-device-guided slow breathing to reduce blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objectives Interest is increasing in nonpharmacological interventions to treat blood pressure in hypertensive and prehypertensive patients at low cardiac risk. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assesses the impact of device-guided and non-device-guided (pranayama) slow breathing on blood pressure reduction in these patient populations. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, BIOSIS (Biological Abstracts) Citation Index and Alt HealthWatch for studies meeting these inclusion criteria: randomized controlled trial or first phase of a randomized cross-over study; subjects with hypertension, prehypertension or on antihypertensive medication; intervention consisting of slow breathing at ≤10 breaths/minute for ≥5 min on ≥3 days/week; total intervention duration of ≥4 weeks; follow-up for ≥4 weeks; and a control group. Data were extracted by two authors independently, the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool assessed bias risk, and data were pooled using the DerSimonian and Laird random effects model. Main outcomes included changes in systolic (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and/or decreased antihypertensive medication. Results Of 103 citations eligible for full-text review, 17 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, slow breathing decreased SBP by -5.62 mmHg [-7.86, -3.38] and DBP by -2.97 mmHg [-4.28, -1.66]. Heterogeneity was high for all analyses. Conclusions Slow breathing showed a modest reduction in blood pressure. It may be a reasonable first treatment for low-risk hypertensive and prehypertensive patients who are reluctant to start medication.
Implications of use of opioid-containing analgesics for palliation of acute dental pain.

Background: Initial palliation of acute dental pain with an opioid-containing pain reliever (OPR) is inappropriate but more likely to occur among the under- and uninsured who are unable to access the customary resources for dental care. Objective: To assess the implications of palliation with an OPR, the authors determined the prevalence of several health attributes and socioeconomic status (SES) of patients taking prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) palliative medications before they presented to an academically affiliated dental clinic for definitive treatment of acute dental pain. Methods: Prior palliation with any OPR/antibiotic combination was compared with a self-reported mood disorder, use of a psychotherapeutic or street drug, low SES (on Medicaid or self-payer), or high SES (having commercial dental insurance). Results: Palliative medications were being taken by 34 percent of 851 patients including 20 percent who were taking an OPR. Use of any palliative prescription medication was significantly associated with low SES (odds ratio: 1.25; 95%; confidence interval: 1.35-2.88; p = 0.004). By comparison, high SES patients were significantly more likely to have used OTC analgesics or no medication (p < 0.001). Significantly more low SES patients self-reported mood disorders and street drug use (p = 0.048 and p = 0.019), respectively. Patients taking OPRs included those with self-reported mood disorders or use of a psychotherapeutic or street drug. Conclusions: Palliation of acute dental pain with OPRs cannot resolve the underlying dental condition and contributes to drug misuse and adverse interactions. Preferable palliation should utilize combinations of non-OPR analgesics. These have fewer risks and may provide an incentive to seek definitive dental treatment.
Computational Analysis of Therapeutic Neuroadaptation to Chronic Antidepressant in a Model of the Monoaminergic Neurotransmitter, Stress Hormone, and Male Sex Hormone Systems

Abstract Second-line depression treatment involves augmentation with one (rarely two) additional drugs, of chronic administration of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is the first-line depression treatment. Unfortunately, many depressed patients still fail to respond even after months to years of searching to find an effective combination. To aid in the identification of potentially affective antidepressant combinations, we created a computational model of the monoaminergic neurotransmitter (serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine), stress-hormone (cortisol), and male sex-hormone (testosterone) systems. The model was trained via machine learning to represent a broad set of empirical observations. Neuroadaptation to chronic drug administration was simulated through incremental adjustments in model parameters that corresponded to key regulatory components of the neurotransmitter and neurohormone systems. Analysis revealed that neuroadaptation in the model depended on all of the regulatory components in complicated ways, and did not reveal any one or a few specific components that could be targeted in the design of combination antidepressant treatment. We used large sets of neuroadapted states of the model to screen 74 different drug and hormone combinations and identified several combinations that could potentially be therapeutic for a higher proportion of male patients than SSRIs by themselves.
Host Microbicidal Actions of the Innate Immune Response

