cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Construction and identification of eukaryotic vector pcDNA3.1 for human glutathione-S-transferase M1 TV2 gene

Aim: To construct an eukaryotic expression vector carrying human glutathione-S-transferase M1(transcript variant2,GST M1 TV2) gene and analyse its sequence. Methods: The GST M1 TV2 cDNA was amplified from human lung total RNAs by RT-PCR and was recombined with eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1.The recombined plasmid pcDNA3.1-GST M1 TV2 was verified with PCR,restriction analysis, and sequencing determination.Results and Conclusion: Human GST M1 TV2 has been recombined with pcDNA3.1. Compared with Genbank,it is correct.The gene number is AY532927.The recombined plasmid pcDNA3.1-GST M1 TV2 may be helpful to research on transfection into eukaryotic cell and machanism to toxin and drug matabolism.
The morphologic effects of simultaneous infusion of levarterenol and phentolamine on the canine myocardium

The effect of simultaneous administration of levarterenol and phentolamine on the myocardium over a 3 hour period was studied in 15 adult mongrel dogs. All animals receiving levarterenol alone had moderate-to-severe subendocardial hemorrhage and necrosis. Four of the 6 animals receiving the simultaneous infusion of levarterenol and phentolamine had little or no hemorrhage or necrosis. These differences are significant (p
The uses of antibody: magic bullets and magic markers

Immunization with diazotized proteins induces the formation of antibodies specific for the attached chemical group—an approach that is applied to the study of antibody specificity by Karl Landsteiner and others. The use of labeled antigens for specificity studies proved to be only the tip of a technological iceberg; labeled antigens (and antibodies) is employed as immunohistochemical reagents for localization purposes. The development of each of the many applications of labeled antigens and antibodies has its own inner logic. Some technical advances involve the combination of two methods (often from outside disciplines) to form a useful third one; others represent the step-by-step accretion of complexity, as methods are adapted to answer questions. There is a two-fold rationale behind the numerous nonspecific approaches to the therapy of various infectious diseases and of cancer. On the one hand, where an organism or a tumor-specific antigen may be only poorly immunogenic, one attempts to enhance the protective immune response engendered in such a system with the use of nonspecific adjuvants, in order to stimulate further one or another of the components of the immune response. Other approaches to the immunologic control of tumors involve efforts aimed at increasing the immunogenicity of tumor cells, employing BCG, neuraminidase treatment, and muramyl dipeptides.
CHAPTER 23 – Chromosomal Translocations in B-Cell Leukemias and Lymphomas

This chapter reviews the well-characterized oncogenic events that result from translocations in leukemias and lymphomas, organized according to their effects in these fundamental regulatory processes during B lymphopoiesis. B-lineage leukemias and lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of malignancies that occur in the B-cell lymphoid compartment and have diverse cellular and histological features and different clinical characteristics. Among the most prominent mechanisms of B-cell oncogene activation are chromosomal rearrangements that place a proto-oncogene adjacent to an immunoglobulin ( Ig ) locus, resulting in the dysregulated expression of genes involved in the control of cellular proliferation, differentiation, or survival. A second mechanism of oncogene activation involves a chromosomal rearrangement that fuse the coding sequences of two different genes. These fusion genes encode chimeric oncoproteins that work as constitutively active tyrosine kinases or as novel transcription factors to activate oncogenic transcriptional programs. Thus, most oncogenic events that mediate the transformation of B lineage malignancies can be traced to a failure in one or more molecular pathways that control cell growth, differentiation, or survival during different s tages of B-cell development. The arrival of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 on the clinical scene demonstrates the identification of the genes altered by chromosomal translocations, together with the analysis of their biochemical properties and their effects on cell proliferation and survival, has opened the field for the development of contemporary and highly specific anti-leukemia and anti-lymphoma drugs.
Demonstrating a Nutritional Advantage to the Fast-Cooking Dry Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are a nutrient-dense food rich in protein and micronutrients. Despite their nutritional benefits, long cooking times limit the consumption of dry beans worldwide, especially in nations where fuelwood for cooking is often expensive or scarce. This study evaluated the nutritive value of 12 dry edible bean lines that vary for cooking time (20–89 min) from four market classes (yellow, cranberry, light red kidney, and red mottled) of economic importance in bean-consuming regions of Africa and the Americas. When compared to their slower cooking counterparts within each market class, fast-cooking dry beans retain more protein and minerals while maintaining similar starch and fiber densities when fully cooked. For example, some of the highest protein and mineral retention values were measured in the fast-cooking yellow bean cultivar Cebo Cela, which offered 20% more protein, 10% more iron, and 10% more zinc with each serving when compared with Canario, a slow-cooking yellow bean ...
Advocacy coalitions involved in California's menu labeling policy debate: Exploring coalition structure, policy beliefs, resources, and strategies.

