cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Four-layer model for prediction of sand bed height in horizontal gas-liquid stratified flow

Abstract Gas-liquid stratified flow is the most vulnerable flow regime for sand deposition, owing to the low phase velocities that occur in this flow regime. A theoretical and experimental study is conducted for particle transport in horizontal gas-liquid-solid stratified flow with high particle concentrations. Experimental data are acquired for air, water and spherical glass beads flow with a solid particle concentration of 20,000 PPM. Two particle sizes are utilized, 45–90 μm and 425–600 μm, with superficial liquid velocities of V S L = 0.05 and 0.1 m/s and superficial gas velocities of V S G = 3.75, 6.7 and 8.6 m/s. Data are acquired for the total particle bed height, demonstrating that it reduces with increasing superficial gas velocity, while increasing with smaller particle size. A new four layer model for gas, liquid, moving bed and stationary bed is proposed for high particle concentrations greater than 10,000 PPM. The gas, liquid and solid particle continuity equations, along with the momentum equations for the gas, liquid and moving bed layers are solved simultaneously, where the stationary particle bed is treated as a boundary. The model enables prediction of the heights and velocities of all four layers. The model predictions for total particle bed height are compared with the experimental data showing a good agreement.
Bernstein-Bézier bases for tetrahedral finite elements

Abstract We present a new set of basis functions for H ( curl ) -conforming, H ( div ) -conforming, and L 2 -conforming finite elements of arbitrary order on a tetrahedron. The basis functions are expressed in terms of Bernstein polynomials and augment the natural H 1 -conforming Bernstein basis. The basis functions respect the differential operators, namely, the gradients of the high-order H 1 -conforming Bernstein–Bezier basis functions form part of the H ( curl ) -conforming basis, and the curl of the high-order, non-gradients H ( curl ) -conforming basis functions form part of the H ( div ) -conforming basis, and the divergence of the high-order, non-curl H ( div ) -conforming basis functions form part of the L 2 -conforming basis. Procedures are given for the efficient computation of the mass and stiffness matrices with these basis functions without using quadrature rules for (piecewise) constant coefficients on affine tetrahedra. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the use of the basis to approximate representative problems.
Hearing morbidity post head and neck radiotherapy

Radiation therapy carries an important role in the treatment of head and neck (H&N) cancers. Exposure of cells to ionizing radiation produces a variety of biological and molecular changes that may manifest clinically as tumor killing or normal tissue toxicity,the type and severity of these effects depend on variables such as the energy and type of radiation,the composition of target biologic tissue,the cellular and molecular response,duration of exposure,and cellular microenvironment.A sound signal in the environment is collected by the pinna,passes through external auditory canal and strikes the tympanic membrane_ Vibrations of the tympanic membrane are transmitted to stapes footplate through a chain of ossicles coupled to the tympanic membrane Movements of stapes footplate cause pressure changes in the labyrinthine flu ids which move the basilar membrane. This stimulates the hair cells of the organ of Corti. It is these hair cells which act as transducers and convert the mechanical energy into electrical impulses which travel along the auditory nerve.to determine the effect of radiotherapy on hearing process.Prospective case control study on 45 patients (90 ears) in Al diwaniyah teaching hospital from January 2013 to October 2016 with head and neck malignant tumors diagnosed by histopathological specimens,of both sexes and treated with radiotherapy are included in the study. Patient with history of hearing impairment (disabling or documented sever to profound hearing loss),chronic otitis media and those who receive chemotherapy previously are excluded from study. Pre radiotherapy pure tone audiogram and 6 month after when the patient come back to oncology unit for fellow up their condition those patients allocated in group A while group B (control) 45 healthy person (90 ears) are chosen from staff of hospital and college of medicine after announcement for volunteers in study pure tone audiogram done for them as in case group.Regarding the mean of age for group A was 53 years with range from 30-70 years, with male: female ratio 4:1while for control group (B) was 49 years with range 25-60 yearsand male to female ratio 2:1. Most common neoplasia was carcinoma of larynx followed by nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and hypo pharyngeal carcinoma,oral cavity and paranasal sinuses Regarding hearing about 38 (42.18%) of patients (group A) not affected by radiotherapy while 43 patients (47.75%) got worse hearing after radiotherapy,only 9 patients (9.99%) had hearing improvement. While in control group 73 (81.11%) not changed,6 (6.66%) deteriorate and 11 (12.22%) had improved hearing.Radiotherapy induced hearing problems occur in significant number in patient with head and neck tumors.Hearing morbidity post radiotherapy mainly sensory neural. Patient counselling before radiotherapy about hearing disabilities should be regarded. Further long term studies and larger sample are needed.
Monoclonal Immunoglobulin Deposition Disease

Monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD) is a systemic disorder characterized by the deposition of immunoglobulins as non-fibrillar material in various organ systems. Light-chain deposition disease (LCDD) was the first disease recognized in this spectrum, though several other entities, including heavy-chain deposition disease and light- and heavy-chain deposition disease, have since been described. MIDD often presents as renal dysfunction and nephrotic syndrome, and therefore the diagnosis is typically made by renal biopsy, though MIDD can affect the heart, lungs, liver, and central nervous system as well. In the majority of cases, renal biopsy demonstrates the deposition of kappa light chain by immunofluorescence, as opposed to light-chain amyloidosis where the lambda light chain predominates. The pathogenesis of MIDD is likely related to a combination of factors, including the properties of the light chain itself, the amount of light chain produced, and the reaction of the specific organ involved. The natural history and prognosis of MIDD depends on the severity of renal failure at presentation and the presence or absence of multiple myeloma. Several treatment options exist, including multidrug chemotherapeutic regimens, bortezomib (a proteasome inhibitor), and autologous stem-cell transplant. Renal transplantation in this population of patients remains controversial due to the high relapse rate, though more effective treatment regimens aimed at inducing complete remission prior to transplant may allow these patients to be transplanted successfully in the future.
Risk Management Everywhere

The purpose of this chapter is to expand Chap. 1 with additional applications and problems. Elements of risk management are summarized and application areas considered. These include managing risks and money, industrial, and marketing risks, environmental management, as well as network risk models. This chapter is introductory and non-quantitative.
Master Zhuang’s blue guitar

ABSTRACTThe standard definition of translation as the rendering, in one language, of content originally formulated in another language is insufficient to describe some situations that closely appro...
Fairness: A Formal-Methods Perspective

Sensitive decisions of large-scale societal impact are increasingly being delegated to opaque software—a trend that is unlikely to slow down in the near future. The issue of fairness and bias of decision-making algorithms has thus become a multifaceted, interdisciplinary concern, attracting the attention of computer scientists, law scholars, policy makers, journalists, and many others. In this expository paper, I will outline some of the research questions we have been studying about fairness through the lens of formal methods.
Simultaneous application of predictive model and least cost formulation can substantially benefit biorefineries outside Corn Belt in United States: A case study in Florida

Previously, a predictive model was developed to identify optimal blends of expensive high-quality and cheaper low-quality feedstocks for a given geographical location that can deliver high sugar yields. In this study, the optimal process conditions were tested for application at commercially-relevant higher biomass loadings. We observed lower sugar yields but 100% conversion to ethanol from a blend that contained only 20% high-quality feedstock. The impact of applying this predictive model simultaneously with least cost formulation model for a biorefinery location outside of the US Corn Belt in Lee County, Florida was investigated. A blend ratio of 0.30 EC, 0.45 SG, and 0.25 CS in Lee County was necessary to produce sugars at high yields and ethanol at a capacity of 50 MMGY. This work demonstrates utility in applying predictive model and LCF to reduce feedstock costs and supply chain risks while optimizing for product yields.
Evaluation of an adjustable support shoulder exoskeleton on static and dynamic overhead tasks

Introduction: Overhead tasks increase the risk of work related musculoskeletal disorders to industrial workers. A shoulder supporting exoskeleton with adjustable and angle dependent torque (referre...
Professionals, friends, and confidants: After-school staff as social support to low-income parents

Abstract Policy makers, practitioners, and researchers have emphasized the importance of supportive relationships between staff and parents in early childhood education settings and schools. Child care staff members can provide social support for disadvantaged parents who often lack social capital and sources of social support. Yet, there has been limited theory to help understand how these supportive relationships emerge and how parents draw resources from these relationships. Further, very few studies examine staff-parent relationships in after-school programs—widely used programs that can provide social support to parents with school-aged children and adolescents. This qualitative study applies concepts from social capital theory to examines 1) how social ties between parents and staff members develop and vary and 2) how parents mobilize these ties for resources. In doing so, we analyze 23 in-depth staff interviews and 48 parent interviews across three after-school programs. We find that a select group of parents develop and activate strong social ties with staff for social support. Strong tie development reflects a distinct social process of rapport building, time, shared experiences, and pivotal moments in which staff members demonstrate trustworthiness.
Intelligent Multi-Camera Video Surveillance System for Smart City Applications

One of the challenges that many security systems face is the inability to allow the system to perform certain functions without an operator monitoring the progress of the system, automatically. People cannot operate twenty-four hours a day. Human operators have a limit to operate during the time they are awake. People will always require sleep and even when they are awake they cannot sit in one place for a long time without any distraction. That is why there are unique features in the multi-camera video system that can make significant impacts in the security industry. The technical aspect of the technology is exceptional and it can assist many people to counter security challenges they face in their daily lives. It is important to consider these aspects when selecting which type of security systems are needed to adopt. Our approach could detect and recognize a human target from videos taken from cameras mounted on the wall to cover a target area. The proposed approach consists of detection and tracking of any targets that might be a threat. The decision-making process then decides whether or not the person is a threat or not.
CHEMICAL WEATHERING PROCESSES ON THE VANTAGE PEAK NUNATAK, JUNEAU ICEFIELD, SOUTHERN ALASKA