The human body is constantly under assault by potential microbial pathogens. In addition to the enormous numbers of micro-organisms that we ingest, inhale, aspirate, and come in direct contact with on a daily basis, the average human has 1014 (one hundred trillion) micro-organisms in the alimentary tract and on epithelial surfaces throughout the body (1). Transient bacteremia is a frequent event from oral microbial flora or skin flora following minor trauma to these areas (e.g. 25% incidence of bacteremia with brushing teeth) (2). A multitude of fungal spores are inhaled on a daily basis and humans are repeatedly exposed to potentially pathogenic respiratory viruses in the environment. Our very existence is absolutely dependent upon an ever vigilant and efficient antimicrobial defense system. In this introductory chapter, we will review the fundamental elements of the host defense system and describe the basic strategies employed against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Lymphocyte Crossmatching by Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry is an invaluable tool for studying lymphocyte biology. In transplantation, flow cytometry represents the most sensitive method for demonstrating the binding of HLA antibodies to cellular targets. Referred to as the flow cytometric crossmatch (FCXM), the implementation of this method has revolutionized HLA antibody assessments and facilitated increased allograft survival among highly sensitized recipients. Here we describe the methods for performing the FCXM and discuss its critical aspects, as well as the presentation of data and interpretation of results.
More than just breadwinners: how Chinese male migrant workers’ family relationships shape their factory labour process

ABSTRACTLabour scholars have carefully examined how being daughters, wives, and mothers influences women’s labour process. In contrast, labour studies on men have rarely considered their family inv...
Mixed-valent selenium compounds: Noncentrosymmetric Cd3(SeO3)2(SeO4) and Hg3(SeO3)2(SeO4) and centrosymmetric Pb2(SeO3) (SeO4)

Abstract Three mixed-valent selenium compounds: Cd3(SeO3)2(SeO4), Hg3(SeO3)2(SeO4) and Pb2(SeO3) (SeO4) were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal methods. Among these three compounds, Cd3(SeO3)2(SeO4) and Hg3(SeO3)2(SeO4) are isostructural and crystalize in the noncentrosymmetric (NCS) polar space group P21. Powder second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements using 1064 ​nm radiation indicate that Cd3(SeO3)2(SeO4) and Hg3(SeO3)2(SeO4) exhibit SHG intensities of approximately 0.6 and 0.8 times of KH2PO4 (KDP), respectively. Pb2(SeO3) (SeO4) is centrosymmetric (CS) and crystalizes in the space group Pnma. Pb2(SeO3) (SeO4) exhibits a 3D framework composed of chains of edge-sharing [PbO6] octahedra linked to [SeO3] and [SeO4] groups. M3(SeO3)2(SeO4) (M ​= ​Cd, Hg) also exhibits a 3D structure consisting of layers of [MO8], [MO6] and [SeO3] polyhedra connected by [SeO4] groups. For all of the reported compounds, infrared spectroscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and thermogravimetric measurements were performed.
O controle das parcerias público-privadas pelo Tribunal de Contas

Artigo de autoria de Benjamin Zymler e Guilherme Henrique de La Rocque. Os autores discorrem sobre o controle das parcerias publico-privadas pelo Tribunal de Contas da Uniao
Residential Aggregator Risk-Constrained Profit Maximization Under Demand Response

This paper proposes a stochastic model for an aggregator operating in the day-ahead and real-time markets in the distribution system. When trading in the real-time market, the aggregator faces multiple risks stemming from uncertain load and real-time market prices. As a result, deciding the retail prices of the customers in an optimal fashion is a challenging task. This paper proposes a stochastic optimization model to determine the optimal day-ahead retail prices that a residential aggregator offers to its customers under uncertainties in real-time market prices. The uncertainties in real-time prices and customers' load are modeled using stochastic programming and the aggregator's profit is quantified via Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR). When the aggregator changes the customers' hourly prices, it provides incentive to the customers to adjust their demand, which results to monetary savings for the customers and the aggregator. A case study is implemented to show the validity of the proposed stochastic model.
Inventing the Future: Why International Borrowing is no Longer Sufficient for Improving Education