Advocacy coalitions often play an important role in the state health policymaking process, yet little is known about their structure, composition, and behavior. In 2008, California became the first state to enact a menu labeling law. Using the advocacy coalition framework, we examine different facets of the coalitions involved in California's menu labeling policy debate. We use a qualitative research approach to identify coalition members and explore their expressed beliefs and policy arguments, resources, and strategies by analyzing legislative documents (n = 87) and newspaper articles (n = 78) produced between 1999 and 2009. Between 2003 and 2008, six menu labeling bills were introduced in the state's legislature. We found the issue received increasing media attention during this period. We identified two advocacy coalitions involved in the debate-a public health (PH) coalition and an industry coalition. State organizations acted as coalition leaders and participated for a longer duration than elected officials. The structure and composition of each coalition varied. PH coalition leadership and membership notably increased compared to the industry coalition. The PH coalition, led by nonprofit PH and health organizations, promoted a clear and consistent message around informed decision making. The industry coalition, led by a state restaurant association, responded with cost and implementation arguments. Each coalition used various resources and strategies to advance desired outcomes. PH coalition leaders were particularly effective at using resources and employing advocacy strategies, which included engaging state legislators as coalition members, using public opinion polls and information, and leveraging media resources to garner support. Policy precedence and a local policy push emerged as important policymaking strategies. Areas for future research on the state health policymaking process are discussed.
Monostatic and bistatic lidar systems: simulation to improve SNR and attainable range in daytime operations

Lidar daylight measurements are limited by sky background noise (BGN). Reducing the BGN is essential to improve Lidar signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). We report on an optimization technique to improve SNR in a monostatic/biaxial and bistatic Lidar systems by redesigning the geometrical scheme of Lidar receiver. A series of simulations to calculate the overlap area between both transmitter and receiver field of view (FOV) is conducted to determine optimal receiver aperture shapes, locations, and sizes within different lidar ranges. Techniques to vary receiver aperture shape, position, and size to accommodate backscattering signals over a given range, to maximize Lidar SNR, is introduced. At the same short range, numerical results show a better GF of the bistatic compared to the monostatic/biaxial configurations. A complete comparison between monostatic/biaxial and bistatic configurations, for low altitude measurements between 0.1km and 2km, is discussed.
Human Cytomegalovirus-Infected Glioblastoma Cells Display Stem Cell-Like Phenotypes

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common brain tumor in adults. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genomes are present in GBM tumors, yielding hope that antiviral treatments could prove therapeutic and improve the poor prognosis of GBM patients. We discovered that GBM cells infected in vitro with HCMV display properties of cancer stem cells. HCMV-infected GBM cells grow more slowly than mock-infected controls, demonstrate a higher capacity for self-renewal determined by a sphere formation assay, and display resistance to the chemotherapeutic drug temozolomide. Our data suggest that HCMV, while present in only a minority of the cells within a tumor, could contribute to the pathogenesis of GBMs by promoting or prolonging stem cell-like phenotypes, thereby perpetuating tumors in the face of chemotherapy. Importantly, we show that temozolomide sensitivity is restored by the antiviral drug ganciclovir, indicating a potential mechanism underlying the positive effects observed in GBM patients treated with antiviral therapy. IMPORTANCE A role for HCMV in GBMs remains controversial for several reasons. Some studies find HCMV in GBM tumors, while others do not. Few cells within a GBM may harbor HCMV, making it unclear how the virus could be contributing to the tumor phenotype without infecting every cell. Finally, HCMV does not overtly transform cells in vitro. However, tumors induced by other viruses can be treated with antiviral remedies, and initial results indicate that this may be true for anti-HCMV therapies and GBMs. With such a poor prognosis for GBM patients, any potential new intervention deserves exploration. Our work here describes an evidence-based model for how HCMV could contribute to GBM biology while infecting very few cells and without transforming them. It also illuminates why anti-HCMV treatments may be beneficial to GBM patients. Our observations provide blueprints for future in vitro studies examining how HCMV manipulates stem cell-specific pathways and future clinical studies of anti-HCMV measures as GBM therapeutics.
A critical evaluation of the Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) vehicle trajectory dataset

Abstract A clear understanding of car following behavior and microscopic relationships is critical for advancing traffic flow theory. Without empirical microscopic data, plausible but incorrect hypotheses perpetuate in the vacuum. The Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) project was undertaken to collect such data and the NGSIM data set has become the de facto standard, underlying the vast majority of empirically based advances of the past decade. But there has been a growing minority of researchers who have found unrealistic relationships in the NGSIM data. To date, the critical findings have almost exclusively come from the existing NGSIM database itself. Unfortunately, as this paper shows, the NGSIM errors are beyond anything that could be corrected strictly through cleaning or interpolation of the reported NGSIM data. This paper takes the deepest evaluation yet of the NGSIM data. This research manually re-extracts the vehicle trajectories from a portion of the original NGSIM video to explicitly quantify NGSIM errors, e.g., piecewise constant speeds punctuated by brief periods of large acceleration exhibited by the NGSIM data were not evident in the newly extracted trajectories. This point is particularly troublesome for applications that rely on acceleration, e.g., most car following models. The magnitude of errors exhibit a dependency on speed, location and vehicle length. Examples are shown where a real vehicle stopped but the NGSIM trajectory does not and then overruns the location of the real leader. Needless to say, the re-extracted trajectories showed much cleaner speed-spacing relationships than the corresponding raw NGSIM trajectories. Finally, this work tracked the original NGSIM vehicles seen in one camera and added another 236 vehicles (11%) visible before/after the period of NGSIM tracking. As of publication, the manually re-extracted data from this paper will be released to the research community.
Aberrations in structure/distribution of microfilaments in Nickel/MCA transformed 10T1/2 mouse embryo cell lines bearing amplification of ECT-2 proto-oncogene

