cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular identification of pathogenetic IdLNF+1 autoantibody idiotypes derived from the (NZB×SWR)F1 model for systemic lupus erythematosus

The acceleration of nephritis in SNF(1) mice by CD4(+) T-cell clones reactive with a nephritogenic idiotype, Id(LN)F(1) [1], as well as the ability of anti-Id(LN)F(1) antisera to down-regulate the production of Id(LN)F(+)(1) immunoglobulin (Ig) in vivo and delay nephritis [2], suggests that dysregulation of this idiotype may contribute to the development of SNF(1) nephritis. Herein, we show that a monoclonal Id(LN)F(1)-expressing antibody, 540, significantly (P< or = 0.01) stimulated Id(LN)F(1)-reactive T-cell clones B6 and D2 to proliferate, while other Id(LN)F+1 antibodies did not. Further, injection of 540-producing hybridoma cells into nonautoimmune (SWRxBalb/c)F(1) mice resulted in the deposition of Id(LN)F(+)(1) Ig in the kidneys, in a pattern indicative of early nephritis. To identify the pathogenetic Id(LN)F(1) epitope(s) at the molecular level, we compared the deduced amino acid sequences of the heavy and light chain variable regions of pathogenetic and non-pathogenetic Id(LN)F(1)-expressing Igs 540, 317, and 533. Two overlapping peptides derived from the V(H) sequence of 540 (aa 54-66 and 62-73), which both contain the triple basic amino acid motif K(X)K(X)K, stimulated SNF(1) T cells and T-cell clones B6 and D2. These results further support the involvement of a subset of Id(LN)F(1)-expressing Ig in SNF(1) nephritis.
Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Occlusion Secondary to Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presenting as ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction

A 52-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with intermittent dull substernal chest pain over the past 2 months that had become constant and severe over the past day. Six months before presentation, she had been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue for which hemiglossectomy and radical neck dissection was performed. Two months before presentation, 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography detected hypermetabolic foci in the lungs that were proven on biopsy to be metastatic lesions. On retrospective review of the scan, a nonspecific hypermetabolic focus was noted in the septal myocardium [Figure (A)]. In the emergency department, her ECG showed an evolving anterior ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction [Figure (B)]. She was taken to the cardiac catheterization laboratory where emergent coronary angiography was performed. This showed an abrupt termination of the distal left anterior descending coronary artery [Figure (C) and Movie I in the online-only Data Supplement]. The vessel appeared to have an abnormal epicardial course with an inward curve into the myocardium, possibly suggesting an overlying mass lesion …
Ground-state wave function of linearized gravity

The ground-state wave function for linearized gravity is calculated from the Euclidean functional-integral prescription. The result is identical to that obtained from the canonical theory of quantum gravity.
Dog Ownership and Adolescent Physical Activity

Background Positive associations between dog ownership and adult health outcomes have been observed, but research involving youth is lacking. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of family dog ownership to adolescent physical activity. Methods Data were collected on dog ownership in 618 adolescent/parent pairs between 9/2006 and 6/2008 and analyzed in 2010. Adolescent physical activity was assessed by ActiGraph accelerometers. Results Adolescents' mean age was 14.6±1.8 years and 49% were male. White and higher-SES adolescents were more likely to own a dog. In models adjusted for age, puberty, gender, race, total household members, and SES, adolescent physical activity (mean counts·min −1 day −1 ) remained significantly associated with dog ownership (β=24.3, SE=12.4, p =0.05), whereas the association with minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day became nonsignificant (β=2.2, SE=1.2, p =0.07). No significant results were observed for other adolescent characteristics. Conclusions Dog ownership was associated with more physical activity among adolescents. Further research using longitudinal data will help clarify the role that dog ownership may have on adolescent physical activity.
Spread spectrum image steganography

We present a new method of digital steganography, entitled spread spectrum image steganography (SSIS). Steganography, which means "covered writing" in Greek, is the science of communicating in a hidden manner. Following a discussion of steganographic communication theory and review of existing techniques, the new method, SSIS, is introduced. This system hides and recovers a message of substantial length within digital imagery while maintaining the original image size and dynamic range. The hidden message can be recovered using appropriate keys without any knowledge of the original image. Image restoration, error-control coding, and techniques similar to spread spectrum are described, and the performance of the system is illustrated. A message embedded by this method can be in the form of text, imagery, or any other digital signal. Applications for such a data-hiding scheme include in-band captioning, covert communication, image tamperproofing, authentication, embedded control, and revision tracking.
PANEMOTO: Network Visualization of Security Situational Awareness Through Passive Analysis