On the Vantage Peak nunatak in the Juneau Icefield of southeastern Alaska, grus and soils display evidence of extensive chemical alteration in a self-evidently periglacial environment. Accompanying the alteration of bedrock to grus and soil is a decrease in grain size. Grus is dominated by very coarse sand while the soils are predominantly fine sand. Grain-size reduction is attributed primarily to mineral grain dissolution. Total chemical analyses show that alkali earths (calcium and magnesium) and alkalis (sodium and potassium) are lost as weathering progresses, while silicon and iron increase relative to resistant elements. Secondary clay minerals present in the grus and soils appear to have been derived from clay-size primary minerals. Vermiculite is the principal secondary clay mineral and appears to have formed by the alteration of biotite. Scanning electron microscopy shows that quartz and feldspars are primarily weathered by dissolution with no evidence of feldspar transformation to secondary clays...
The surface organometallic zoo - continued

Consideration des especes C m H n adsorbees sur des composes organometalliques, metaux du groupe VIII
Holistic Management Accounting of Brand Performance in the Consumer Goods Industry

This contribution deals with the question how prospective marketing budgets can be allocated over the different communication channels as efficiently as possible. Differences between the various channels are analyzed. Measuring methods are presented, both for the effectiveness and efficiency of advertising campaigns. Besides that the author explains how to bring all of these factors into one holistic marketing steering system.
“Should I Even Be Writing This?”: Public Narratives and Resistance to Online Harassment

In this chapter, we examine women’s public narratives of online harassment in order to interrogate the ways women share their stories as a means of enacting modes of resistance in digital spaces. More specifically, we identify four rhetorical strategies women use in their narratives, including calling out harassers and institutions, representing shared experience, disrupting hegemonic narratives of the internet and online harassment and defying harassers. We discuss both the potentials and limitations of each strategy in order to consider the practical implications these strategies have for the ways resistance to online harassment can be enacted. We also reflect on our own narratives of online harassment and consider the ethical implications of researching and reproducing women’s public narratives. In all these ways, we hope to shed light on the ways women use their public narratives of online harassment to seek public change as well as what new understanding can be gained through scholarship on online harassment resistance strategies.
Life Cycle Cost Evaluation Strategy for High Performance Control Systems under Uncertainties

AbstractHigh-performance control systems (HPCSs), including active, hybrid, and semiactive control strategies, can perform over a wide excitation bandwidth and are therefore good candidates for mul...
Energetics of Walking With a Robotic Knee Exoskeleton

The authors tested 4 young healthy subjects walking with a powered knee exoskeleton to determine if it could reduce the metabolic cost of locomotion. Subjects walked with a backpack loaded and unloaded, on a treadmill with inclinations of 0° and 15°, and outdoors with varied natural terrain. Participants walked at a self-selected speed (average 1.0 m/s) for all conditions, except incline treadmill walking (average 0.5 m/s). The authors hypothesized that the knee exoskeleton would reduce the metabolic cost of walking uphill and with a load compared with walking without the exoskeleton. The knee exoskeleton reduced metabolic cost by 4.2% in the 15° incline with the backpack load. All other conditions had an increase in metabolic cost when using the knee exoskeleton compared with not using the exoskeleton. There was more variation in metabolic cost over the outdoor walking course with the knee exoskeleton than without it. Our findings indicate that powered assistance at the knee is more likely to decrease the metabolic cost of walking in uphill conditions and during loaded walking rather than in level conditions without a backpack load. Differences in positive mechanical work demand at the knee for varying conditions may explain the differences in metabolic benefit from the exoskeleton.
Increasing carbon pricing in the EU: Evaluating the options

Abstract A streamlined model, applied at the member state level, is used to evaluate possibilities for greater reliance on carbon pricing to meet the European Union's mitigation pledge for the Paris Agreement. The economic welfare costs of currently envisioned policies—including the Emissions Trading System (ETS), requirements for energy efficiency, vehicle emission rates, and national targets for non-ETS emissions—are estimated at 1.1% of EU GDP in 2030, or €167 per ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduced. On net these policies lose a small amount of revenue (0.05% of EU GDP). A series of reforms progressively extending emissions pricing across sectors and countries reduces costs by about 0.6% of 2030 EU GDP, or €90 per ton of CO2 reduced, while increasing revenues by almost 1% of EU GDP. Higher emissions prices in the EU ETS would create the largest welfare gain, and no country is made worse off from this reform.
ShapeSearch: A Flexible and Efficient System for Shape-based Exploration of Trendlines