2226 Inhalation of Ni refinery dusts from Ni-containing sulfidic ores combined with cigarette smoking induces respiratory cancer in humans. Nickel subsulfide (Ni 3 S 2) and green NiO induce respiratory cancer by the inhalation route in rats. We previously showed Ni 3 S 2 , green NiO, and black NiO, were phagocytosed into, and induced morphological, A. I., and neoplastic transformation in, C3H/10T1/2 mouse embryo cells, and 130 genes were differentially expressed between non-transformed and one MCA/four Ni-transformed 10T1/2 cell lines. Ni/MCA-transformed cell lines displayed a) ect-2 gene amplification and higher steady-state levels of ect-2 (rho GDP/GTP exchange factor gene) mRNA/protein; higher steady-state levels of b) calnexin mRNA/protein and c) Wdr 1 (stress-inducible gene) mRNA; and d) decreased levels of mRNAs from DRIP/TRAP-80 and β-2-centaurin genes. We hypothesized that in Ni-transformed cell lines, amplification of the ect-2 gene and higher steady-state levels of rho-GTP, would alter the structure and distribution of microfilaments, which would lead to aberrations in expression of 16 genes and contribute to cell transformation. To test this hypothesis, we studied the structure and distribution of actin microfilaments in non-transformed 10T1/2 cells and in Ni/MCA transformed 10T1/2 cell lines. We stained cells with a fluorescent derivative of phalloidin, a fungal toxin that binds to microfilaments of mammalian cells, then examined cells by fluorescent confocal microscopy. In non-transformed 10T1/2 cells, actin was arranged in long, thin fibers that stretched from the membranes to the nuclei and were distributed homogeneously throughout the cell. In contrast, in one MCA-transformed cell line, large areas of cells were devoid of microfilaments. In three cell lines transformed by crystalline NiS (NiS3A, NiS3B, and NiS7A) and in one transformed by green (high temperature) NiO (NiO2C3), the microfilaments were aggregated into clumps in some areas. Other areas of the cells were devoid of microfilaments. Dis-aggregation and/or clumping of microfilaments in transformed cell lines changed the shape of the transformed cells, rounding them, and altering their contact with the extra-cellular matrix. This would then lead to differential expression of 16 genes in the transformed cell lines, over-expression of eight genes and under-expression of eight genes, contributing to induction/maintenance of the transformed state. Supported by grant R01 ES03341/NIEHS (P. I., JRL), and Training Grants 5T32 CA09320/NCI. (P.I., JRL) and 5T32 AI078078/NIAID.
A scalable and secure key distribution scheme for group signature based authentication in VANET

Security issues in vehicular communication have become a huge concern to safeguard increasing applications. A group signature is one of the popular authentication approaches for VANETs (Vehicular ad hoc networks) which can be implemented to secure the vehicular communication. However, securely distributing group keys to fast-moving vehicular nodes is still a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose an efficient key management protocol for group signature based authentication, where a group is extended to a domain with multiple road side units. Our scheme not only provides a secure way to deliver group keys to vehicular nodes, but also ensures security features. The experiment results show that our key distribution scheme is a scalable, efficient and secure solution to vehicular networking.
Energy transfer mechanisms in layered 2D perovskites

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskite quantum wells are generating broad scientific interest because of their potential for use in optoelectronic devices. Recently, it has been shown that layers of 2D perovskites can be grown in which the average thicknesses of the quantum wells increase from the back to the front of the film. This geometry carries implications for light harvesting applications because the bandgap of a quantum well decreases as its thickness increases. The general structural formula for the 2D perovskite systems under investigation in this work is (PEA)2(MA)n-1[PbnI3n+1] (PEA = phenethyl ammonium, MA = methyl ammonium). Here, we examine two layered 2D perovskites with different distributions of quantum well thicknesses. Spectroscopic measurements and model calculations suggest that both systems funnel electronic excitations from the back to the front of the film through energy transfer mechanisms on the time scales of 100's of ps (i.e., energy transfer from thinner to thicker quantum wells). In addition, the model calculations demonstrate that the transient absorption spectra are composed of a progression of single exciton and biexciton resonances associated with the individual quantum wells. We find that exciton dissociation and/or charge transport dynamics make only minor contributions to the transient absorption spectra within the first 1 ns after photo-excitation. An analysis of the energy transfer kinetics indicates that the transitions occur primarily between quantum wells with values of n that differ by 1 because of the spectral overlap factor that governs the energy transfer rate. Two-dimensional transient absorption spectra reveal a pattern of resonances consistent with the dominance of sequential energy transfer dynamics.
Convexal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Superficial Siderosis: Under-Recognized Presentations of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (P1.288)