To maintain effective security situational awareness, administrators require tools that present up-to-date information on the state of the network in the form of 'at-a-glance' displays, and that enable rapid assessment and investigation of relevant security concerns through drill-down analysis capability. In this paper, we present a passive network monitoring tool we have developed to address these important requirements, known as Panemoto (Passive Network Monitoring Tool). We show how Panemoto enumerates, describes, and characterizes all network components, including devices and connected networks, and delivers an accurate representation of the function of devices and logical connectivity of networks. We provide examples of Panemoto's output in which the network information is presented in two distinct but related formats: as a clickable network diagram (through the use of NetViz, a commercially available graphical display environment) and as statically-linked HTML pages, viewable in any standard web browser. Together, these presentation techniques enable a more complete understanding of the security situation of the network than each does individually.
Pixelless 1.5-/spl mu/m up-conversion imaging device fabricated by wafer fusion

We designed and fabricated a first-ever pixelless optical up-conversion imaging device using wafer-fusion technology. The device consists of an In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As-InP p-i-n detector and a GaAs-AlGaAs light-emitting diode (LED), which were grown on an InP and a GaAs substrate, respectively, and wafer-bonded together. The layer structures and doping profiles of the common region linking the detector and LED were designed such that lateral carrier diffusion was successfully suppressed while effective electrical connection was well preserved. Pixelless up-conversion imaging from 1.5 to 0.87 /spl mu/m was demonstrated. Moreover, an internal electrical gain of over 100 was observed for the detector part of the integrated device. The internal up-conversion quantum efficiency was measured to be /spl sim/50% at room temperature.
The poverty-reducing effect of Medicaid.

a b s t r a c t Medicaid provides health insurance for 54 million Americans. Using the Census Bureau's Supplemental Poverty Measure (which subtracts out-of-pocket medical expenses from family resources), we estimated the impact of eliminating Medicaid. In our counterfactual, Medicaid beneficiaries would become unin- sured or gain other insurance. Counterfactual medical expenditures were drawn stochastically from propensity-score-matched individuals without Medicaid. While this method captures the importance of risk protection, it likely underestimates Medicaid's impact due to unobserved differences between Medicaid and non-Medicaid individuals. Nonetheless, we find that Medicaid reduces out-of-pocket med- ical spending from $871 to $376 per beneficiary, and decreases poverty rates by 1.0% among children, 2.2% among disabled adults, and 0.7% among elderly individuals. When factoring in institutionalized populations, an additional 500,000 people were kept out of poverty. Overall, Medicaid kept at least 2.6 million—and as many as 3.4 million—out of poverty in 2010, making it the U.S.'s third largest anti-poverty program.
Strong and macroporous calcium phosphate cement: Effects of porosity and fiber reinforcement on mechanical properties.

Because of its excellent osteoconductivity and bone-replacement capability, self-setting calcium phosphate cement (CPC) has been used in a number of clinical procedures. For more rapid resorption and concomitant osseointegration, methods were desired to build macropores into CPC; however, this decreased its mechanical properties. The aims of this study, therefore, were to use fibers to strengthen macroporous CPC and to investigate the effects of the pore volume fraction on its mechanical properties. Water-soluble mannitol crystals were incorporated into CPC paste; the set CPC was then immersed in water to dissolve mannitol, producing macropores. Mannitol/(mannitol + CPC powder) mass fractions of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% were used. An aramid fiber volume fraction of 6% was incorporated into the CPC-mannitol specimens, which were set in 3 mm x 4 mm x 25 mm molds and then fractured in three-point flexure to measure the strength, work of fracture, and modulus. The dissolution of mannitol created well-formed macropores, with CPC at 40% mannitol having a total porosity of a 70.8% volume fraction. Increasing the mannitol content significantly decreased the properties of CPC without fibers (analysis of variance; p < 0.001). The strength (mean +/- standard deviation; n = 6) of CPC at 0% mannitol was 15.0 +/- 1.8 MPa; at 40% mannitol, it decreased to 1.4 +/- 0.4 MPa. Fiber reinforcement improved the properties, with the strength increasing threefold at 0% mannitol, sevenfold at 30% mannitol, and nearly fourfold at 40% mannitol. The work of fracture increased by 2 orders of magnitude, but the modulus was not changed as a result of fiber reinforcement. A scanning electron microscopy examination of specimens indicated crack deflection and bridging by fibers, matrix multiple cracking, and frictional pullout of fibers as the reinforcement mechanisms. Macroporous CPCs were substantially strengthened and toughened via fiber reinforcement. This may help extend the use of CPCs with macropores for bony ingrowth to the repair of larger defects in stress-bearing locations.
Distributed computing column 54 transactional memory: models and algorithms

This issue’s column consists of a review article by Gokarna Sharma and Costas Busch on models and algorithms for transactional memory (TM), with particular emphasis on scheduling. With the ever-growing popularity of TM, this is a timely topic. The authors cover three main models. First, work on transaction scheduling algorithms for tightly-coupled systems are surveyed. Second, distributed networks systems are considered; the new aspect is how to find the shared objects efficiently and provide consistency of the objects after transactions terminate. Third, related results for non-uniform memory access systems are surveyed, with emphasis on how to provide consistency in a load-balanced way. The article closes with a discussion of future directions. You might want to check out previous coverage of TM in this Column, dating back to 2008. In March of that year, the entire column was devoted to the topic, in the context of multicore systems. The first four Workshops on the Theory of Transactional Memory (WTTM) are reviewed in the December 2009, December 2010, March 2012, and December 2012 issues. The latter issue also covers the awarding of the 2012 Dijkstra Prize for the work by Herlihy, Moss, Shavit and Touitou on TM. Many thanks to Gokarna and Costas for their contribution!
Trellis-based circle detection