Identifying trendline visualizations with desired patterns is a common task during data exploration. Existing visual analytics tools offer limited flexibility, expressiveness, and scalability for such tasks, especially when the pattern of interest is under-specified and approximate. We propose ShapeSearch, an efficient and flexible pattern-searching tool, that enables the search for desired patterns via multiple mechanisms: sketch, natural-language, and visual regular expressions. We develop a novel shape querying algebra, with a minimal set of primitives and operators that can express a wide variety of shape search queries, and design a natural- language and regex-based parser to translate user queries to the algebraic representation. To execute these queries within interactive response times, ShapeSearch uses a fast shape algebra execution engine with query-aware optimizations, and perceptually-aware scoring methodologies. We present a thorough evaluation of the system, including a user study, a case study involving genomics data analysis, as well as performance experiments, comparing against state-of-the-art trendline shape matching approaches-that together demonstrate the usability and scalability of ShapeSearch.
Postmortem Kidney Pathology Findings in Patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: AKI is common among hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is an independent risk factor for mortality. Although there are numerous potential mechanisms underlying COVID-19-associated AKI, our current knowledge of kidney pathologic findings in COVID-19 is limited. METHODS: We examined the postmortem kidneys from 42 patients who died of COVID-19. We reviewed light microscopy findings in all autopsies and performed immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and in situ hybridization studies for SARS-CoV-2 on a subset of samples. RESULTS: The cohort had a median age of 71.5 years (range, 38-97 years); 69% were men, 57% were Hispanic, and 73% had a history of hypertension. Among patients with available data, AKI developed in 31 of 33 patients (94%), including 6 with AKI stage 1, 9 with stage 2, and 16 with stage 3. The predominant finding correlating with AKI was acute tubular injury. However, the degree of acute tubular injury was often less severe than predicted for the degree of AKI, suggesting a role for hemodynamic factors, such as aggressive fluid management. Background changes of hypertensive arterionephrosclerosis and diabetic glomerulosclerosis were frequent but typically mild. We identified focal kidney fibrin thrombi in 6 of 42 (14%) autopsies. A single Black patient had collapsing FSGS. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy were largely unrevealing, and in situ hybridization for SARS-CoV-2 showed no definitive positivity. CONCLUSIONS: Among a cohort of 42 patients dying with COVID-19, autopsy histologic evaluation revealed acute tubular injury, which was typically mild relative to the degree of creatinine elevation. These findings suggest potential for reversibility upon resolution of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Lean Data Visualization: Considering Actionable Metrics for Technical Communication

Analyzing data gathered around COVID-19 can increase our understanding of its spread and the social and economic impacts. Data visualizations can help various stakeholders understand the outbreak. ...
Prevalence and medical expenditures of diabetes-related complications among adult Medicaid enrollees with diabetes in eight U.S. states.

Abstract Aims To estimate the prevalence and medical expenditures of diabetes-related complications (DRCs) among adult Medicaid enrollees with diabetes. Methods We estimated the prevalence and medical expenditures for 12 diabetes-related complications by Medicaid eligibility category (disability-based vs. non-disability-based) in eight states. We used generalized linear models with log link and gamma distribution to estimate the total per-person annual medical expenditures for DRCs, controlling for demographics, and other comorbidities. Results Among non-disability-based enrollees (NDBEs), 40.1% (in California) to 47.5% (in Oklahoma) had one or more DRCs, compared to 53.6% (in Alabama) to 64.8% (in Florida) among disability-based enrollees (DBEs). The most prevalent complication was neuropathy (16.1%–27.1% for NDBEs; 20.2%–30.4% for DBEs). Lower extremity amputation ( Conclusions Our study provides data that can be used for assessing the health care resources needed for managing DRCs and evaluating cost-effectiveness of interventions to prevent and management DRCs.
Artificial intelligence-enhanced electrocardiography in cardiovascular disease management

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to the electrocardiogram (ECG), a ubiquitous and standardized test, is an example of the ongoing transformative effect of AI on cardiovascular medicine. Although the ECG has long offered valuable insights into cardiac and non-cardiac health and disease, its interpretation requires considerable human expertise. Advanced AI methods, such as deep-learning convolutional neural networks, have enabled rapid, human-like interpretation of the ECG, while signals and patterns largely unrecognizable to human interpreters can be detected by multilayer AI networks with precision, making the ECG a powerful, non-invasive biomarker. Large sets of digital ECGs linked to rich clinical data have been used to develop AI models for the detection of left ventricular dysfunction, silent (previously undocumented and asymptomatic) atrial fibrillation and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as well as the determination of a person's age, sex and race, among other phenotypes. The clinical and population-level implications of AI-based ECG phenotyping continue to emerge, particularly with the rapid rise in the availability of mobile and wearable ECG technologies. In this Review, we summarize the current and future state of the AI-enhanced ECG in the detection of cardiovascular disease in at-risk populations, discuss its implications for clinical decision-making in patients with cardiovascular disease and critically appraise potential limitations and unknowns.
Prediction of COPD risk accounting for time-varying smoking exposures