Objective: To highlight the findings of convexal subarachnoid hemorrhage (cSAH) or superficial siderosis (SS) in the setting of transient focal neurological episodes (TFNE) as clues to the diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Background: Patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or focal seizures may in fact have symptoms attributable to TFNE in the setting of CAA. In addition, CAA has been associated with cerebral ischemia, which may further complicate the clinical picture. Brain imaging findings of cSAH or SS are under-recognized clues, compared to more typical cerebral microbleeds, that a patient may have CAA. Design/Methods: Patients presenting to Geisinger neurology with TFNE and initial findings of cSAH or SS with fewer than 3 cerebral microbleeds on MRI T2* sequences were collected from July 2013 to June 2016, and serial clinical and imaging evaluations were analyzed by chart review. Five patients met inclusion criteria. Results: A final diagnosis of CAA had been made by brain biopsy in two patients showing pathological changes including congo-red and thioflavin positive amyloid deposition within vessel walls, and one of the biopsies showed ischemic changes as well. CAA was diagnosed on clinical grounds in three patients. Notably, on either initial or follow up imaging, all patients demonstrated small DWI lesions suggestive of cerebral ischemia. Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware that patients presenting with initial symptoms suggestive of TIA or focal seizures who are found to have cSAH or SS without extensive cerebral microbleeds on T2* imaging, with or without coexistent small DWI lesions, may have suffered from TFNE in the setting of CAA. It is also important to recognize that small DWI lesions and ischemic changes on pathology do not preclude a diagnosis of CAA. Disclosure: Dr. Whiting has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kovi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cummings has nothing to disclose.
Ein Grundmuster der angewandten Mathematik

Dieses Kapitel beleuchtet ein Grundmuster, auf das wir in diesem Buch immer wieder zuruckkommen. Sie werden es in einem breiten Spektrum von Anwendungen erkennen. Dieses Grundmuster kommt in der angewandten Mathematik uberall vor (sowohl bei Differentialgleichungen als auch bei Matrixgleichungen).
International analysis of students' knowledge structure coherence

This international comparison investigates students' knowledge structure coherence in physics across five countries. In particular, this study investigates two possible hypotheses explaining the conflicting results obtained by Ioannides and Vosniadou (2002) and diSessa, Gillespie, and Esterly (2004) about students' understandings of force in Greece and the United States. Ioannides and Vosniadou's study in Greece demonstrated broad consistency in students' understandings of force. diSessa and colleague's quasi-replication in the U.S. demonstrated conflicting results supporting more elemental perspectives. One hypothesis focuses on differences in analytic methods. The other hypothesis focuses on semantic, cultural, or educational differences between the students in the two studies. The findings of this study suggest that differences in analytic methods do result in coding differences but that these relatively small differences would not account for the significant differences between the studies. This study, however, demonstrates significant differences for force meanings and knowledge structure coherence across the countries that might explain a larger percentage of the differences in findings between the studies.
CHD2: One Gene, Many Roles

Mutations in the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding 2 (CHD2) gene have been found in patients with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. In this issue of Neuron, Kim et al. (2018) showed that Chd2 haploinsufficiency compromises cortical development, synaptic function, and memory in mice.
Thermal transport in finite-size van der Waals materials: Modeling and Simulations

Alongside with exceptional electronic and optoelectronic properties, two-dimensional van der Waals materials present intriguing heat transport properties, such as ultra-high thermal conductivity. Here we perform molecular simulations to unravel how heat transport in these materials may be tuned upon mechanical strain and chemical transformations. Our study sheds light on the phononic structure and the thermal conductivity of strained and lithium-intercalated MoS 2 , and on the thermal boundary resistance among graphene layers.
Drug Order in Rapid Sequence Intubation