We introduce a new method for finding circles in images. The proposed method assumes a given pixel is the center of a prospective circle, attempts to fit a circle at that location to the data, and then it scans over all possible pixels. The score at each assumed center location is found by traversing a trellis structure. The trellis allows for gaps in the prospective circles and it enforces a global all or none constraint. The proposed method is compared to a binary matched filter using real visible-spectrum aerial images, where the targets are the circular-shaped silos of surface-to-air missile sites. The proposed method performs noticeably better than the binary matched filter for the data used in this study.
Understanding the Diabetic Body-Self:

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death from disease, shortens the average life span by up to 15 years, and is the main cause of new blindness, kidney failure, and amputations in the United States. Interviews with 2 practitioners and 8 individuals with diabetes illustrate how individuals embody their illness. Interviewed persons with diabetes tended to be most closely associated with the disciplined body type and pursued high levels of bodily control, in contrast to an idealized type, the communicative body, which can be considered an ethical ideal. This framework provides heuristic value by providing insight into the behaviors, needs, and struggles of persons with diabetes, as well as providing a means to more effective treatment and better practitioner-patient relationships.
The impact of nuts on diabetes and diabetes risk

Nuts have many nutritional benefits: they are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamin, minerals, and phytonutrients. Population studies indicate that individuals who regularly consume nuts have reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In clinical trials, nuts appear to have a neutral effect on glucose and insulin, and a beneficial effect on lipid profile. Thus, nuts can be a healthy dietary component for individuals with diabetes or those at risk for diabetes, providing overall caloric intake is regulated to maintain a healthy body weight.
Extracting Environmental Information for Improved Web Service Matching and Identification

The current approaches to automatic identification of web services for a given set of requirements involve matching based on the interface information published by the service providers. However, due to concerns about exposing of internals of Web services, this information is typically limited, thus rendering Web service matching quite difficult in practice. In this paper, we argue that service matching can be significantly enhanced by harnessing the environmental information about the Web services. Towards this end, we explore two crucial questions: (i) what environmental information would improve service matching, and (ii) how much of that information can be revealed without violating the fundamental tenet of service-oriented architecture that the internal implementation details of Web services are not available to Web service consumers? This paper provides a precise characterization of environmental information of web services. We motivate our approach via real-life Web service search portals, by showing how environmental information can improve the precision and recall of service matching process. We then show how Web service providers can extract this information from the designs of the Web services, and publish them along with their interfaces. We illustrate our ideas with a realistic running example, and demonstrate it via a proof-ofconcept prototype.
Distribution of lecithin-retinol acyltransferase activity in different types of rat liver cells and subcellular fractions

Abstract It is now well documented that lecithin-retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) is the physiologically important enzyme activity involved in the esterification of retinol in the liver. However, no information regarding the cellular distribution of this enzyme in the liver is presently available. This study characterizes the distribution of LRAT activity in the different types of rat liver cells. Purified preparations of isolated parenchymal, fat-storing, and Kupffer + endothelial cells were isolated from rat livers and the LRAT activity present in microsomes prepared from each of these cell fractions was determined. The fat-storing cells were found to contain the highest level of LRAT specific activity (383 ± 54 pmol retinyl ester formed min −1 ·mg −1 versus 163 ± 22 pmol retinyl ester formed min −1 ·mg −1 for whole liver microsomes). The level of LRAT specific activity in parenchymal cell microsomes (158 ± 53 pmol retinyl ester formed min −1 -mg −1 ) was very similar to LRAT levels in whole liver microsomes. The Kupffer + endothelial cell microsome fractions were found to contain LRAT, at low levels of activity. These results indicate that the fat-storing cells are very enriched in LRAT but the parenchymal cells also possess significant levels of LRAT activity.
Presidential Influence Over the Systemic Agenda

One of the most widely accepted sources of presidential power is agenda setting. Being able to affect the media’s agenda on key issues—influencing the systemic agenda and “expanding the scope of conflict”—has enormous consequences for the president’s ability to govern effectively. Yet the literature to date has not conclusively determined the extent to which presidents consistently set agendas, especially over the media, because it has not explicitly considered variation in agenda-setting influence by policy type. For these reasons, we test whether presidential public statements have increased the media’s attention to three policy areas. Using Vector Autoregression (VAR) analysis, we demonstrate that presidents have some influence over the systemic agenda, at least in the short term, with policy type being an important predictor of presidential influence. Understanding when and why presidents may or may not be successful agenda setters is crucial to explaining the varying legislative impacts of presidential speech making.
Consonance and dissonance in a study abroad program as a catalyst for professional development of pre-service teachers

