cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA Let-7adf in Tet regulation.

In our recent work [1], we examined let-7adf to understand pathways that a cell uses to respond to inflammatory signaling. We know myeloid cells are critical to Tet2-mediated IL-6 inhibition. The action of Tet2 is in myeloid cells because a conditional KO and a global KO of Tet2 have similar effects. Our work adds to the previous work [2], which revealed that myeloid cell-specific Tet2-deficient mice were more susceptible to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and displayed a more severe inflammatory phenotype than WT mice, with exacerbated colon inflammation including higher production of IL-6. In this work, we discovered a novel regulatory control of Tet2 by let-7adf. Although functional roles of Tet2 in macrophages have been extensively studied, the knowledge of how Tet2 is precisely regulated has been limited. The questions regarding the complicated network of regulation of Tet2 through interaction with the let-7 miR remain open and will be an area of significant interest. The posttranscriptional effectors engaged in the regulation of gene expression, including RNA-binding proteins and other non-coding RNAs, can affect miR-mediated gene regulation. For instance, Lin28 RNA binding protein blocks biogenesis of let-7 miRs [3] and the H19 long non-coding RNA acts as a molecular sponge for the let-7 family of miRs [3]. We would speculate that either Lin28 or H19 might control Tet2 through regulating behavior of let-7 in activated macrophages.
Predictors for Adverse Outcomes in Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Multihospital Health System

Objective: To determine predictors of prolonged length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission, and 30-day mortality in a multihospital health system. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 531 adults admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) to a multihospital health system between November 2015 and December 2016. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Linear regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for predictors and their association with prolonged LOS (3.2 days), 30-day readmission, and 30-day mortality. Results: Significant predictors for prolonged LOS included: intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR, 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38 to 3.27), disease duration (nonlinear) (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.49), non-white race (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.60), age at admission (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.04), and Elixhauser index (EI) (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.29). Shorter time to consult after admission (median [Q1, Q3] of 11.3 [3.9, 20.7] vs. 14.8 [7.4, 37.3] hours, P<.001) was associated with a shorter LOS. Significant 30-day readmission predictors included: Medicare insurance (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.13 to 4.86) and EI (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.41). Endocrine consultation was associated with reduced 30-day readmission (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.92). A predictive model for mortality was not generated because of low event rates. Conclusion: EI, non-white race, disease duration, age, Medicare, and ICU admission were associated with adverse outcomes. Endocrinology consultation was associated with lower 30-day readmission, and earlier consultation resulted in a shorter LOS. Abbreviations: CI = confidence interval; DKA = diabetic ketoacidosis; EI = Elixhauser index; HbA1c = hemoglobin A1c; ICD = International Classification of Diseases; ICU = intensive care unit; LOS = length of stay; OR = odds ratio; Q = quartile.
Using LEED green rating systems to promote population health

Abstract Design and development practitioners have an impact on population health through their ability to modify the built environment, an important factor influencing health behaviors and outcomes. Green certification offers a template for making health promotion a standard consideration and priority within the real estate industry. This study aims to identify existing opportunities for population health promotion within the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Design) framework, a widely used green building rating system. This exploratory analysis classifies three types of health promotion opportunities within LEED v4 distinguished by the level of capacity needed to identify and act upon these opportunities. The analysis identifies a variety of opportunities to promote health and well-being at specific population scales including a project's site user, surrounding community, supply chain and waste stream communities as well as the global population. The majority of LEED v4 strategies have potential impact on human health and well-being at a population scale. LEED practitioners are able to prioritize health and well-being without sacrificing environmental considerations. However, a large number of these health promotion opportunities require additional decision-making. Green building practitioners must be intentional in their selection and application of LEED strategies in order to benefit from their full potential health value. A systematic health promotion process could help LEED practitioners identify, prioritize and implement the most relevant LEED strategies. Additional health-focused guidance and incentive structures could further increase the utility of LEED as a health promotion tool.
Management of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage by the trauma service: is repeat CT scanning and routine neurosurgical consultation necessary?

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) results frequently from traumatic brain injury (TBI). The standard management for these patients includes brief admission by the acute care surgery (trauma) service with neurological checks, neurosurgical consultation and repeat head CT within 24 hours to identify any progression or resolution. Recent studies have questioned the need for repeat CT imaging and specialty consultation in mild TBI. We reviewed patients with mild TBI specifically with isolated SAH to determine progression of the pathology and need for neurosurgical involvement. All patients with SAH secondary to mild TBI (Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 13–15) who presented over a 5-year period (January 2010 to December 2014) to a level I trauma center were identified from the trauma registry. Demographic data, initial CT findings, neurosurgical consultation, follow-up CT findings, Injury Severity Score (ISS), admission GCS and length of stay (LOS) were all obtained from the patient’s charts. Patients with other traumatic brain lesions on the initial CT were excluded. There were 299 patients (male, 48.5%), mean age 60.9 and mean ISS 8. Average time between the first and second CT was 11.3 hours. In all, 267 (89.2%) patients had either no change or an improvement/resolution on follow-up CT scan. Only 26 patients (8.7%) had either worsening or new findings on CT. Eight patients did not have a second scan completed (2.6%). All patients had neurosurgical consultation. Patients with mild TBI with isolated SAH generally have low morbidity, short LOS and negligible mortality. Less than 10% of this population had worsening of their head injury on repeat CT scanning. Given the low acuity of these patients with SAH and tendency towards resolution without intervention, acute care surgeons can manage this specific group of patients with TBI without routine neurosurgical consultation. Repeat CT scanning continues to have utility as it may identify new lesions, deterioration or need for further management.
The Problem with Solutions: Development Failures in Bangladesh and the Interests They Obscure