Background The optimal order of drug administration (sedative first vs. neuromuscular blocking agent first) in rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is debated. Objective We sought to determine if RSI drug order was associated with the time elapsed from administration of the first RSI drug to the end of a successful first intubation attempt. Methods We conducted a planned secondary analysis of a randomized trial of adult ED patients undergoing emergency orotracheal intubation that demonstrated higher first-attempt success with bougie use compared to a tracheal tube + stylet. Drug choice, dose, and the order of sedative and neuromuscular blocking agent were not stipulated. We analyzed trial patients who received both a sedative and a neuromuscular blocking agent within 30 seconds of each other who were intubated successfully on the first attempt. The primary outcome was the time elapsed from complete administration of the first RSI drug to the end of the first intubation attempt, a surrogate outcome for apnea time. We performed a multivariable analysis using a mixed-effects generalized linear model. Results Of 757 original trial patients, 562 patients (74%) met criteria for analysis; 153 received the sedative agent first, and 409 received the neuromuscular blocking agent first. Administration of the neuromuscular blocking agent before the sedative agent was associated with a reduction in time from RSI administration to the end of intubation attempt of 6 seconds (95% confidence interval = 0 to 11 sec). Conclusion Administration of either the neuromuscular blocking or the sedative agent first are both acceptable. Administering the neuromuscular blocking agent first may result in modestly faster time to intubation. For now, it is reasonable for physicians to continue performing RSI in the way they are most comfortable with. If future research determines that the order of medication administration is not associated with awareness of neuromuscular blockade, administration of the neuromuscular blocking agent first may be a logical default administration method to attempt to minimize apnea time during intubation.
The Politics of Human Welfare.

An examination of the Interim Emergency Report of the National Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children (May 6, 1969) and the continuous flow of federal documents and bulletins issued by professional societies concerned with the education and care of handicapped children cannot help but make one uncomfortable with the serious discrepancy between the needs such children have and the resources available to fulfill these needs. At the outset, I want to make clear that only an exquisite denial of reality-or an unhinged mind-could permit one to be anything but painfully uncomfortable with the share of the public treasure now assigned for programs, services, and facilities on behalf of handicapped children and their families. Having said this-and enjoining all readers of this journal to examine, for themselves, the seriousness of the above statement and, especially, to devote particular attention to the Council for Exceptional Children document that follows this paper. (See Table I, Comments on the Politics of Human Welfare) I invite your attention to, for want of a more precise term, political problems that go beyond legislation, buildings, that go beyond fiscal commitments. Again, it is not that I wish to depreciate the critical importance of laws and resources toward the attainment of appropriate programs and services for the handicapped. Rather, I am certain that we have consensus concerning their importance and that, possibly, our concentration on those matters have caused us to neglect or misunderstand other-equally important-political considerations. Putting the above another way, I believe that too many of us-this writer included-have confused legislation, buildings, and new resources with progress. We have confused activity-doing something for the sake of doing something-with progress. We have confused new labels and new programs and new categories as necessarily being concomitant with progress. It is certain that there is a great deal more activity today than ever before in the fields concerned with the education, treatment, and care of the handicapped. There is a sea of legislative programs, much of which is positive and facilitating and some of which is alarming. There are many new buildings, institutions, and mental health centers in opera-
Asymptotic properties of Bernstein estimators on the simplex

Abstract Bernstein estimators are well-known to avoid the boundary bias problem of traditional kernel estimators. The theoretical properties of these estimators have been studied extensively on compact intervals and hypercubes, but never on the simplex, except for the mean squared error of the density estimator in Tenbusch (1994) when d = 2 . The simplex is an important case as it is the natural domain of compositional data. In this paper, we make an effort to prove several asymptotic results (bias, variance, mean squared error (MSE), mean integrated squared error (MISE), asymptotic normality, uniform strong consistency) for Bernstein estimators of cumulative distribution functions and density functions on the d -dimensional simplex. Our results generalize the ones in Leblanc (2012a) and Babu et al. (2002), who treated the case d = 1 , and significantly extend those found in Tenbusch (1994). In particular, our rates of convergence for the MSE and MISE are optimal.
Social Systems as If People Mattered Response to the Kühl Critique of Theory U

In his critique of Theory U, Kuhl suggests that this approach resembles a management fashion based on four specific characteristics and claims, namely: (1) The simultaneous transformation of nearly...
A Single-Stage Isolated Resonant SiC DC/AC Inverter for Efficient High-Power Applications

This paper presents a single-stage series-resonant dual active half bridge (SR-DAHB) inverter suitable for high power applications. The topology is an isolated dual half-bridge circuit with an unfolding bridge. A combined phase-shift and frequency modulation technique is utilized to generate AC power output. In high-power applications where the switching devices operate at relatively high current and voltage, the switching loss becomes the major portion of the converter’s total loss as the devices are turned on and off under hard switching condition. The primary merit of the proposed single-stage SR-DAHB inverter with the combined phase-shift and frequency modulation control is to significantly reduce the switching loss so that it is not a function of load current. A precise and comprehensive power loss model is developed for both the SR-DAHB and DAHB to optimize the operation of the inverters. The objective of the optimization is to minimize the inverter total loss while calculating the optimum combination of frequency and phase shift. A 1.5 kV, 50 kW prototype was built to demonstrate the performance of the SRDAHB versus DAHB inverters with the combined phase-shift and frequency modulation control, and validate the theoretical analysis.
Tactical Patterns for Grassroots Urban Repair.