Abstract This research examines the experiences of elementary and early childhood pre-service teachers from the U.S. engaged in a month long study abroad internship program in England. Using data from participants written journals, we use a hermeneutic approach to interrogate their evolving sense of professional development and their understanding of cultural differences in the internship in England. Informed by a theoretical framework of consonance and dissonance (Cochran-Smith, M. (1991). Reinventing student teaching. Journal of Teacher Education, 42 (2), 104–118), the emerging themes were related to the school context, the teacher's role, the learners, the buildings, and the community. Implications are for planning and facilitation of pre-service teachers study abroad experiences are discussed.
Intervening for RPA stenosis following Waterston shunt: Importance of anatomical definition of the coronary arteries.

Right pulmonary artery (RPA) stenosis following Waterston shunt is common. We report a case of RPA stenosis many years following tetralogy of Fallot repair with take-down of a Waterston shunt and demonstrate an unusual and important anatomic variant of proximity of the left coronary artery to the mid-portion of the RPA. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Binding of N-acetylglucosamine to chicken egg lysozyme: a powder diffraction study

The binding of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) to chicken egg lysozyme (E.C. 3.2.1.17) was investigated by high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction at room temperature. NAG was found to bind to lysozyme in a rapid precipitation preparation with 0.05 M NaCl buffer pH 6.0, but not 0.05 M NaCl buffer pH 5.0. Binding was indicated by significant and readily apparent changes in the diffraction pattern from that of the apo protein precipitated from the same solvent. The location of NAG bound to lysozyme was easily found from a difference Fourier map generated from structure factors extracted during a preliminary combined Rietveld and stereochemical restraint refinement. Full protein and protein–NAG structures were refined with these techniques (Rwp = 2.22–2.49%, Rp = 1.79–1.95%, R_F^2 = 4.95–6.35%) and revealed a binding mode for NAG which differed from that found in an earlier single-crystal study and probably represents a precursor trapped by rapid precipitation.
Sequence-controlled oligomers fold into nanosolenoids and impart unusual optical properties.

Controlled syntheses give unique block oligomers with alternating flexible ethylene glycol and rigid perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PDI) units. The number of rigid units vary from n=1 to 10. PDI units were stitched together by using efficient phosphoramidite chemistry. The resulting oligomers undergo folding in most solvents, including chloroform. In their ground state, these folded oligomers were characterized by using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS), NMR spectroscopy, and electronic absorption spectroscopy. FTICR-MS revealed the exact masses of these sequence-controlled oligomers, which confirmed the chemical composition and validated the synthetic strategy. The NMR neighboring ring-current effect (NRE) indicates the formation of cofacial π stacks; the stacked aromatic rings have nearly coaxial alignment akin to a nanosoleniod. Nanosolenoidal shielding in π stacks causes all aromatic protons to shift upfield, whereas NOE in a cyclic hetero-chromophoric dimer supports a rotated, cofacial π-stacking orientation separated by about 3.5 A. Electron–phonon coupling is much stronger than excitonic coupling in these self-folded PDI oligomers; thus, Franck–Condon factors dictate the observed spectral features in visible spectra. The absorbance spectrum exhibits weak hypochromism due to π stacking with increasing stacking units n. Finally, ab initio calculations support the experimental observations, indicating 3.5 A cofacial spacing in which one molecule is rotated 30° from the eclipsed orientation and higher oligomers can adopt, without a compensating energy penalty, either the right/left-handed helices or the 1,3-eclipsed structures. Both theory and experiments validate the nano-π-solenoids and their novel photophysical properties.
Occupational Therapy's Role with Victims of Domestic Violence: Assessment and Intervention

Occupational therapists encounter individuals who are victims of domestic violence in many different settings. The role of the occupational therapist with each client depends on that client's specific needs, the treatment setting, and the skills and beliefs of the therapist. This article presents a theoretical argument for why the occupational therapist should choose to be involved in the treatment of domestic violence. The Model of Human Occupation provides a framework for understanding functional issues related to domestic violence. Methods of assessment and treatment are presented using this model. A continuum of levels of involvement including referrals for resources or treatment, direct and indirect treatment and program consultation is offered. Each level is illustrated with case vignettes demonstrating the therapist's role. Issues related to the challenge of working in domestic violence and reasons that women may refuse intervention are also discussed.
Iterative Design and Structural Optimization

Methods of automatic design of structures are viewed, proposed, and evaluated by a numerical example. Sensitivity coefficients are introduced to help predict the consequences of design changes. Simultaneous linear equations are used to suggest new designs. Linear programming is introduced to generate optimum designs. Non-fully stressed designs and non-convex design spaces are examined. The effect of the choice of the design variables is demonstrated. A number of illustrative examples are included.
Pathways for energization of Ca in Mercury’s exosphere