Long described as the “largest poorest” country, Bangladesh has been a prime target for massive infusions of foreign aid for decades. Through historical and ethnographic investigation, I document h...
Managing Diabetes: The Cultural Politics of Disease: by Raquel M. Robvais, Jeffrey A. Bennett, NY, New York, New York University Press, 2019, 256 pp., $30.00 cloth, $26.99 electronic, ISBN-10 1479835285; ISBN-13 978-1479835287

This book is really good. It’s good for an assortment of audiences: the rhetorician interested in the persuasive language of disease, the scientist engaged in communicating disease processes, the p...
Reduced Clostridioides difficile infection in a pragmatic stepped-wedge initiative using admission surveillance to detect colonization.

Background Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) is a persistent healthcare issue. In the US, CDI is the most common infectious cause of hospital-onset (HO) diarrhea. Objective Assess the impact of admission testing for toxigenic C. difficile colonization on the incidence of HO-CDI. Design Pragmatic stepped-wedge Infection Control initiative. Setting NorthShore University HealthSystem is a four-hospital system near Chicago, IL. Patients All patients admitted to the four hospitals during the initiative. Interventions From September 2017 through August 2018 we conducted a quality improvement program where admitted patients had a peri-rectal swab tested for toxigenic C. difficile. All colonized patients were placed into contact precautions. Measurements We tested admissions who: i) had been hospitalized within two months, ii) had a past C. difficile positive test, and/or iii) were in a long-term care facility within six months. We measured compliance with all other practices to reduce the incidence of HO-CDI. Results 30% of admissions were tested and 8.3% were positive. In the year prior to the initiative (Period 1) there were 63,057 admitted patients when HO-CDI incidence was 5.96 cases/10,000 patient days. During the 12-month initiative (Period 2) there were 62,760 admissions and the HO-CDI incidence was 4.23 cases/10,000 patient days (p = 0.02). There were no other practice or antibiotic use changes. Continuing admission surveillance provided a HO-CDI incidence of 2.9 cases/10,000 patient days during the final 9 months of 2018 (p<0.0001 compared to Period 1), equaling <1 case/1,000 admissions. Limitations This was not a randomized controlled trial, and multiple prevention practices were in place at the time of the admission surveillance initiative. Conclusion Admission C. difficile surveillance testing is an important tool for preventing hospital-onset C. difficile infection. Registration This quality improvement initiative is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. The unique registration identifier number is NCT04014608.
MIXED H2/μ OPTIMIZATION

A general mixed H2/μ optimal control problem is considered. The system consists of a linear-time-invariant plant with stable weights on the H2 and μ transfer functions. The controller order can be reduced to as low as that of the plant augmented with the H2 weights. A solution is developed for the optimal fixed order controller which has minimum two-norm for a given value of μ. A numerical approach using sequential quadratic programming is developed to find suboptimal controllers which are as close as desired to optimal. An F-16 longitudinal controller is designed using the mixed technique.
A decade of experience for high-needs beneficiaries under Medicare Advantage.

Abstract Objective To describe the association between longitudinal enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) and utilization, access, quality of care, and health outcomes for beneficiaries with complex health needs. Data sources/study setting Beneficiary characteristics, enrollment, and outcomes data from the 2004–2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Study design Using the HRS panel structure, we identified beneficiaries consistently reporting high needs as well as enrollment in MA versus traditional Medicare (TM). We first evaluated a robust set of beneficiary characteristics to identify those that distinguish beneficiaries who consistently enrolled in MA versus TM. We then described adjusted differences in outcomes between high-needs beneficiaries who consistently enrolled in MA versus TM. Principal findings Among high-needs beneficiaries, there was a modest amount of favorable selection into MA based on health. Controlling for several characteristics, MA enrollees used less care (with a 6.6 percentage point (pp) lower probability of hospitalization, 4.7 fewer physician visits, and a 5.1 pp lower probability of using home health care), had a 4.1 pp greater probability of being unable to afford their care, and had a 5.7 pp lower probability of reporting that they were very satisfied with their care. Compared to associations between MA and outcomes for high-needs beneficiaries, for non-high-needs beneficiaries MA enrollment was associated with smaller decreases in utilization and no statistically significant difference in the inability to afford care. Conclusions Our descriptive findings raise the possibility that high-needs beneficiaries may experience unique challenges in MA compared to their non-high-needs counterparts.
Trends in Anti-VEGF Injection Medicare Part B Claims among Male and Female Ophthalmologists from 2012-2016