Rationale Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Studies have primarily assessed the relationship between smoking on COPD risk focusing on summary measures, like smoking status. Objective Develop a COPD risk prediction model incorporating individual time-varying smoking exposures. Methods The Nurses' Health Study (N = 86,711) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (N = 39,817) data was used to develop a COPD risk prediction model. Data was randomly split in 50-50 samples for model building and validation. Cox regression with time-varying covariates was used to assess the association between smoking duration, intensity and year-since-quit and self-reported COPD diagnosis incidence. We evaluated the model calibration as well as discriminatory accuracy via the Area Under the receiver operating characteristic Curve (AUC). We computed 6-year risk of COPD incidence given various individual smoking scenarios. Results Smoking duration, year-since-quit (if former smokers), sex, and interaction of sex and smoking duration are significantly associated with the incidence of diagnosed COPD. The model that incorporated time-varying smoking variables yielded higher AUCs compared to models using only pack-years. The AUCs for the model were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.74-0.86) and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.70-0.77) for males and females, respectively. Conclusions Utilizing detailed smoking pattern information, the model predicts COPD risk with better accuracy than models based on only smoking summary measures. It might serve as a tool for early detection programs by identifying individuals at high-risk for COPD.
A fully-vectorized code for nonequilibrium RF glow discharge modeling and its parallel processing on a Cray X-MP

Nonequilibrium self-consistent RF discharge simulations which use a Cray X-MP/24 supercomputer to increase the computation rate are described. The fluid transport equations are solved by a more accurate flux corrected transport (MAFCT) algorithm. A staggered-mesh method is used for the arrangement of distribution functions. Vectorization and multitasking methods are used to optimize the computation time required by the simulation. Consequently, the simulation code is fully vectorized and the speedup ratio between the original code and the fully vectorized code approaches 11.7. Moreover, the multitasking has a speedup ratio of 1.988 on the two-processor Cray X-MP/24. The simulation results are compared with other model results to demonstrate the advantage of MAFCT. These results are also compared with experimental results. A better understanding of RF discharge mechanisms is accomplished through the use of a Cray X-MP supercomputer, which provides a solution within a reasonable amount of turnaround time.
Numbers Don’t Lie: 71 Things You Need to Know about the World: by Vaclav Smil, New York, Penguin Press, 2020, 362 pp., Digital. (Paperback from $79.17). ISBN 9780143136224

At once thought-provoking, witty, and actually fun, Vaclav Smil’s book Numbers Don’t Lie: 71 Things You Need to Know About the World takes the reader through answering common questions such as “Is ...
Filterability of freshly-collected sickle erythrocytes under venous oxygen pressure without exposure to air.

Abstract We previously found that blood samples collected from steady-state patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) without exposure to air contain a new type of reversibly sickled cells (RSCs) with blunt edges at a level of as high as 78%. Since partial oxygenation of once-deoxygenated sickled cells with pointy edges to near venous oxygen pressure generates similar sickled cells with blunt edges in vitro , we named them as partially oxygenated sickled cells (POSCs). On the other hand, partial deoxygenation of once-oxygenated SS cells to venous oxygen pressure generates partially deoxygenated sickled cells (PDSCs) with pointy edges. In this study, we obtained blood samples from 6 steady-state patients with SCD under venous oxygen pressure without exposure to air, subjected them to various oxygenation/deoxygenation/reoxygenation cycles, and studied their filterability through a membrane filter with pore diameter of 3 μm, the theoretical minimum diameter of a capillary. Our results indicated that discocytes, POSCs with blunt edges, and irreversibly sickled cells could deform and pass through the filter, while PDSCs with pointy edges were rigid and could not. The filterability of SS cells seems to be related to the length and amount of deoxy-hemoglobin S fibers in the cells.
Hyperventilation as a Simple Cure for Severe Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramping

Exercise-associated muscle cramping (EAMC), which typically affects the legs, may start, paradoxically, long after exercise has stopped, including at night during sleep [1]. In severe cases of sleep-related EAMC, cramps may respond poorly to currently recommended non-pharmacologic interventions (stretching, massage, heat, ice, walking, leg elevation, leg jiggling, and hydration) [2,3], subjecting the patient to extreme, incapacitating pain and possible panic in the middle of the night. As attacks typically occur sporadically, unpredictably, and transiently in otherwise healthy individuals, and eventually resolve, the …
Epigenetic regulation of OPA1 sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to sorafenib-induced apoptosis (59.1)

The aim of this study is to identify epigenetic markers of DNA methylation for the Optic Atrophy gene OPA1, which is an indication of Sorafenib sensitivity in HCC. Sorafenib has been shown to act as a multi-kinase inhibitor in other cancers, and is used in the treatment of un-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patient response to this therapy is variable. We have previously shown that treatment with Sorafenib does not inhibit the AKT pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and instead induces rapid mitochondrial fragmentation, which is associated with the deregulation of mitochondria-fusion-related protein OPA1, thus inducing apoptosis. Exposure of HCC cells or isolated mitochondria to Sorafenib induces cytochrome c release. Our data indicate that siRNA-mediated OPA1 knockdown significantly sensitizes HCC cells to Sorafenib-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, Sorafenib inhibits HCC xenograft tumor growth in vivo, and does not induce apoptosis in healthy primary hepatocytes. Murine xenograft tumor ti...
Regulation of IκB Kinase (IKK)γ/NEMO Function by IKKβ-mediated Phosphorylation *