Abstract We investigate the possible pathways to produce the extreme energy observed in the calcium exosphere of Mercury. Any mechanism must explain the facts that Ca in Mercury’s exosphere is extremely hot, that it is seen almost exclusively on the dawnside of the planet, and that its content varies seasonally, not sporadically. Simple diatomic molecules or their clusters are considered, focusing on calcium oxides while acknowledging that Ca sulfides may also be the precursor molecules. We first discuss impact vaporization to justify the assumption that CaO and Ca-oxide clusters are expected from impacts on Mercury. Then we discuss processes by which the atomic Ca is energized to a 70,000 K gas. The processes considered are (1) electron-impact dissociation of CaO molecules, (2) spontaneous dissociation of Ca-bearing molecules following impact vaporization, (3) shock-induced dissociative ionization, (4) photodissociation and (5) sputtering. We conclude that electron-impact dissociation cannot produce the required abundance of Ca, and sputtering cannot reproduce the observed spatial and temporal variation that is measured. Spontaneous dissociation is unlikely to result in the high energy that is seen. Of the two remaining processes, shock-induced dissociative ionization produces the required energy and comes close to producing the required abundance, but rates are highly dependent on the incoming velocity distribution of the impactors. Photodissociation probably can produce the required abundance of Ca, but simulations show that photodissociation cannot reproduce the observed spatial distribution.
Mobile Thrombus in the Ascending Aorta Associated With Acute Myocardial Infarction

The presence of thrombus in the ascending aorta is uncommon but it has been implicated in systemic thromboembolism. The rarity of thrombus in the ascending aorta is presumably secondary to high blood flow velocity in the location; however, its presence is of concern given the risk of embolization to the brain and potential for cerebral infarction. Furthermore, thrombus in the proximal aorta may embolize into the coronary artery or occlude the coronary ostium and result in myocardial infarction. J Hematol. 2015;4(4):228-230 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jh201w
A Human Activity Aware Learning Mobile Music Player

The XPod system aims to integrate awareness of human activity and multimedia preferences to produce an adaptive system that plays contextually appropriate media. The XPod project introduces a “smart” music player that learns its user's preferences and activity, and tailors its music selections accordingly. We have experimented with various physiological sensing platforms to measure a user's physiological state. These devices are able to monitor a number of variables to determine the user's levels of activity and motion to predict what music is appropriate at that time. The XPod user trains the player to understand what music is preferred and under what conditions. After training, XPod can predict the desirability of a song given the user's physical state. XPod learns a users listening preferences from the interaction with the user and from collaborative filtering
Patterns and Problems in Professional Discipline Cases

Commentaries on lawyer discipline often refer to practice areas that are involved in grievances. Discussions of lawyer discipline devote far less attention to examining the circumstances of particular grievances or the characteristics of the lawyers facing disciplinary charges. That is one reason why I especially liked Professor Leslie Levin’s Misbehaving Lawyers: Cross-Country Comparisons. This article was published in a special issue of Legal Ethics — the preeminent international legal ethics journal.
Disjoint set union with randomized linking

A classic result in the analysis of data structures is that path compression with linking by rank solves the disjoint set union problem in almost-constant amortized time per operation. Recent experiments suggest that in practice, a naive linking method works just as well if not better than linking by rank, in spite of being theoretically inferior. How can this be? We prove that randomized linking is asymptotically as efficient as linking by rank. This result provides theory that matches the experiments, which implicitly do randomized linking as a result of the way the input instances are generated.
The Quality of Salesperson-Manager Relationship: The Effect of Latitude, Loyalty and Competence

Leader-Member Exchange theory proposes both the salesperson and manager make contributions to their working relationship. Effective leadership is dependent upon developing a high quality relationship. This study tests the proposals of Leader-Member Exchange by examining the exchange of manager contributions (allowing the salesperson more operating freedom or latitude) and those of the salesperson. While the receipt of managerial latitude has a direct effect on the salesperson's evaluation of the working relationship, the salesperson's contributions also play a part. The manager allows more latitude to salespeople who are seen as more competent and loyal. These exchanges latitude for competency and loyalty) and the quality of the salesperson-manager relationship may be especially important when the sales task requires adaptive selling behaviors.
ZnS Films Deposited by ALD for Solar Cell Applications

Alternative deposition methods and materials are of interest for the fabrication of thin film solar cells since they offer potential enhancements for either low cost, high speed or high efficiency but also because they can help in better understanding the underlying physical and chemical processes that could lead to the next generation of solar cells. In this study, we will present new results on the deposition of ZnS by atomic layer deposition (ALD) as an alternate to CdS deposited by chemical bath deposition. More specifically, in-situ real time and ex-situ measurements by spectroscopic ellipsometry will be performed, allowing for the analysis of the growth processes as a function of deposition parameters. These measurements also allow for a parameterization of the dielectric functions of ZnS and the evolution of its grain size and band gap as a function of thickness. These measurements will then be correlated with ex-situ measurements, such as XRD, AFM and T&R, which is expected to validate the model used for spectroscopic ellipsometry data analysis.
Coffee Drinking and Risk of Lung Cancer—A Meta-Analysis