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the consequences of mutual borrowing of educational policies and practices between the East and the West. Drawing upon a wide variety of historical, cultural, and international assessment data, the analyses found that the mutual borrowing is unlikely to improve education to the extent that the future world demands. Thus, the chapter concludes that instead of wasting resources and time on learning from each other’s past, education systems around the world should work on inventing a new paradigm of education.
Shape-Preserving and Reactive Adaptation of Robot End-Effector Trajectories

Variation in task requirements and operation in uncertain environments require robots that can continuously adapt their motions during execution. To do this successfully, the original motion characteristics must be preserved. This paper presents an approach for on-line adaptation of end-effector trajectories for robot manipulators. The trajectory generator aims to preserve the shape of a given model trajectory through its coordinate-invariant shape description. In addition, this trajectory generator is coupled to a task specification and control framework that enables reactive behavior of the robot. Simulation results on the UR10 robot indicate the capability of the developed approach to generalize end-effector trajectories towards new targets while preserving the original trajectory shape. The controller's reactivity is shown towards moving targets and obstacles in the environment. The combination of shape preservation and reactive control may endow robots with better on-line motion generalization capabilities.
Human pulmonary artery endothelial cells upregulate ACE2 expression in response to iron-regulatory elements: potential implications for SARS-CoV-2 infection of vascular endothelial cells.

Emerging studies from the ongoing covid-19 pandemic have implicated vascular dysfunction and endotheliitis in many patients presenting with severe disease. However, there is limited evidence for the expression of ACE2 (the principal co-receptor for Sars-Cov-2 cellular attachment) in vascular endothelial cells which has prompted the suggestion that the virus does not infect these cell types. However, the studies presented here demonstrate enhanced expression of ACE2 at the level of both mRNA and protein, in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) challenged with either IL-6 or hepcidin. Notably elevated levels both these iron-regulatory elements have been described in Covid-19 patients with severe disease and are further associated with morbidity and mortality. Additionally, levels of both IL-6 and hepcidin are often elevated in the elderly and in chronic disease settings, these populations being at greater risk of adverse outcomes from Sars-Cov-2 infection. A role for IL-6 and hepcidin as modulators of ACE2 expression seems plausible, additional, studies are required to determine if viral infection can be demonstrated in PAECs challenged with either of these iron-regulatory elements.
Scaling Effects on Microstructure and Implication on resistivity of Co Nanointerconnects

The continued scaling of Cu low k technology is facing serious challenges imposed by basic limits from materials, processing and reliability, especially the rapid increase in line resistivity. This has generated great interests recently to further develop Cu nanointerconnects and alternatives, particularly Co nanointerconnects beyond the 10nm node. The scaling effect on microstructure for Co interconnects was investigated using high-resolution TEM precession technique for line width from 220nm to 26nm. The dominant sidewall texture suggested that strain energy is important for texture evolution, a conclusion supported by large abnormal grain growth observed. The TEM study was supplemented by Monte Carlo simulation to project the grain growth for future technology nodes based on total energy minimization. Together the TEM and simulation results were used to project the scaling effect on the resistivity of Co nanolines.
Algorithmically Broad Languages for Polynomial Time and Space.

Flexible programming languages with built-in bounds on time or space resources are of obvious practical interest. Since we know that no programming language can capture exactly the PTime (or PSpace) algorithms, the challenge is to design languages that guarantee PTime while accommodating a broad spectrum of algorithmic methods. We propose here such languages for PTime and PSpace, based on size-sensitive imperative programming, parameterless procedures, and a retooling of the ramification method.
Persistent Anemia After Hemopoietic Cell Transplantation

A male patient in first remission of acute myeloid leukemia was offered a hemopoietic cell transplant from an unrelated female donor. He received reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) with Fludarabine 30 mg/m2 iv × 5 day, Busulphan 3.2 mg/kg iv × 2 days, and Alemtuzumab 20 mg/day iv × 5 days, followed by donor blood stem cell infusion. The cell dose was 3.7 × 106 CD34+ cells per kilogram recipient weight. Cyclosporine A was administered from day +1.
Effort, Risk and Walkaway Under High Water Mark Contracts