The process of revitalizing cities in the United States suffers from balky and unresponsive processes---de jure egalitarian but de facto controlled and mediated by city officials and powerful interests, not residents. We argue that, instead, our goal should be to put city planning in the hands of the people, and to that end, give ordinary residents pattern-based planning tools to help them redesign (and repair) their urban surrounds. Through this, residents can explore many disparate ideas, try them, and, if successful, replicate them, enabling bottom-up city planning through direct action. We describe a prototype for such a tool that leverages classic patterns to enable city planning by residents, using case studies from Los Angeles as guides for both the problem and potential solution.
Association between restrictive pulmonary disease and type 2 diabetes in Koreans: A cross-sectional study.

Background Diabetes is a progressive disease that increases glucose levels in the blood. While studies have shown that patients with pulmonary disease (both obstructive and restrictive pulmonary disease) have a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there have been more studies on restrictive patterns than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Aim To assess whether restrictive and obstructive pulmonary diseases are associated with T2DM in Koreans. Methods For our analysis, we used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 2830 subjects were included in this study. Spirometry results were categorized into three patterns: Normal, restrictive pulmonary disease (RPD), and obstructive pulmonary disease (OPD). Results The factors used as diabetic indicators (i.e. homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, homeostatic model assessment of beta-cell function, glycated hemoglobin, and fasting insulin) were among the highest in RPD but not in OPD. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, subjects with RPD were found with an increased odds ratio [OR: 1.907, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.110-3.277] for T2DM compared with subjects with normal pulmonary function, whereas in patients with OPD, the OR had not increased. Model 4, which adjusted for the variables that could affect diabetes and pulmonary disease, showed a significant increase in the T2DM OR to RPD (OR: 2.025, 95%CI: 1.264-3.244). On the other hand, no statistically significant difference was shown in OPD (OR: 0.982, 95%CI: 0.634-1.519). Conclusion RPD, not OPD, is highly associated with T2DM regardless of the risk factors of various T2DMs that can be confounds.
Island formation and the heterogeneous nucleation of aluminum

Abstract Liquid phase epitaxy of aluminum on substrates of varying lattice spacing is investigated. Molecular dynamic simulations show the formation and growth of small (nm to µm) islands following a Stranski-Krastanov mode, where a few unit cell thick, solid layer first templates to the substrate. Subsequent island formation reduces the strain energy within the nucleating solid. Growing islands coalesce upon impinging, while misfit dislocations form during growth and remain at the substrate interface. A thermodynamic analysis reveals island creation is a stochastic process, requiring thermal energy to overcome an activation barrier. Relative to a planar growth criterion, island growth becomes the prominent mechanism at moderate lattice mismatch between the solid and substrate. The difference in activation undercooling between the two growth mechanisms increases with mismatch magnitude. The presented model is used to evaluate island growth for other metals, and can be used as a criterion for activation of a catalyzing surface.
Secondary data analysis investigating effects of marine omega-3 fatty acids on circulating levels of leptin and adiponectin in older adults

Abstract Background Higher leptin and lower adiponectin levels have been linked to progressing systemic inflammation and diseases of aging. Among older adults with obesity and an inflammatory conditions, we quantified effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on leptin, adiponectin, and the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (LAR). We also examined associations among adipokine and cytokine levels. Methods Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, participants (mean age 61.3 ± 2.1) received 1.5 g EPA + 1.0 g DHA (n = 14) or mineral oil (n = 18) daily. Plasma adipokine and cytokine levels were quantified by electrochemiluminescence at all study intervals. Results While no between-group differences were detected, there was a reduction in the LAR (by 23%, p=.065) between weeks 4 and 8 among the EPA+DHA group. Adiponectin levels were negatively associated with IL-1β levels at week 4 (p=.02) and TNF-α levels at week 8 (p=.03). Conclusion Potential benefits of EPA+DHA supplementation among aging populations warrant further study.
Evaluation of OTL38-Generated Tumor-to-Background Ratio in Intraoperative Molecular Imaging-Guided Lung Cancer Resections