Background: Compared to male ophthalmologists, female ophthalmologists have significantly reduced salaries, fewer faculty roles and authored publications, garnered less federal research funding, an...
Inhibitory proteins block substrate access to the membrane-embedded active site of Bacillus subtilis intramembrane protease SpoIVFB

Intramembrane proteases function in numerous signaling pathways that impact health, but how their membrane-embedded active sites interact with modulators is poorly understood. We examined inhibition of intramembrane metalloprotease SpoIVFB by proteins BofA and SpoIVFA. We found that BofA residues in and near a predicted transmembrane segment are required for SpoIVFB inhibition, and cross-linking experiments indicated that this transmembrane segment occupies the SpoIVFB active site region. BofA and SpoIVFA neither prevented SpoIVFB from interacting with substrate in co-purification assays nor interfered with cross-linking between the C-terminal regions of substrate and SpoIVFB. However, the inhibitory proteins did interfere with cross-linking between the SpoIVFB active site region and the substrate N-terminal Proregion, which is normally cleaved. We conclude that BofA and SpoIVFA block substrate access to the membrane-embedded active site of SpoIVFB. A structural model was built of SpoIVFB in complex with BofA and parts of SpoIVFA and substrate, using partial homology and constraints from cross-linking and co-evolutionary analyses. The model predicts that conserved BofA residues interact to stabilize a transmembrane segment and a membrane-embedded C-terminal region. SpoIVFA is predicted to bridge the BofA C-terminal region and SpoIVFB, forming a membrane-embedded inhibitory complex. Implications for design of intramembrane metalloprotease inhibitors are discussed.
Free-Living Motor Activity Monitoring in Ataxia-Telangiectasia

With disease-modifying approaches under evaluation in ataxia-telangiectasia and other ataxias, there is a need for objective and reliable biomarkers of free-living motor function. In this study, we test the hypothesis that metrics derived from a single wrist sensor worn at home provide accurate, reliable, and interpretable information about neurological disease severity in children with A-T. A total of 15 children with A-T and 15 age- and sex-matched controls wore a sensor with a triaxial accelerometer on their dominant wrist for 1 week at home. Activity intensity measures, derived from the sensor data, were compared with in-person neurological evaluation on the Brief Ataxia Rating Scale (BARS) and performance on a validated computer mouse task. Children with A-T were inactive the same proportion of each day as controls but produced more low intensity movements (p < 0.01; Cohen’s d = 1.48) and fewer high intensity movements (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.71). The range of activity intensities was markedly reduced in A-T compared to controls (p < 0.0001; Cohen’s d = 2.72). The activity metrics correlated strongly with arm, gait, and total clinical severity (r: 0.71–0.87; p < 0.0001), correlated with specific computer task motor features (r: 0.67–0.92; p < 0.01), demonstrated high reliability (r: 0.86–0.93; p < 0.00001), and were not significantly influenced by age in the healthy control group. Motor activity metrics from a single, inexpensive wrist sensor during free-living behavior provide accurate and reliable information about diagnosis, neurological disease severity, and motor performance. These low-burden measurements are applicable independent of ambulatory status and are potential digital behavioral biomarkers in A-T.
The Effects of Offshoring on Judgment Quality in a Management Accounting Task

This study investigates the effects of offshoring on judgment quality in a management accounting context (i.e., capital budgeting). The effects of offshoring on judgment quality are understudied and might explain the ineffective and inefficient use of information in offshoring arrangements (Srikanth and Puranam, 2011). A 3x2 between-subject experiment was conducted where participants were assigned to one of three experimental conditions: onshore team, offshore team, or no team. Two dependent variables were measured for judgment quality: effectiveness and efficiency. My results suggest that offshoring may have detrimental effects on efficiency. However, I also find that offshoring does not affect effectiveness.
Six-year efficiency gains for CdTe and CuIn/sub 1-x/Ga/sub x/Se/sub 2/ solar cells: what has changed?

During a period of six years from roughly 1987 to 1993, a number of laboratories have contributed to efficiency gains for thin-film cells with polycrystalline CdTe and CuIn/sub 1-x/GaSe/sub 2/ (CIGS) absorbers. Total-area efficiencies have increased from just above 10% to over 16%, and these cells can now be sensibly compared with single-crystal cells of comparable bandgap. A number of factors have contributed to these gains, but the most significant has been the reduction of recombination states in the depletion region and the resulting drop in forward-current density.
Guanosine-inosine-preferring nucleoside N-glycohydrolase from Crithidia fasciculata.