We model a hedge fund style compensation contract in which management fees, incentive fees and a high water mark (HWM) provision drive a fund manager's effort and risk choices as well as walkaway decisions by both the fund manager and the investor. We calibrate the model to observed data and use the calibrated model to consider welfare implications of changes to the standard 2/20 contract. Welfare results highlight the critical role higher management fees play in such contracts in terms of improving the manager's risk taking and effort expenditure decisions. In particular, a higher management fee and lower incentive fee (e.g. a 2.5/10 contract) leads to Pareto improvement in the calibrated model. The calibrated model also suggests that renegotiation of the HWM is Pareto optimal for both the investor and the fund manager ex post, once a fund is below the HWM. However, admitting the possibility of renegotiation ex ante, while the fund is still near the HWM, removes the the threat of being below the HWM, with its associated lower incentive fees and potential investor withdrawals. This in turn leads to significantly higher risk and lower effort choices by the fund manager and substantially decreases investor welfare.
Are There Four or More Neutrinos

At least four neutrinos are required in order to completely explain the solar, atmospheric, and LSND neutrino data. A 2+2 mass spectrum (with two pairs of nearly degenerate mass eigenstates) is favored over a 1+3 or 3+1 spectrum. Models exist with three active and one sterile neutrino, or two active and two sterile neutrinos. If no neutrino has large mixing with more than one other neutrino, then the four-neutrino mixing matrix reduces to a set of 2×2 blocks, where the off-diagonal blocks are small in magnitude; possible new physics in this case includes new oscillation channels and CP violation that can be tested in future long-baseline experiments. Finally, the largest neutrino mass has a lower limit of 0.55 eV, which may have implications for the mass density of the universe and beta decay physics.
Finding Good Starting Points for Solving Nonlinear Constrained Optimization Problems by Parallel Decomposition

In this paper, we develop heuristics for finding good starting points when solving large-scale nonlinear constrained optimization problems(COPs) formulated as nonlinear programming(NLP) and mixed-integer NLP(MINLP). By exploiting the localities of constraints, we first partition each problem by parallel decomposition into subproblems that are related by complicating constraints and complicating variables. We develop heuristics for finding good starting points that are critical for resolving the complicating constraints and variables. In our experimental evaluations of 255 benchmarks, our approach can solve 89.4% of the problems, whereas the best existing solvers can only solve 42.8%.
Counting Distinct Elements in a Data Stream

We present three algorithms to count the number of distinct elements in a data stream to within a factor of 1 ± ?. Our algorithms improve upon known algorithms for this problem, and offer a spectrum of time/space tradeoffs.
Relax or Study?: A Qualitative User Study on the Usage of Mobile TV and Video

The usage of mobile TV and video devices is now spreading in Japan as well as in other countries. We conducted a user study to know when, how and why people were using the devices through qualitative interviews. In this paper, we showed one of the findings from this user study, that is, different attitudes concerning the usage of live mobile TV compared with that of mobile video on commuter buses or trains.
Expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor by neuroblastoma leads to the inhibition of antitumor T cell reactivity in vivo.

Neuroblastomas and many other solid tumors produce high amounts of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), which appears to play a role in tumor progression. We found that MIF expression in neuroblastoma inhibits T cell proliferation in vitro, raising the possibility that MIF promotes tumorigenesis, in part, by suppressing antitumor immunity. To examine whether tumor-derived MIF leads to suppression of T cell immunity in vivo, we generated MIF-deficient neuroblastoma cell lines using short hairpin small interfering RNAs (siRNA). The MIF knockdown (MIFKD) AGN2a neuroblastoma cells were more effectively rejected in immune-competent mice than control siRNA-transduced or wild-type AGN2a. However, the increased rejection of MIFKD AGN2a was not observed in T cell-depleted mice. MIFKD tumors had increased infiltration of CD8 + and CD4 + T cells, as well as increased numbers of macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells. Immunization with MIFKD AGN2a cells significantly increased protection against tumor challenge as compared with immunization with wild-type AGN2a, and the increased protection correlated with elevated frequencies of tumor-reactive CD8 + T cells in the lymphoid tissue of treated animals. Increased numbers of infiltrating tumor-reactive CD8 + T cells were also observed at the site of tumor vaccination. In vitro, treatment of AGN2a-derived culture supernatants with neutralizing MIF-specific Ab failed to reverse T cell suppressive activity, suggesting that MIF is not directly responsible for the immune suppression in vivo. This supports a model whereby MIF expression in neuroblastoma initiates a pathway that leads to the suppression of T cell immunity in vivo.
Asthma and risk of lethal prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