Cancer surgery has multiple challenges including localizing small lesions, ensuring negative margins, and identifying synchronous cancers. One of the tools proposed to address these issues is intraoperative molecular imaging (IMI). An important consideration in IMI is the quantification of the tumor fluorescence during the procedure and using that data to add clinical value. Currently, the most commonly cited measure of quantification is the tumor-to-background ratio (TBR). Our goal was to evaluate the clinical value of TBR measured with OTL38 NIR tracer during a lung cancer resection. Intraoperative data was retrospectively reviewed from a prospectively collected 5-year database. Between 2015 and 2020, 279 patients were included in the study. For standardization, all patients underwent infusion of the same targeted molecular optical contrast agent (OTL38) for lung cancer resections; then, the mean fluorescence intensity of the tumors and background tissues were calculated. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the TBR calculation, the results were correlated with patient, biologic, tumor, and technological factors. For pulmonary surgery, patient factors such as gender, age, smoking history, and time from infusion of OTL38 to surgery did not have any statistical significance in predicting the TBR during surgery. In addition, TBR measurements did not correlate with location of the tumor in the lung (p = 0.123). There was no statistical correlation of preoperative positron emission tomography measurements (standardized uptake value) with intraoperative TBR. However, there was statistically significant negative correlation of in situ TBR measurement and the distance of the lesion from the surface of the organ (p < 0.001). Adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions overall had statistically significant correlation with in situ fluorescence compared to other NSCLC malignancies (p < 0.01) but TBR measurements could not identify histopathologic subtype on univariate analysis (p = 0.089). There was a tendency for in situ fluorescence for moderately and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions, but this was not statistically significant. When comparing the in situ TBR of benign to malignant nodules in the lung, there was no statistically significant association (p = 0.145). In subset analysis, adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions tend to fluoresce at brighter with OTL38 compared to other histologic subtypes. In our various iterations, the results of our retrospective analysis did not show that TBR measurements during OTL38-guided surgery provide clinically useful information about the nature of the nodule or cancer. The true value of IMI is in the ability for the surgeon to use the fluorescence to guide the surgeon to the tumor and margins, but that sophisticated quantification of the amount of fluorescence may not have clinical utility.
The Theory of How HRIS Should Work

HRIS enterprise software is a tool that enables an organization to retain official records, process personnel updates, promote the recruiting process, allow for data for analysis to retain personnel, comply with local, state and federal reporting mandates and allow for the seamless ability to pay employees correctly as well as process terminations. As stated by Karikari, Boateng and Ocansey:
Translational research in the fastest-growing population: older adults

Abstract Aging is the most important risk factor for the vast majority of chronic conditions that lead to disability and death, and account for the bulk of heath care costs in developed countries. Translational research in aging has the potential to influence not only life span, but health span—the number of years one spends in health, free from disease, or disability. Animal models and human cohorts are useful in translational research in aging, but important limitations exist and influence experimental design, interpretation of results, and generalizability of findings. These issues are discussed in this chapter with specific examples of translation from yeast to rodents to humans to populations, and a number of resources available to assist translational research in aging are outlined.
Black/White Differences in Pressure Ulcer Incidence in Nursing Home Residents

Objectives: To compare black and white nursing home residents with respect to the incidence of nursing home (NH)-acquired pressure ulcers (PUs) and to examine the role of resident characteristics and facility characteristics in explaining differences between the racial groups. Design: Prospective cohort study conducted between 1992 and 1995. Setting: Fifty-nine Maryland NHs. Participants: A total of 1,938 residents (301 black, 1,637 white) aged 65 and older newly admitted to participating NHs. Measurements: The outcome variable was the first occurrence of a Stage 2, 3, or 4 PU as determined based on medical record review. The predictor variable was race (black, white). Eight resident characteristics (age, sex, number of activity of daily living dependencies, bedfast, PU on admission to facility, incontinence, dementia, and whether the resident was on Medicaid) and three facility characteristics (number of beds, for-profit ownership status, and urban/nonurban location) were considered as possible confounding variables. Results: The incidence of PUs was 0.38 per person-year in the NH. The rate for blacks was significantly higher than for whites (0.56 vs 0.35 per person-year) (P<.001). In multivariate analysis, controlling for eight resident characteristics and three facility characteristics, race was significantly associated with PU incidence (hazard ratio comparing blacks with whites=1.31, 95% confidence interval=1.02–1.66). Conclusion: Blacks have a higher incidence of NH-acquired PUs than whites; resident characteristics appear to mediate the higher risk. Future research should aim to identify modifiable factors that explain differences between racial groups in PU risk and to develop solutions to prevent the suffering and cost associated with PUs.
NUTRITIONAL STUDIES ON THE "AUTO-PLAQUE" PHENOMENON IN PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA.

Berk, Richard S. (Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.). Nutritional studies on the “auto-plaque” phenomenon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . J. Bacteriol. 86: 728–734. 1963.—Examination of 20 cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa indicated that 18 cultures possessed the common property of spontaneously lysing to form “plaques” or erosions on themselves in the absence of a sensitive indicator strain. Maximal lysis and plaque production was found to occur on a medium with a Tryptone concentration of 2.0 to 2.5%. Reduction of the Tryptone concentration to 0.5% or less supported growth, but was usually inadequate for support of lysis. However, addition of l-asparagine or l-arginine to 0.5% Tryptone induced lysis. Examination of five strains of Pseudomonas , which routinely exhibited the autolytic phenomenon, indicated that all were both lysogenic and pyocinogenic when tested against other Pseudomonas strains on both 2 and 0.5% Tryptone. Culturing of autolytic strain Pa-1 on a simple medium composed of glucose and inorganic salts appeared to be inadequate for “auto-plaque” formation, although lysis occurred occasionally when a yeast extract concentration of 1% was incorporated into the medium. Suppression of auto-plaque formation was also effected by growing the culture on Technicon dialyzing membrane D3 overlaid on 2% Tryptone, although lysogenic lysis of an indicator strain was demonstrable on the membrane. Images
Chasing Mendel: five questions for personalized medicine.