Background: Previous epidemiologic results on coffee consumption and lung cancer risk have not been consistent. Furthermore, not all studies have addressed the potential role of tobacco as a confounder in this association. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effect of coffee consumption on lung cancer risk independent of tobacco use. Methods: A systematic review and a meta-analysis based on random effects models were performed using studies from the PubMed and EMBASE databases, and the references from the retrieved articles. Included were 8 prospective cohorts and 13 case-control studies, which provided data for 19,892 cases and 623,645 non-cases, timeframe 1986-2015. Results: The meta-relative risk for coffee drinking, not controlling for tobacco smoking, was 1.09 (95%CI 1.00-1.19), reference group was never drinkers. There was significant heterogeneity among the study results (Q= 84.39, I² = 75.1%, heterog. p- value < .001). Among non-smokers, coffee was not associated with lung cancer risk (RR= 0.92, 95%CI 0.75-1.10), reference group was never drinkers. The meta-RR for 1 cup/day increase, unadjusted for smoking, was 1.04 (95%CI 1.03-1.05); the corresponding RR for non-smokers was 0.95 (95%CI 0.83-1.09). Conclusions: The pooled estimates indicated that when the potential confounding effect from smoking is controlled for, coffee drinking does not appear to be a lung cancer risk factor. Further pooled analyses, with larger non-smokers population size, are encouraged to confirm these results. Impact: This study illustrates that the association between coffee consumption and lung cancer can be confounded by tobacco smoking.
Sensitizing the sensitizer: the synthesis and photophysical study of bodipy-Pt(II)(diimine)(dithiolate) conjugates.

The dyads 3, 4, and 6, combining the Bodipy chromophore with a Pt(bpy)(bdt) (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, bdt = 1,2-benzenedithiolate, 3 and 6) or a Pt(bpy)(mnt) (mnt = maleonitriledithiolate, 4) moiety, have been synthesized and studied by UV−vis steady-state absorption, transient absorption, and emission spectroscopies and cyclic voltammetry. Comparison of the absorption spectra and cyclic voltammograms of dyads 3, 4, and 6 and those of their model compounds 1a, 2, 5, and 7 shows that the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the dyads are essentially the sum of their constituent chromophores, indicating negligible interaction of the constituent chromophores in the ground state. However, emission studies on 3 and 6 show a complete absence of both Bodipy-based fluorescence and the characteristic luminescence of the Pt(bpy)(bdt) unit. Dyad 4 shows a weak Pt(mnt)-based emission. Transient absorption studies show that excitation of the dyads into the Bodipy-based 1ππ* excited state is followed by single...
Design and Optimization of MPEG-4 Video Decoder

This paper designs and optimizes a MPEG-4 video decoder based on OMAP5910 dual-core processor with the power of real-time decoding.It details the important parts of MPEG-4 simple profile decoding process and optimization process on DSP platform.The design of arithmetic is based on TI XDIAS standard and can be used on all the C5000 series of DSP platform.The process of decoder and the method of optimization are valuable as references on video process and other applications on OMAP platform.
Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis: A Systemicconnective Tissue Disease?

AbstractAbstractRenal histology of a patient with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis demonstrated a proliferative crescentic glomerulonephritis with intramembranous electron-dense deposits. These ...
Heavy metal-nucleotide interactions. 15. Reactions of calf thymus DNA with the electrophiles methylmercury(II) nitrate, cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II), and trans-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) studied using Raman difference spectroscopy. Evidence for the formation of c-DNA upon metalation.

Abstract This study details the reactions of the electrophiles CH 3 Hg(NO 3 ). cis -[PtCl 2 (NH 3 ) 2 ] ( cis -DDP) and trans -[PtCl 2 (NH 3 ) 2 ] ( trans -DDP) with calf thymus DNA using Raman and Raman difference spectroscopy. The order of CH 3 Hg(II) binding to calf thymus DNA is G ⩾T>C>A. The electrophilic attack of cis - and trans -DDP on calf thymus DNA produces different orders of binding: cis -DDP-G>C≈A⪢T, trans -DDP-G≈C≈A⪢T. The reaction of CH 3 Hg(II) with DNA results in a decrease in the percentage of B-form DNA. whereas the reactions of cis - and trans -DDP with DNA decrease the percentage of B-DNA and cause the formation of C-DNA structure.
Neuroendocrine Regulation of the Perimenopause Transition