Protozoan parasites are incapable of de novo purine biosynthesis and obtain purines by salvage pathways. A nucleoside hydrolase which prefers inosine and uridine as substrates (IU-nucleoside hydrolase) has been characterized and implicated in purine salvage in Crithidia fasciculata (Parkin, D. W., Horenstein, B. A., Abdulah, D. R., Estupinan, B., and Schramm, V. L. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 31, 20658-20665). Treatment of C. fasciculata with inhibitors of the IU-nucleoside hydrolase did not prevent cell growth, suggesting alternative enzymes. A guanosine-inosine-preferring enzyme (GI-nucleoside hydrolase) has been purified from extracts of C. fasciculata and characterized. The enzyme is an oligomer of M(r) 38,500 subunits. The Vmax/Km for guanosine, inosine, and adenosine are 3.2 x 10(6), 6.2 x 10(6), and 9.8 M-1 S-1, respectively. Deoxynucleosides, nucleotides, and pyrimidine nucleosides are poor substrates. The pH profile for Km is independent of pH, whereas both Vmax and Vmax/Km demonstrate that a single protonated base, pKa 7.7 is required for activity. The transition state inhibitors of IU-nucleoside hydrolase, 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-1-(S)-phenyl-D-ribitol (Horenstein, B. A., and Schramm, V. L. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 9917-9925) and p-nitrophenylriboamidrazone (Boutellier, M., Horenstein, B. A., Semenyaka, A., Schramm, V.L., and Ganem, B. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 3994-4000), are unexceptional inhibitors of the GI-nucleoside hydrolase. The enzyme is inhibited by 3-deazaadenosine and 2-iodoadenosine with Km/Ki values of 145 and 61, respectively. The results demonstrate that this previously uncharacterized enzyme has distinct structure, kinetic, and chemical mechanisms relative to IU-nucleoside hydrolase. Metabolic studies with labeled inosine as the sole purine source indicated that the GI-enzyme is efficient for purine salvage in vivo.
Cooperative learning and achievement: Theory and research.

Slavin, Hurley, and Chamberlain present a historical review of cooperative learning. Four theoretical perspectives on cooperative learning and achievement are presented: Motivational, Social Cohesion, Cognitive Developmental, and Cognitive Elaboration Perspectives. In subsequent sections, critical philosophical differences are presented, particularly about where to locate motivation for learning behaviors, how to structure interactions among students, and how incentive and task structures impact forms of cooperative learning. In the final section, prospective areas for research are presented, and include a unified theoretical model that can guide future research efforts, inform educational practice, and foster the design of effective professional training and development. Keywords: cooperative groups; cooperative learning; individual goals; student achievement
A Rewriting Logic for Declarative Programming

We propose an approach to declarative programming which integrates the functional and relational paradigms by taking possibly non-deterministic lazy functions as the fundamental notion. Programs in our paradigm are theories in a constructor-based conditional rewriting logic. We present proof calculi and a model theory for this logic, and we prove the existence of free term models which provide an adequate intended semantics for programs. Moreover, we develop a sound and strongly complete lazy narrowing calculus, which is able to support sharing without the technical overhead of graph rewriting and to identify safe cases for eager variable elimination.
An efficient approach to low cost sequential circuit testing in a BIST environment

This paper introduces a Built-In Self-Test (BIST) design methodology that can sequentially test large VLSI circuits with very high fault coverage. The proposed techniques, Circular Built-In Self-Test (CBIST) and CBIST with pseudo-partial scan (PP-SCAN), are modeled after the principles of the Circular Self-Test Path. The basis of this method is to trade a minimal increase in hardware overhead for a large increase in fault coverage. It will be shown that this technique yields a much higher fault coverage with reasonable time and test vector length when compared to existing sequential test methods. >
Functional neuroanatomy of verbal free recall: A replication study.

The functional neuroanatomy of verbal memory was investigated using verbal free recall during H2 (15) O positron emission tomography (PET). Twelve young (25-40 years old) normal control subjects participated in eight scans during a single scanning session during which they performed three memory tasks differing by word list length. Four subjects also had scans during a "rest" condition. Temporal lobe activation was observed during all tasks, including single-word repetition. The frontal cortices, specifically Brodmann areas 9 and 10, were activated only when the recall word lists exceeded the memory spans (i. e., 12 and 15 words). Activation was also observed in the anterior cingulate cortex (BA24 and BA32). These data, obtained using a within-subject design, extend previously reported findings that used mixed within-and between-subject designs and demonstrate important functional components of normal auditoryverbal short-term memory. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Can you hear me now: the return of voice to distance learning

Podcasting and VOIP technologies offer a return of 'voice' to distance learning. These tools, primarily podcasting and Skype, allow instructors and students greater social presence. Experimenting with these auditory components, panelists will demonstrate, explain and lead discussions on preferred practices and potential pitfalls integrating voice, both as synchronous and asynchronous elements, for online learning environments.
Model-Based Design of Fixed-Point Filters for Embedded Systems