Ideas about personalized medicine are underpinned in part by evolutionary biology's Modern Synthesis. In this essay we link personalized medicine to the efforts of the early statistical investigators who quantified the heritability of human phenotype and then attempted to reconcile their observations with Mendelian genetics. As information about the heritability of common diseases was obtained, similar efforts were directed at understanding the genetic basis of disease phenotypes. These ideas were part of the rationale driving the Human Genome Project and subsequently the personalized medicine movement. In this context, we discuss: (1) the current state of the genotype–phenotype relationship in humans, (2) the common-disease–common-variant hypothesis, (3) the current ability of ‘omic’ information to inform clinical decision making, (4) emerging ideas about the therapeutic insight available from rare genetic variants, and (5) the social and behavioural barriers to the wider potential success of personalized medicine. There are significant gaps in knowledge as well as conceptual, intellectual, and philosophical limitations in each of these five areas. We then provide specific recommendations to mitigate these limitations and close by asking if it is time for the biomedical research community to ‘stop chasing Mendel?’
Recursive Algorithms for Coprime Fractions and Diophantine Equations

The computation of coprime fractions for proper rational matrices and the solving of Diophantine equations are important in the design of multivariable systems by using polynomial fractional forms. Recursive algorithms, which fully exploit the shift-invariant property of the generalized resultants, are developed to carry out these computations. They are more efficient than the existing ones.
Functional anatomy labs in a second year medical school musculoskeletal course (721.7)

Many primary care physicians lack the training to adequately conduct the musculoskeletal (MSK) portion of a physical exam. To address this challenge at the University of Utah School of Medicine we devised a series of functional anatomy labs to accompany our five-week MSK course. Each week of the course was devoted to a different region of the body (spine, hip and knee, ankle and foot, shoulder and elbow, wrist and hand), and the associated labs consisted of six 20-minute stations which integrated integrated cadaveric prosections, imaging, including hands-on ultrasound experience, all in the context of MSK phAn. An anatomy professor, laboratory TA, 4th year medical student, or sports medicine physician facilitated. Reported was an increased knowledge and comfort in subsequent clinical MSK rotations.
Measurement of Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Graphiteepoxy Composites for Precision Applications

Results are reported on an investigation to evaluate the usefulness of selected graphite-epoxy composite structures for applications requiring precision tolerancing and dimensional control. GY-70/X-904 laminate compositesin the double symmetric design (0/ ′ 45/90) 2 s were tested, as well as a honey-comb design having two singly symmetric GY-70/X-904 faceplates bonded to an aluminum core. Measurements were made to evaluate the coefficient of thermal expansion and its directional variations at 0, 45, and 90 deg to the outermost fiber orientation. Additional measurements of the coefficient included variations normal to the surface. Nondestructive testing employing holography was conducted to determine microcreep behavior. Optical processing methods were investigated and mirrors with three types of reflector surfaces were fabricated. Environmental testing, including thermal cycling, thermal stability, humidity/vacuum effects, and temporal stability, was done on mirrors representing the various processing methods. Data, discussion of results, and recommendations for applicable areas are given for the specific material and design types tested.
Optimal design of digital Hilbert transformers with a concavity constraint

A linear programming algorithm is described for designing FIR digital filters with the constraint that the magnitude response be concave over prescribed frequency bands. This is applied to odd-length Hilbert Transformers, and computational results are given. The concavity constraint avoids the ripple of the minimax design, and retains the advantage of maintaining half-band symmetry in the case of symmetric transition bands, so that alternate impulse response samples are zero. If N is the length of the impulse response, ΔF the (symmetric) transition width, and δ the maximum error, it is found that N\DeltaF/\log_{10}^{/delta} \approx -1.1 , as opposed to the value of -0.61 in the minimax case (with ripple) reported by Rabiner and Schafer. Thus, the price paid for the absence of ripples is about twice the number of multiplications per sample.
Preference for the Thermal Environment by the Elderly

On the basis of the responses of 64 elderly subjects (mean age 75 years) to two questionnaires, temperatures from 32° F to 110° F were classified as cooler-than-comfortable, comfortable, and warmer-than-comfortable. The distribution of comfortable temperatures agree with experimentally derived findings on college-age and middle-aged adults with the mean, median, and modal values falling within the ASHRAE Thermal Comfort Standard 55-66. The results conflict with the criterion stated in the ASHRAE Handbook (1967) that persons over the age of 40 prefer a temperature for comfort of 1° ET higher than that desired by persons below this age.
Research and Theories on the Etiology of Mental Diseases: Doomed to Failure?

Understanding the etiology of mental diseases has been a high-profile holy grail of basic research and has absorbed the effort of many thousands of scientists at a cost of many billions of dollars ...