The IκB kinase (IKK) complex includes the catalytic components IKKα and IKKβ in addition to the scaffold protein IKKγ/NEMO. Increases in the activity of the IKK complex result in the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IκB and the activation of the NF-κB pathway. Recent data indicate that the constitutive activation of the NF-κB pathway by the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type I, Tax protein leads to enhanced phosphorylation of IKKγ/NEMO by IKKβ. To address further the significance of IKKβ-mediated phosphorylation of IKKγ/NEMO, we determined the sites in IKKγ/NEMO that were phosphorylated by IKKβ, and we assayed whether IKKγ/NEMO phosphorylation was involved in modulating IKKβ activity. IKKγ/NEMO is rapidly phosphorylated following treatment of cells with stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1 that activate the NF-κB pathway. By using both in vitro and in vivo assays, IKKβ was found to phosphorylate IKKγ/NEMO predominantly in its carboxyl terminus on serine residue 369 in addition to sites in the central region of this protein. Surprisingly, mutation of these carboxyl-terminal serine residues increased the ability of IKKγ/NEMO to stimulate IKKβ kinase activity. These results indicate that the differential phosphorylation of IKKγ/NEMO by IKKβ and perhaps other kinases may be important in regulating IKK activity.
Elastic constants of a monocrystal of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7- delta.

All nine independent elastic constants ${\mathit{c}}_{\mathit{i}\mathit{j}}$ of a ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ monocrystal were determined at room temperature using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. Shear and Young moduli obtained from the ${\mathit{c}}_{\mathit{i}\mathit{j}}$ by the Voigt-Reuss-Hill averaging method agree well with the pulse-echo results on a polycrystal. The Debye temperature calculated from the elastic constants agrees with the specific-heat measurement.
Determining the number of non-spurious arcs in a learned DAG model: investigation of a Bayesian and a frequentist approach

In many application domains, such as computational biology, the goal of graphical model structure learning is to uncover discrete relationships between entities. For example, in our problem of interest concerning HIV vaccine design, we want to infer which HIV peptides interact with which immune system molecules (HLA molecules). For problems of this nature, we are interested in determining the number of non-spurious arcs in a learned graphical model. We describe both a Bayesian and frequentist approach to this problem. In the Bayesian approach, we use the posterior distribution over model structures to compute the expected number of true arcs in a learned model. In the frequentist approach, we develop a method based on the concept of the False Discovery Rate. On synthetic data sets generated from models similar to the ones learned, we find that both the Bayesian and frequentist approaches yield accurate estimates of the number of non-spurious arcs. In addition, we speculate that the frequentist approach, which is non-parametric, may outperform the parametric Bayesian approach in situations where the models learned are less representative of the data. Finally, we apply the frequentist approach to our problem of HIV vaccine design.
Expanding the toolbox for phylogeographic analysis.

Phylogeography has emerged over the last two decades as an exciting and informative field that spans the chasm between population genetics and systematics. Population genetics has traditionally been interested in the processes of evolution, including estimates of associated parameters such as migration rates, genetic diversity, and measures of selection; systematics has focused on historical patterns of divergence and associated morphological, temporal, and ecological changes correlated with such patterns. Phylogeography attempts to merge these perspectives and capitalizes on gene divergence patterns and their fit to predictions derived from different models in population genetics. The seminal work of Avise et al. (1987) ushered in this approach to merging concepts from these two fields to study speciation and population divergence (Hickerson et al. 2009). Over the past two decades, an impressive set of analytical tools have been developed with advances in both population genetics and phylogenetics that have had a significant impact in phylogeography (Pearse & Crandall 2004; Excoffier & Heckel 2006; Kuhner 2009). Yet phylogeographers still face a fundamental question of whether they are testing a priori hypotheses associated with the species in question, estimating important population genetic parameters of interest, developing post hoc hypotheses of divergence, or attempting to distinguish among an array of alternative models to explain the observed data from the population(s) of interest (or some combination of any or all of these). In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Carstens et al. (2009) advance the use of model selection and multimodel inference as a means of exploring alternative models of phylogeographic patterning and thereby add significantly to the phylogeographer’s toolbox. Model selection is currently enjoying increased use in several biological disciplines (Johnson & Omland 2004); many readers of this journal will be aware of its application in molecular systematics (Huelsenbeck & Crandall
Retrospective assessment of the utility of an iron-based agent for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography in patients with endstage renal diseases.