Digital filters are used in many automotive applications ranging from identification and conditioning of signals in an engine controller to digital radio receivers. Often these filters are implemented in fixed point for reasons such as throughput or cost. Selecting a fixed-point implementation requires trading off behavioral performance for available resources on the embedded processor. In addition, many of these filters must support calibration at processor startup or run time. Hence the selected implementation must meet the behavioral requirements for a set of digital filters. A common example application is audio processing to optimize cabin acoustics. In this case, the embedded audio processor queries the vehicle identification over the vehicle network then selects a bank of digital filters which are calibrated to provide optimal acoustics to the passengers.
Congenital Tongue Mass with Concomitant Cleft Palate and Bifid Tongue: A Case Report and Review of the Literature:

A case report of a congenital, lingual, salivary gland choristoma with bifid tongue and cleft palate is presented. The patient was born with airway obstruction in supine positioning. Laryngoscopy revealed a midline tongue mass that extended into the hypopharyx and pathological examination showed a congenital ectopic salivary gland. The bifid tongue was repaired at the time of surgical excision. Literature review revealed nine additional cases of congenital lingual mass, bifid tongue, and cleft palate. The most common tongue mass reported was hamartoma (40%), but the differential diagnoses include hamartoma, teratoma, and salivary choristoma.
The IBM Parallel Engineering and Scientific Subroutine Library

Parallel ESSL is a product fully committed to providing the best possible utilization of computational resources; it is also committed to providing support for computational standards, ease of use and superior support.
Openness of the economy, terms of trade, and arms

It is estimated that world military spending in 2011 amounted to over 2.5% of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This corresponds to a spending of $233 per person in the world at 2010 constant prices, an amount close to the GDP per capita of the poorest country in the world. Therefore, it is important for economists to understand the allocation of resources to this sector of the economy. I present a model that explores the determinants of a country's level of military spending. I show how greater gains from trade can lead to greater military expenditures to protect them. It is also found that expansion in the demand for a country's tradable commodities, that is, an improvement in that country's terms of trade, will impact defense spending. Several other propositions emerge from the model which are then empirically tested using both pooled and time series data. The statistical results support the model's propositions.
A sequential Bayesian approach for hydrologic model selection and prediction

[1] When a single model is used for hydrologic prediction, it must be capable of estimating system behavior accurately at all times. Multiple-model approaches integrate several model behaviors and, when effective, they can provide better estimates than that of any single model alone. This paper discusses a sequential model fusion strategy that uses the Bayes rule. This approach calculates each model's transient posterior distribution at each time when a new observation is available and merges all model estimates on the basis of each model's posterior probability. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of this approach through case studies that fuse three hydrologic models, auto regressive with exogenous inputs, Sacramento soil moisture accounting, and artificial neural network models, to predict daily watershed streamflow.
Entropy in Social Networks

We introduce the concepts of closed sets and closure operators as mathematical tools for the study of social networks. Dynamic networks are represented by transformations. It is shown that under continuous change/transformation, all networks tend to "break down" and become less complex. It is a kind of entropy. The product of this theoretical decomposition is an abundance of triadically closed clusters which sociologists have observed in practice. This gives credence to the relevance of this kind of mathematical analysis in the sociological context.
Technology of speech for a computer system

Voice processing has made considerable progress in the last 10 years. Interaction with computer systems using spoken language is becoming common in consumer products, office systems and telecommunications applications. The article focuses on speech technology for computer systems. We briefly review voice technology, its current status, and specific aspects of automatic speech recognition, speech synthesis and applications.
An analog non-volatile neural network platform for prototyping RF BIST solutions

We introduce an analog non-volatile neural network chip which serves as an experimentation platform for prototyping custom classifiers for on-chip integration towards fully stand-alone built-in self-test (BIST) solutions for RF circuits. Our chip consists of a reconfigurable array of synapses and neurons operating below threshold and featuring sub-μW power consumption. The synapse circuits employ dynamic weight storage for fast bidirectional weight updates during training. The learned weights are then copied onto analog floating gate (FG) memory for permanent storage. The chip architecture supports two learning models: a multilayer perceptron and an ontogenic neural network. A benchmark XOR task is first employed to evaluate the overall learning capability of our chip. The BIST-related effectiveness is then evaluated on two case studies: the detection of parametric and catastrophic faults in an LNA and an RF front-end circuits, respectively.
Contribution of pi N--> Lambda K to subthreshold kaon production in heavy-ion collisions.