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes evidence that aging effects at all three levels of the hypothalamic-pituitaryovarian (HPO) axis may contribute to the progressively pronounced hypersecretion of pituitary gonadotropins that occurs at the close of the reproductive years. Best understood of the contributors to the aging-related alterations in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion are the ovarian causes. There is heightened interest in the role of central aging deficits in the etiology of the menopause. A fundamental question is whether GnRH secretion increases at the time of menopause, and if so, whether this is mediated by declines in the integrity of central circadian pacemakers. This hypothesis provides important new directions for studies of the HPO axis at menopause. An understanding of the factors that interact and initiate the process of hypoestrogenism in aging women is needed to develop strategies for alleviating the negative aspects of the menopause and to better comprehend the process of biologic aging.
Governments, NGOs, Sanghas, and Female Entrepreneurs (20 to 60 Years of Age)

In this chapter, I explore ways in which women are not just recipients of change but active agents in different forms of change (Malhotra et al. 2002). I also explore women’s unequal responses to the resources available to them as they acquire new roles to expand their arenas of self-determination in the burgeoning public and private spheres of their respective countries. Also, I focus on the processes and institutional structures that influence the ways in which women craft and assert power.
Long-term noise exposures: A brief review.

• There are occupations and situations where workers may be in an environment in which noise exposures may last 24 hours or even longer.
V-HOLT verifier - An automatic formal verification tool for combinational circuits

Formal verification using theorem proving ascertains 100% accuracy of digital circuit verification and is thus far more useful than simulation. However, most of the theorem proving based formal verification tools do not accept commonly used HDLs, like VHDL or Verilog, and require their users to manually conduct the verification, which is a step that involves rigorous mathematical analysis. It is due to these limitations that theorem proving based verification tools are not commonly used in the industry despite their ultimate accuracy guarantee. As a first step to overcome these limitations, we present an automatic verification tool, V-HOLT Verifier, for the verification of combinational circuits described in VHDL format. Besides the VHDL description, the user of the tool provides the property that needs to be verified using a user friendly JAVA based interface. The verification of the property is done using the HOL4 theorem prover, which is a widely used theorem proving tool based on higher-order logic. The translation to HOL4 compatible code and the generation of HOL4 verification script is automatically done and thus the user is not involved with these details, which makes V-HOLT Verifier quite user friendly. The final outcome is in the form of ‘Goal Proved’, if the property is verified, or an ‘Error Trace’ in case the failure. For illustration purposes, we tested some commonly combinational circuits including 4 × 1 MUX and a full adder.
Photonic structure textile design for localized thermal management via radiative cooling

We numerically demonstrate a photonic structure textile design that is infrared-transparent and enables infrared radiative cooling that is sufficient for localized management of thermal comfort given a set point increase in room temperature of 4°F.
Activity-dependent development of visual receptive fields

It is widely appreciated that neuronal activity contributes to the development of brain representations of the external world. In the visual system, in particular, it is well known that activity cooperates with molecular cues to establish the topographic organization of visual maps on a macroscopic scale [1,2] (Huberman et al., 2008; Cang and Feldheim, 2013), mapping axons in a retinotopic and eye-specific manner. In recent years, significant progress has been made in elucidating the role of activity in driving the finer-scale circuit refinement that shapes the receptive fields of individual cells. In this review, we focus on these recent breakthroughs-primarily in mice, but also in other mammals where noted.
Transient Raman spectra, structure, and thermochemistry of the thiocyanate dimer radical anion in water.

Time-resolved resonance-enhanced Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman spectra of the thiocyanate dimer radical anion, (SCN)2•−, prepared by pulse radiolysis in water, have been obtained and interpreted in conjunction with theoretical calculations to provide detailed information on the molecular geometry and bond properties of the species. The structural properties of the radical are used to develop a molecular perspective on its thermochemistry in an aqueous solution. Twenty-nine Stokes Raman bands of the radical observed in the 120-4200 cm−1 region are assigned in terms of the strongly enhanced 220 cm−1 fundamental, weakly enhanced 721 cm−1, and moderately enhanced 2073 cm−1 fundamentals, their overtones, and combinations. Calculations by range-separated hybrid density functionals (ωB97x and LC-ωPBE) support the spectroscopic assignments of the 220 cm−1 vibration to a predominantly SS stretching mode and the features at 721 cm−1 and 2073 cm−1 to CS and CN symmetric stretching modes, respectively. The correspondi...
Association of a Burrower Bug (Heteroptera: Cydnidae) with Aflatoxin Contamination of Peanut Kernels

Aflatoxin contamination of peanut kernels, Arachis hypogaea L., was associated with feeding by a burrower bug, Pangaeus bilineatus (Say). Kernel samples were divided into three grade categories: total sound mature kernels (TSMK), other kernels (OK), and damaged kernels (DK); and each of these grade categories was subdivided based on evidence of burrower bug feeding. Within TSMK, 100% of detectable aflatoxin contamination was associated with burrower bug kernel feeding, and kernels with feeding sites had a significantly higher concentration of aflatoxin than kernels without feeding sites (7.5 vs 0.0 ppb). Within the OK grade category, differences in aflatoxin contamination were not significant due to the inability to conclusively examine these kernels for feeding sites. Within the DK grade category, aflatoxin concentration was significantly higher in kernels with feeding sites than in kernels without observable feeding sites (286.5 vs 0.4 ppb), and 99.9% of contamination was associated with burrower bug fe...
An Efficient Combinatorial Algorithm for Optimal Compression of a Polyline with Segments and Arcs