Inflammation, and more generally, the immune response are thought to influence the development of prostate cancer. To determine components of the immune response that are potentially contributory, we prospectively evaluated the association of immune-mediated conditions, asthma and hayfever, with lethal prostate cancer risk in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. We included 47,880 men ages 40-75 years with no prior cancer diagnosis. On the baseline questionnaire in 1986 the men reported diagnoses of asthma and hayfever and year of onset. On follow-up questionnaires, they reported new asthma and prostate cancer diagnoses. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate relative risks (RR). 9.2% reported ever having been diagnosed with asthma. 25.3% reported a hayfever diagnosis at baseline. During 995,176 person-years of follow-up by 2012, we confirmed 798 lethal prostate cancer cases (diagnosed with distant metastases, progressed to distant metastasis, or died of prostate cancer [N=625]). Ever having a diagnosis of asthma was inversely associated with risk of lethal (RR=0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51-1.00) and fatal (RR=0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.96) disease. Hayfever with onset in the distant past was possibly weakly positively associated with risk of lethal (RR=1.10, 95% CI 0.92-1.33) and fatal (RR=1.12, 95% CI 0.91-1.37) disease. Men who were ever diagnosed with asthma were less likely to develop lethal and fatal prostate cancer. Our findings may lead to testable hypotheses about specific immune profiles in the etiology of lethal prostate cancer.
BIOSYNTHETIC LATENCY IN EARLY STAGES OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID TRANSFORMATION IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS

Nester, E. W. (University of Washington, Seattle) and B. A. D. Stocker. Biosynthetic latency in early stages of deoxyribonucleic acid transformation in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 86:785-796. 1963-In the Bacillus subtilis deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) transformation system, transformants do not increase in number for 3 to 5 hr after the addition of DNA. During most of this period, the transformants are resistant to the bactericidal action of penicillin under conditions which result in the killing of over 90% of the recipient population. This lag in growth and nonmultiplication of the transformants (inferred from penicillin resistance) is also reflected in a lag in the synthesis of an enzyme specified by the donor DNA. Thus, when a cell population deficient in the enzyme tryptophan synthetase is transformed to tryptophan independence, activity of this enzyme cannot be detected in whole cells until 3 to 4 hr after the cells have been exposed to the DNA. Recombination between donor and recipient DNA occurs long before this. Even 30 min after exposure of a competent population of try(2) (-)his(2) (+) cells to try(2) (+)his(2) (-) DNA, 20% of the total try(2) (+) activity found in re-extracted DNA exists as recombinant DNA, try(2) (+)his(2) (+). This value, the maximal linkage obtained, remains constant during incubation of the DNA-treated culture for an additional 5 hr. In addition to the heterogeneous response of a DNA-treated competent culture to penicillin killing, the recipient culture appears to be heterogeneous in ability to undergo transformation. Thus, the frequency of joint transformation of two unlinked markers is much higher than would be expected on the basis of the random coincidence of more than one DNA molecule entering the same cell in a uniformly competent recipient population. A possible relationship between these two aspects of heterogeneity of a DNA-treated recipient population is discussed.
Design of an on-line IEEE floating-point addition unit for FPGAs

We present the design of an on-line IEEE floating-point (FP) adder. In on-line arithmetic a result is computed as a digit serial output stream from digit serial input streams. The result digits begin to be produced a short delay after the first input digits arrive and before all the input digits have been received. On-line arithmetic proceeds from the most significant digit first through the least significant digit. Performing on-line addition on IEEE FP numbers imposes challenges beyond the challenges of conventional on-line arithmetic, including the task of normalization and IEEE rounding and its effect on the digits already output. The proposed implementations are very suitable for FPGAs, because the serial organization simplifies critical components of conventional FPGA IEEE FP addition implementations: Large alignment and normalization shifters are avoided allowing for reduced interconnection complexities and reasonable latencies at low implementation cost. The proposed implementations are fully compliant with the IEEE FP standard.