We have studied kaon production from the interaction of pions with nucleons in heavy-ion collisions at energies below the threshold for kaon production in the nucleon-nucleon interaction in free space. It is found that this contribution is less than 25% of the total kaon yield. The main contribution to kaon production is from baryon-baryon interactions and its magnitude depends sensitively on the nuclear equation of state at high densities.
Enabling integrated biorefineries through high-yield conversion of fractionated pentosans into furfural

Dilute aqueous solutions of furfural were produced in high yield from biomass hydrolysates using an acid-catalyzed batch reactive distillation process that separated the vapor phase from the aqueous reactant medium. Hot water hydrolysates from hybrid poplar, miscanthus, switchgrass and corn stover were dehydrated using sulfuric acid. The vapor fraction from the reactor was condensed to produce furfural in excess of 85% of the theoretical yield based on total pentose. Using xylose as the model compound, and temperature and acid concentration as the variables, the process conditions were optimized by the construction of a three-level statistical model. Hot water hydrolysis of biomass provided with a cellulose-rich solid fraction which has potential for conversion into pulp or cellulosic ethanol, while the liquid fraction, rich in hemicellulose sugars, was converted into furfural. Fractionating the biomass allows for exploration of the concept of the integrated biorefinery where the hemicellulose sugars are not underutilized or encountered as potential inhibitors during microbial conversions of the solid stream, but are converted into furfural, a valuable chemical precursor. The availability of the cellulose fraction for further conversion into pulp or ethanol gives the current process a major advantage over the conventional batch process used in industry, where theoretical yields do not exceed 45–50% with the conspicuous absence of a usable cellulose stream.
Dynamic Changes in Regulatory T Cells Are Linked to Levels of Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia

Background—Regulatory T cells (Treg) are present in atherosclerotic lesions and can modulate disease. In this study we characterized changes in Treg responses associated with prolonged hypercholesterolemia and lesion progression. Methods and Results—Low-density lipoprotein receptor null mice in which Treg express green fluorescent protein were fed a control or cholesterol-rich diet, and green fluorescent protein–positive cells were enumerated in lymphoid tissues and in aorta. Splenic Treg numbers increased after 4, 8, and 20 weeks in cholesterol-diet–fed mice. However, the number of circulating and lesional Treg peaked at 4 weeks and decreased significantly at 8 and 20 weeks, concomitant with increased numbers of CD4+ effector T cells and increased lesion size over this period. Treg expression of selectin ligands and their ability to bind to aortic endothelium decreased after prolonged hypercholesterolemia, and apoptosis of lesional Treg increased. After 4 weeks of cholesterol-rich diet, a switch to a con...
Using Injury Tolerance Data to Reconstruct Accidents

In order to determine what occurred in an injury-producing event, such as a motor vehicle accident or a fall, it is essential to understand both the environment in which the event occurs and the specifics of the injuries. Information about the environment can then be used as part of the biomechanical analysis to determine how the person moves, what structures they may have contacted and the severity of any contacts, which can then be used to determine the expected injuries. Another approach is to begin with the injury specifics, determine what type of mechanical loading is necessary to cause that injury, and finally assess what environmental factors would lead to that loading.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Quantification of coronary arterial calcium by dual energy digital subtraction fluoroscopy

Clinical studies of the heart with fluoroscopy have shown that fluoroscopic visualization of calcium in the coronary arteries is strongly associated with coronary artery disease. However, fluoroscopic detection is limited by its low sensitivity, which is partly due to the interfering background tissue structures and image quantum noise. Moreover, quantification of the absolute amount of calcium in an arterial segment has not been possible. A real-time dual-energy subtraction technique has been investigated as a possible solution to the above problem. In this energy subtraction technique, the kVp and filtration are switched at 30 Hz. In order to assess the potential utility of this videodensitometric technique to quantitate coronary artery calcium, arterial phantoms and excised segments of diseased human arteries were imaged. The low- and high-energy images were corrected for scatter and veiling glare before subtraction. Calcium measurements were made using the tissue-suppressed energy-subtracted images. The estimated calcium phosphate and ashed weights of the calcified arterial segments (N = 20) were highly correlated (slope = 1.04, Intercept = -0.33 mg, r = 0.92).
Censorship resistant peer-to-peer content addressable networks

We present a censorship resistant peer-to-peer Content Addressable Network for accessing n data items in a network of n nodes. Each search for a data item in the network takes O(log n) time and requires at most O(log2n) messages. Our network is censorship resistant in the sense that even after adversarial removal of an arbitrarily large constant fraction of the nodes in the network, all but an arbitrarily small fraction of the remaining nodes can obtain all but an arbitrarily small fraction of the original data items. The network can be created in a fully distributed fashion. It requires only O(log n) memory in each node. We also give a variant of our scheme that has the property that it is highly spam resistant: an adversary can take over complete control of a constant fraction of the nodes in the network and yet will still be unable to generate spam.
Observational selection, host galaxy dust, and Type Ia supernovae

We develop models for extinction of Type Ia supernova light due to dust in spiral host galaxies. The models are based on well-known facts and concepts concerning galaxy morphology, star distributions, and dust. We find that observational selection causes extinctions of observable Ia supernovae to be very insensitive to large variations in host galaxy dust, especially at high redshift.
Critical Review of Existing Patient Reported Outcome Measures After Male Anterior Urethroplasty