The task of finding the optimal compression of a polyline with straight-line segments and arcs is performed in many applications, such as polyline compression, noise filtering, and feature recognition. Optimal compression algorithms find the best solution using the dynamic programming approach, which requires a significant amount of arc fitting. This paper describes an improvement to the dynamic programming approach by reducing the amount of arc fitting necessary to find the optimal solution. Instead of processing from the second to the last vertices in the dynamic programming approach, the algorithm proceeds forward and skips as many steps as possible without affecting the inference in any way. Such a modification extends the practical application of the algorithm to polylines having arcs with a large number of vertices.
The Effect of Particle Size and Film Cooling on Nozzle Guide Vane Deposition

An accelerated deposition test facility is used to study the effect of particle size and film cooling on deposit roughness, spatial distribution and thickness. Tests were run at gas turbine representative inlet Mach numbers (0.08) and temperatures (1080°C). Deposits were created from a sub-bituminous coal fly ash with mass median diameters from 4 to 16 microns (Stokes numbers ranging from 0.1 to 1.9. Two CFM56-5B nozzle guide vane doublets comprising three full passages and two half passages of flow were utilized as the test articles. Tests were run with three levels of film cooling. The addition of film cooling to the vanes was shown to decrease deposit capture efficiency by as much as a factor of 3 and shift the primary location of deposit buildup to the leading edge coincident with an increased region of positive cooling backflow margin. Video taken during tests noted that film cooling holes with negative backflow margin were primary areas of deposit formation regardless of film cooling percentage. Stokes number was shown to have a marked effect on vane capture efficiency, with the largest Stokes number ash (St = 1.9) approximately 3 times as likely to stick to the vane as the smallest Stokes number ash (St = 0.1). Post test observations on deposit thickness were made using a coordinate measurement machine. Deposit thickness was noted to be reduced with decreasing Stokes number and increased film cooling percentage. Deposit surface roughness falls with particle size but is only weakly dependent on cooling level.© 2012 ASME
Intracellular Mechanisms Underlying the Phosphaturic Response to Parathyroid Hormone in the Hamster

We previously reported the lack of a significant phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the fasted hamster1. This response was in marked contrast to the fed hamster which is normally responsive to the phosphaturic effect of PTH2–4. The refractoriness to the phosphaturic effect of PTH in the fasted hamster was abolished by ammonium chloride infusions1,3. Additional studies showed that the ammonium ion itself, rather than the acute acidemia, is responsible for the restoration of the phosphaturic response to PTH5. In the present studies we evaluated the role of fasting induced changes in renal ammoniagenesis and metabolism in the resistance to the phosphaturic effect of PTH.
Stem Cell Epigenetics

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur independently of alterations in the primary DNA sequence. Normal development requires a carefully orchestrated epigenetic program on both a global and gene-specific/tissue-specific level. A tightly regulated program of active and repressive histone modifications working in close concert with the methylation of CpG dinucleotides in DNA are responsible for this epigenetic reprogramming, which includes the permanent silencing of genes required for stem/progenitor cell maintenance and the variable regulation of tissue/cell specific activation of genes required for successful differentiation of alternate cell lineages. In this chapter, we will discuss the normal stem/ progenitor cell epigenetic remodeling proteins, including polycomb group (PcG) proteins, and the histone modifications that help modulate gene expression during development. We will highlight the essential role of DNA methylation in gene silencing programs during normal development, including both maternal and paternal imprinting and x-chromosome inactivation, and the permanent silencing of pluripotency-associated genes with terminal differentiation. We will conclude with a more extensive discussion of how the regulatory networks controlling stem cell epigenetics may go awry in cells that give rise to tumors and during tumor progression. The large numbers of epigenetically silenced genes that may be present in any given tumor, and the clustering of silenced genes within single cell pathways, begs the question of whether gene silencing is a series of random events resulting in an enhanced survival of a premalignant clone, or whether silencing is the result of a directed, instructive program for silencing initiation reflective of the cells of origin for tumors. In this regard, the current review stresses the latter hypothesis and the important possibility that the program is linked, at least for silencing of some cancer genes, to the epigenetic control of stem/precursor cell gene expression patterns.
On the Sociability of a Game-Playing Agent: A Software Framework and Empirical Study

We report on the results of evaluating a virtual agent that plays games with automatically generated social comments and social gaze. The agent played either a card game (rummy) or a board game (checkers) with each of 31 participants. Based on objective and subjective measures, the agent using social comments and gaze was preferred to both a version of the agent using only social gaze and to playing the game interactively, but without a virtual agent. We have also developed a generic software framework for authoring social comments for any game based on the semantics of the game.