Purpose To compare abdominopelvic and lower extremity venous enhancement in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography (ceMRV), using iron-based ferumoxytol and gadolinium-based gadofosveset. Materials and Methods This was a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant retrospective study. Thirty-four patients were identified who had undergone ceMRV using either ferumoxtyol (Group A, all with chronic renal insufficiency) or gadofosveset (Group B). Two radiologists rated confidence for evaluation of the major abdominopelvic and lower extremity veins from 4 (excellent confidence) to 1 (nondiagnostic). A third radiologist measured signal intensity ratios (SIRs) of venous segments compared with adjacent muscles. Scores were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). The medical record was searched for contemporaneous imaging to confirm the ceMRV findings. Results In Group A, 14/225 venous segments were thrombosed, compared with 18/282 in Group B. There was no statistically significant difference between confidence scores (3.79 ± 0.44 vs. 3.85 ± 0.44, P = 0.34) or SIRs (2.40 ± 0.73 vs. 2.38 ± 0.51, P = 0.51) for patent segments in the two groups, nor were confidences scores (3.89 ± 0.29 vs. 3.72 ± 0.46, P = 0.31) or SIRs (0.90 ± 0.12 vs. 0.84 ± 0.19, P = 0.31) significantly different for thrombosed segments. Contemporaneous imaging confirmed ceMRV findings in 227 segments. Conclusion ceMRV can be performed with ferumoxytol, yielding similar image quality to a blood pool gadolinium-based contrast agent. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:113–118. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Large-scale uncertainty management systems: learning and exploiting your data

The database community has made rapid strides in capturing, representing, and querying uncertain data. Probabilistic databases capture the inherent uncertainty in derived tuples as probability estimates. Data acquisition and stream systems can produce succinct summaries of very large and time-varying datasets. This tutorial addresses the natural next step in harnessing uncertain data: How can we efficiently and quantifiably determine what, how, and how much to learn in order to make good decisions based on the imprecise information available. The material in this tutorial is drawn from a range of fields including database systems, control and information theory, operations research, convex optimization, and statistical learning. The focus of the tutorial is on the natural constraints that are imposed in a database context and the demands of imprecise information from an optimization point of view. We look both into the past as well as into the future; to discuss general tools and techniques that can serve as a guide to database researchers and practitioners, and to enumerate the challenges that lie ahead.
Fiber optic hydrophone: improved strain configuration and environmental noise protection.

It is shown that the pressure sensitivity of a fiber-optic hydrophone is strongly dependent on the fiber’s strain configuration. Longitudinal strain is found to be much more effective than uniform strain, and consequently modifications to the sensor’s design are proposed. Environmental noise sources such as ocean motion and mechanical vibrations are then discussed, and a new double-cavity configuration, which is unaffected by those perturbations, is presented. A tunable-cavity detection method is finally proposed, and it is shown how this method can overcome problems related to drift of the point of operation, laser intensity fluctuations, and nonlinearity for high dynamic ranges.
Three new features of innovation brought about by information and communication technology

This paper aims to examine the changes to innovation brought about by the internet. Based on a systematic survey on the current efforts made by industry and academia in expanding the frontier of innovation, it found that e-innovation add-on or collective changes to innovation brought about by Information and Communication Technology is expanding traditional innovation in three aspects: 1) having an obvious tendency to software development and application, 2) encouraging a distributed delivery, and 3) deploying different managing/operating rules and toolkits. These expansions are leading e-innovation to become a new paradigm for carrying out creative activities.
Prediction of pelvic inflammatory disease among young, single, sexually active women.

The objectives were to assess prediction strategies for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). One thousand one hundred seventy women were enrolled based on a high chlamydial risk score. Incident PID over a median of 3 years was diagnosed by either histologic endometritis or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. A multivariable prediction model for PID was assessed. Women enrolled using the risk score were young single sexually active and often had prior sexually transmitted infections. Incident PID was common (8.6%). From 24 potential predictors significant factors included age at first sex gonococcal/chlamydial cervicitis history of PID family income smoking medroxyprogesterone acetate use and sex with menses. The model correctly predicted 74% of incident PID; in validation models correct prediction was only 69%. Our data validate a modified chlamydial risk factor scoring system for prediction of PID. Additional multivariable modeling contributed little to prediction. Women identified by a threshold value on the chlamydial risk score should undergo intensive education and screening. (authors)
A METABOLIC AND HORMONAL BASIS FOR CLASSIFYING ATELIOTIC DWARFS

Abstract Four distinct types of sexual ateliotics with short stature and normal sexual maturation can be detected by immunoassay of growth hormone (H.G.H.) and insulin, and by metabolic tests. In group I, H.G.H. is not present in plasma after provocative stimuli; there is prolonged hypoglycaemia after insulin, and insulinopenia after arginine and glucose; all respond to H.G.H. In group II, H.G.H. is again not detectable, and hyperinsulinism (not insulinopenia) is seen after glucose and arginine, this group is resistant to exogenous insulin and to H.G.H. In group III, the basal plasma-H.G.H. is abnormally elevated and not suppressed by hyperglycaemia, individuals are similar to those in group I except for decreased responsiveness to H.G.H. In group IV, the H.G.H. response in tests is normal; individuals in this group are similar to those in group I, but are completely unresponsive to exogenous H.G.H. The type of dwarfism and the potential usefulness of H.G.H. therapy cannot be predicated on the simple absence or presence of H.G.H.
FEYNMAN AND FREUD, WHAT GRADUATE SCHOOLS DO NOT TEACH YOU

For the last few months I have been teaching financial engineering at Columbia University, where I have been struck again by the difference between what can be taught in school and what can be learned on the job. Most of my quant generation arrived on Wall Street ignorant of financial theory; we began to learn its principles under the duress of having to quickly do something practical for someone on a desk. Nowadays there is an entire industry devoted to quant training. But in many ways quantization still requires apprenticeship, and so, for a recent conference talk, I tried to think about some of the things you discover when you finally put your training into practice.
Quantitation of cholesterol oxidation products in unirradiated and irradiated meats.