Purpose: Male urethral stricture disease can be recurrent and debilitating. The aim of any intervention is to allow men to return to a normal state of voiding while maintaining a strong quality of life. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to assess for the use of patient reported outcome instruments after male anterior urethroplasty.Materials and Methods: A review of PubMed® was conducted to identify studies that used a patient reported outcome measure to assess patient outcome after open surgical correction of male strictures. Preference was given to studies that used an instrument in the preoperative and postoperative setting. However, use of an outcome measure solely in the postoperative setting was also accepted. After article selection, the 8 attributes recommended by the Scientific Advisory Committee were used to analyze the measurement properties of each patient reported outcome measure.Results: A total of 15 studies were identified that included an instrument to assess patients wit...
Investigation of Al/(Al,Ga)As/GaAs metal/insulator/ semiconductor-type structures and application to buried interface field effect transistors

Abstract Undoped Al 0.5 Ga 0.5 As is used as an insulator layer in the fabrication of metal/ insulator/semiconductor- (MIS-) like capacitors with aluminum Schottky gates. Current-voltage and capacitance-voltage characteristics were measured as a function of temperature in the range 300-77 K. At high temperatures current occurs by thermionic emission over the barrier determined by the Schottky contact and the conduction band discontinuity. As the temperature is lowered, Fowler-Nordheim tunneling is observed for sufficiently high gate biases and at 77 K conduction is ohmic. Using an Al 0.5 Ga 0.5 As layer 100 nm thick MIS-like buried interface field effect transistors were fabricated. When these were operated in an accumulation mode and cooled to 77 K the transconductance increased by a factor of 2 and the current by a factor of 2.5. These preliminary results represent the first observation of enhanced performance at cryogenic temperatures in this type of device as a result of increasing electron saturation velocity. At 77 K and a saturation current density of 138 mA mm -1 the transconductance was 40 mS mm -1 , compared with a theoretically estimated value of 130 mS mm -1 .
MafA and MafB Regulate Pdx1 Transcription through the Area II Control Region in Pancreatic β Cells

Pancreatic-duodenal homeobox factor-1 (Pdx1) is highly enriched in islet β cells and integral to proper cell development and adult function. Of the four conserved 5′-flanking sequence blocks that contribute to transcription in vivo, Area II (mouse base pairs -2153/-1923) represents the only mammalian specific control domain. Here we demonstrate that regulation of β-cell-enriched Pdx1 expression by the MafA and MafB transcription factors is exclusively through Area II. Thus, these factors were found to specifically activate through Area II in cell line transfection-based assays, and MafA, which is uniquely expressed in adult islet β cells was only bound to this region in quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation studies. MafA and MafB are produced in β cells during development and were both bound to Area II at embryonic day 18.5. Expression of a transgene driven by Pdx1 Areas I and II was also severely compromised during insulin+ cell formation in MafB-/- mice, consistent with the importance of this large Maf in β-cell production and Pdx1 expression. These findings illustrate the significance of large Maf proteins to Pdx1 expression in β cells, and in particular MafB during pancreatic development.
Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles Precipitated from Low‐Temperature Aqueous Solutions: I. Nucleation, Growth, and Aggregation

Titanium oxide (TiO{sub 2}) thin films can be prepared by controlled hydrolysis of a titanium tetrachloride (TiCl{sub 4}) precursor in an aqueous solution at temperatures below 100 C. As part of an effort to understand the formation of such TiO{sub 2} films, the kinetics of the nucleation, growth, and aggregation of TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles in aqueous solutions of TiCl{sub 4} were studied using dynamic light scattering and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). A higher degree of supersaturation, produced by a higher solution temperature, a higher concentration of TiCl{sub 4}, or a higher pH, results in a shorter nucleation induction time, a faster initial growth/aggregation rate, and a larger aggregate size. The interfacial energy of TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles was found to be 0.072 J/m{sup 2} from the homogeneous nucleation theory. Further investigations by a high-resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) and TEM for the as-deposited films showed the structure hierarchy organized from nanocrystalline particles precipitated in the supersaturated solution. As a result, the effect of solution conditions on the nucleation, growth, and aggregation of TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles can provide useful guidance for tailoring of microstructures of the TiO{sub 2} films.
Vapour pressures and gas-phase (p, ρn, T)values for CF3CHF2(g) (R125)

Abstract We present new vapour pressures and the ( p, ρ n , T ) surface of CF 3 CHF 2 (pentafluoroethane, designated R125 by the refrigeration industry) in the temperature range T = 273 K to 363 K. The ( p, ρ n , T )} measurements are for the gas phase at densities up to approximately the critical density. The static vapour pressures reported here have been combined with previous ebulliometric measurements made in this laboratory at lower temperatures. Correlating equations are given for the vapour pressures from T = 220 K to the critical temperature: T c = 339.30 K. A virial equation has been used to correlate the ( p, ρ n , T ) surface at amount-of-substance densities up to 1600 mol m −3 . Second and third virial coefficients have been derived from the ( p, ρ n , T ) measurements.
An acid hydrolysis method for quantification of plasma free and total carnitine by flow injection tandem mass spectrometry.

Abstract Objectives To develop a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method for plasma free and total carnitine, incorporating acid hydrolysis for total carnitine measurement, for improved accuracy and sample throughput. Design and methods Limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), linearity, accuracy, precision coefficient of variation (CV), method comparison with a radioenzymatic assay (REA) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay (LC-MS/MS) were performed. The method was tested for interferences and for long-term performance. Results The method LOD and LOQ were 0.87 and 1.36 μmol/L for free carnitine and 1.79 and 2.54 μmol/L for total carnitine, respectively. No interferences were detected. Long-term measurement CVs for both free and total carnitine were Conclusions The method shows acceptable performance characteristics with improved speed and low level accuracy compared to existing REA and MS/MS methods.
“Do you know where X is?”: Direction-giving and male/female direction-givers

Abstract This study investigates a typical speech event significantly under-explored in linguistic research, that of direction-giving. The present data analysis, drawn from naturally-occurring exchanges with 60 direction-givers in a gas station, expands current research by confirming and refining the conventionalized nature of the direction-giving exchange and its related phases as well as further exploring the potential existence of sex-related differences in direction-givers’ route-descriptions. Reconfirming Grice's (1975) well-known Cooperative Principle, an analysis of these data strongly suggest that an indirect request for driving directions is an effective communicative strategy for speakers approaching potential direction-givers. Furthermore, this analysis emphasizes the interrelatedness of the cognitive, linguistic and interactional tasks involved in direction-giving. A large body of important research has documented significant differences between the communicative styles of men and women. However, in this study, male and female participants’ use of directional indicators and their inclusion of landmarks, stoplight and time estimates, road names and highway numbers were very similar. Males included significantly more mileage estimates than did females, but their estimates contained more errors. These findings both confirm and contradict those of previous studies and have implications for future research, language teaching as well as the development of pedagogical materials.
RARE-GAS AND HYDROGEN MOLECULE ELECTRONIC STATES, NONCROSSING RULE, AND RECOMBINATION OF ELECTRONS WITH RARE-GAS AND HYDROGEN IONS

Recent experimental work on helium jets has indicated that excited atoms result usually from collisional-radiative electron capture by atom ions (${A}^{+}+2e\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{A}^{*}+e$; etc.) rather than by dissociative recombination by molecule ions (${{A}_{2}}^{+}+e\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{A}^{*}+A$), while for the heavier rare gases, the latter process is apparently relatively important. It is shown in the present paper that the theoretically expected forms of the potential curves of excited ${\mathrm{He}}_{2}$ and other rare-gas molecules make dissociative recombination improbable for ${\mathrm{He}}_{2}^{+}$ but more probable for the other rare-gas diatomic ions. Available spectroscopic data and theoretical considerations make it fairly sure that many of the familiar excited states of ${\mathrm{He}}_{2}$ have high maxima in their potential curves, but that no pure repulsion curves, except the one for two normal He atoms, exist below the energy of ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ + He. Besides the stable states with stable ${\mathrm{He}}_{2}^{+}$ core ($1{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{g}}^{2}1{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{u}$, ${^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}}^{+}$) plus a Rydberg electron, there must be others with a core ($1{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{g}1{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{u}}^{2}$, ${^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}}^{+}$) which per se is unstable but which on addition of an electron in a sufficiently strongly bound Rydberg orbital is stable; consideration of these states makes possible a reasonable explanation of the Hornbeck-Molnar effect in helium. Statements analogous to those about potential curves and electron recombination in helium are applicable also to a large extent for hydrogen.
Bounds on the cardinalities of families of nearly neighborly quadrilaterals

We show nearly neighborly families of nine quadrilaterals and conjecture that this is the maximum. Using techniques developed by J. Zaks for nearly neighborly tetrahedra, we show that a nearly neighborly family of quadrilaterals has at most 14 members. A nearly neighborly family of quadrilaterals is said to share a base line if all nearly neighborly quadrilaterals lie on the same side of the line and the line contains a side of each. These families form an important special case. We show that there are 35 inequivalent examples of nearly neighborly families of four quadrilaterals on a base line, but that it is impossible to have a family of five nearly neighborly quadrilaterals on a base line.
MicroRNAs and cancer: what we know and what we still have to learn

A report on the Keystone Symposia on MicroRNAs and Cancer, Keystone, Colorado, USA, 10-15 June 2009.
Arginase affects lactogenesis through its influence on the biosynthesis of spermidine.

THE activity of arginase in mammary gland increases markedly during lactation1–3. Since lactating mammary gland, unlike liver, lacks other enzymes of the urea cycle3, the function of arginase in this gland is somewhat restricted. Results of earlier studies3,4 have suggested that the enzyme is involved in proline formation, in concert with ornithine aminotransferase, for increased synthesis of milk protein.