A method to detect 7-ketocholesterol, cholesterol-5β,6β-epoxide, cholesterol-5α,6α-epoxide, 4-cholesten-3-one, 4,6-cholestadien-3-one and 4-cholestene-3,6-dione in unirradiated and irradiated beef, pork and veal was developed by use of chloroform-methanol-water extraction, solid-phase extraction, column separation, thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography. This method recovered 78–88% of the cholesterol oxidation products and detected the cholesterol oxidation products at 10 ppb or higher. Irradiation of the meats to a dose of 10 kGy increased these compounds, except 4,6-cholestadien-3-one for all three types of meat, over unirradiated, and except cholesterol-5α,6α-epoxide and 4-cholesten-3-one for the pork. All the cholesterol oxidation products in the unirradiated meats increased during storage at 0–4°C for 2 wk with some exceptions for the pork. The increases of cholesterol oxidation products in stored irradiated meats were greater than those in the unirradiated.
C 1 -C 4 hydrocarbons in the North and South Pacific

Low molecular weight hydrocarbons in the surface waters of the North and South Pacific have been measured. Methane concentrations average 4.2 × 10 ?5 ml/1, while the C 2 -C 4 hydrocarbons averaged 1–5 × 10 ?6 ml/l. A large broad peak was found between 10° N and 10° S for the unsaturated hydrocarbons. Large concentrations of the C 1 -C 4 hydrocarbons were found in the different types of Antarctic sea ice. Atmospheric methane concentrations averaged 1.44 ± 0.04 ppm and decreased to 1.36 ± 0.04 ppm at the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITC). DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1974.tb01953.x
Heavy metals in tissues of waterfowl from the Chesapeake Bay, USA

Concentrations of cadmium, lead, copper and zinc were measured in 774 livers, 266 kidneys and 271 ulnar bones from 15 species of ducks obtained from the Chesapeake Bay region. A major purpose of this study was to elucidate relationships between food habits and tissue accumulations of heavy metals in Chesapeake Bay waterfowl. Liver and kidney concentrations of cadmium were highest among two carnivorous seaduck species, Clangula hyemalis and Melanitta deglandi. In contrast, lead concentrations in tissues were generally highest in largely herbivorous species, such as Anas platyrhynchos, Anas rubripes and Anas strepera. Spent shot may be an important source for tissue burdens of lead in these ducks. No marked trends were observed between food habits and tissue concentrations of the nutrient elements, copper and zinc.
The Renaissance of Foreign Language Teaching in Alabama: A Case Study.

Federal funding under the Education for Economic Security Act led to the establishment in 1985 of a Foreign Language Consortium within the Alabama Commission on Higher Education — the body charged with coordinating all fifty-seven public institutions of higher learning in the State (ACHE). Its charge was to develop and administer projects which would enhance foreign language teacher training. This article describes the nature of the Consortium, the many projects it has funded, and the resulting enhancement of foreign language education in Alabama.
A short form of the Expanded Attributional Style Questionnaire.

A short (12 event) form of the Expanded Attributional Style Questionnaire was developed. In two studies, the subscales of the short form had correlations of .88 to .94 with those of the long form, similar reliabilities, and similar correlations with measures of depression. A short (12 event) form of the Expanded Attributional Style Questionnaire was developed. In two studies, the subscales of the short form had correlations of .88 to .94 with those of the long form, similar reliabilities, and similar correlations with measures of depression.
INCREASED APOPTOSIS IN THE CONTRALATERAL TESTES OF PATIENTS WITH TESTICULAR TORSION AS A FACTOR FOR INFERTILITY

AbstractPurpose: Unilateral testicular torsion is common and leads to bilateral testicular injury. Spermiography is abnormal in 70% of patients after testicular torsion. Histological changes in the contralateral testis at the time of torsion have been previously interpreted as the consequence of a predisposing testicular pathology or a noxious effect of the twisted testis. We hypothesized that increased apoptosis in the contralateral testis in unilateral testicular torsion is a consequence of a breakdown in the blood-testis barrier of the twisted testis, which may increase the risk of infertility.Materials and Methods: A total of 17 patients 14 to 34 years old (mean age plus or minus standard deviation 20.7 +/− 6.1) underwent surgery to alleviate unilateral testicular torsion. Mean time from the first symptoms of torsion to surgery was 4.2 +/− 3.0 hours (range 0.5 to 11). Bilateral testicular biopsy was performed in all patients, and apoptosis was analyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated...