cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progression of chronic renal failure is related to glucocorticoid production

Progression of chronic renal failure is related to glucocorticoid production. Progression of chronic renal failure during 35 treatment periods in 27 patients was measured as the rate of change of bimonthy radioisotope GFR for an average of 15 months. Treatments were comprised of: (1) mild protein restriction; (2) more severe protein and phosphorus restriction plus essential amino acids; or (3) the same diet plus ketoacids. Progression was significantly (P additional significant determinants of progression: urea N excretion, phosphate excretion, protein excretion, serum calcium times phosphorus product, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum uric acid, serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol, etiology, mean arterial pressure, or ehalapril treatment. However, when urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion was factored by GFR (with which it was correlated), additional significant regressors appeared: serum triglycerides and polycystic kidney disease, which tended to be associated with more rapid progression, and ketoacid treatment, which tended to be associated with slower progression. Mean 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion differed significantly between the three treatment groups, in the order (1) > (2) > (3)(though not when factored by GFR). Changing from essential amino acids to ketoacids (or vice versa) without change in diet was associated with lower 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion on ketoacids (but not when factored by GFR). Therefore, progression of chronic renal failure is related to glucocorticoid production (and to triglyceridemia, which is correlated with it). Ketoacids appear to slow progression in part by suppressing production of glucocorticoids.
An inverse problem approach to modelling coastal effluent plumes

Abstract Formulated as an inverse problem, the diffusion parameters associated with length-scale dependent eddy diffusivities can be viewed as the unknowns in the mass conservation equation for coastal zone transport problems. The values of the diffusion parameters can be optimized according to an error function incorporated with observed concentration data. Examples are given for the Fickian, shear diffusion and inertial subrange diffusion models. Based on a new set of dyeplume data collected in the coastal zone off Bronte, Lake Ontario, it is shown that the predictions of turbulence closure models can be evaluated for different flow conditions. The choice of computational schemes for this diagnostic approach is based on tests with analytic solutions and observed data. It is found that the optimized shear diffusion model produced a better agreement with observations for both high and low advective flows than, e.g., the unoptimized semi-empirical model, Ky=0.075 σy1.2, described by Murthy and Kenney.
A method for measuring the direction of the magnetic field in a Tokamak plasma by laser light scattering

For scattering wavenumbers k such that alpha =(1/k lambda D) > Omega e, that resolution of the spectrum shape by conventional means is not possible. It is shown in this paper that the peaks are superimposed when the scattered light is passed through a Fabry-Perot etalon of free spectral frequency range equal to the electron cyclotron frequency. The resulting modulation, and consequently the effect of the magnetic field, can then be detected even with a ruby laser source.
Sustainable development: the challenge of implementation

SUMMARY This paper focuses on efforts to produce an operational definition of the concept of ‘sustainable development’ as articulated by the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). ‘Sustainability’ has become an increasingly significant environmental issue; the problems in articulating a workable concept will differ among nations and international organizations attempting to define the term. Additionally, the term encompasses the varied fields of ecology, philosophy, and economics; every discipline imparts its own bias. Various definitions are provided and the significance and difficulty of developing an operational definition of Sustainable development is discussed. For example, sustainable development has become a ‘needs'-oriented term, an entitlement that priority should be given to the needs of the world's poor. Some argue that living standards which go beyond the basic minimum are sustainable only if consumption standards everywhere have regard for long-term sustainabil...
Do Microfinance Programmes Really Serve the Poor? Evidence from Rural Southeast Nepal

During the past 25 years development organisations worldwide have increasingly relied on microfinance programmes to help alleviate poverty and achieve various development objectives. These programmes typically aim to provide financial services to poor households that otherwise cannot access formal financial markets. One such example programme is the Grameen Bikas Bank (GBB) in rural southeast Nepal. While GBB targets poor households, the evidence reveals that the vast majority of GBB clients are relatively wealthy, as measured by land ownership and other socioeconomic indicators. In addition, GBB’s poor clients also feel less satisfied with its services than do wealthy clients, suggesting that GBB has not adequately tailored its products to the needs of the poor. Possible reasons for GBB’s shortcomings include Nepal’s caste system, rigid loan repayment schedules, and below-market interest rates on loans. Remedies to improve GBB’s outreach to the poor include flexible repayment schedules, higher interest r...
Glycogen Synthesis and its Regulation in Bacteria

Introduction Characterization of Bacterial Glycogen Structure The Function of Glycogen as an Energy-Storage Compound Enzymatic Reactions Involved in Glycogen Synthesis Properties of the Glycogen Biosynthetic Enzymes ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase Bacterial Glycogen Synthase Branching Enzyme Genetic Regulation of Glycogen Synthesis in E. coli Keywords: glycogen synthesis; energy storage; gene characterization; genetic regulation
Seeking self-evaluative feedback: the interactive role of global self-esteem and specific self-views

People who verify a negative self-view expose themselves to criticism and rejection. Because people with low global self-esteem are hurt more by negative feedback than are people with high global self-esteem, the authors predicted that they would be less apt to verify a negative self-view in a more specific domain. Three investigations found support for this hypothesis. In all 3 investigations, high self-esteem participants sought (or tended to seek) self-verifying feedback, even if it was negative, but low self-esteem participants sought (or tended to seek) positive feedback, even if it was nonself-verifying. These findings show that low self-esteem people are especially concerned with self-protection and that global self-esteem and specific self-views interact to guide people's responses to self-evaluative feedback.
Dome bilayer piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) composite flextensional actuator

A new type of flextensional actuator called bilayer piezoelectric/electrostrictive dome unimorph (BIPEDU) is presented. The BIPEDU actuator is fabricated by attaching a dome piezoelectric-electrostrictive monolithic bilayer composite (PE-BMLC) actuator to a metallic plate by using insulating epoxy resin. In this study, a PE-MBLC with a P:E ceramic with volume ratio of 8:2 was used as the active driving element. The stainless steel plate acted as a flextensional structure. Under the application of an electric field, the force generated from the radial contraction of the PE-MBLC was transferred through the bonding area to deform the metallic plate, generating more displacement in the BIPEDU actuator. The effect of the bonding area between the PE-MBLC and the metal plate on the displacement was examined. It was found that complete and uniform bonding effectively transferred the force from the radial contraction of the PE-MBLC actuator to the metallic plate. As a result, the completely bonded BIPEDU actuator gave a higher displacement. In addition, the effect of various thicknesses of the stainless steel on the displacement in the BIPEDU was also investigated. Experimental results indicated that the BIPEDU fabricated by using 76 µm thickness stainless steel yielded the highest displacement of ≈ 65 µm. In comparison, the displacement of the BIPEDU actuator was about 12 times higher than that of the PE-MBLC actuator (∼ 5 µm).
Using shear as a supplemental two-dimensional input channel for rich touchscreen interaction

Touch input is constrained, typically only providing finger X/Y coordinates. To access and switch between different functions, valuable screen real estate must be allocated to buttons and menus, or users must perform special actions, such as touch-and-hold, double tap, or multi-finger chords. Even still, this only adds a few bits of additional information, leaving touch interaction unwieldy for many tasks. In this work, we suggest using a largely unutilized touch input dimension: shear (force tangential to a screen's surface). Similar to pressure, shear can be used in concert with conventional finger positional input. However, unlike pressure, shear provides a rich, analog 2D input space, which has many powerful uses. We put forward five classes of advanced interaction that considerably expands the envelope of interaction possible on touchscreens.
The Seminole Indians of Florida: Morphology and serology

The Seminole Indians of Florida were studied on their three reservations for blood types, red cell enzymes, serum proteins, physical measurements, and relationships. Both serologic and morphologic factors suggest their close similarity to other Indians and small amount of admixture. The Florida Seminoles are similar to Cherokee “full-bloods” in their absence of Rho and their incidence of O and M. In the presence of Dia they are similar to other Indians, especially those of South America. While the presence of G-6-P-D A and the frequency of Hgb. S are indicative of Negro ancestry, the absence of Rho suggests that the Negro contribution must have been small. Physical traits give parallel results. Both serology and morphology further show that the Seminoles of the Dania and Big Cypress reservations are more similar to each other than to those of the Brighton reservation, in keeping with their history.
Direct numerical simulation of a separated turbulent boundary layer

A separated turbulent boundary layer over a flat plate was investigated by direct numerical simulation of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. A suction-blowing velocity distribution was prescribed along the upper boundary of the computational domain to create an adverse-to-favourable pressure gradient that produces a closed separation bubble. The Reynolds number based on inlet free-stream velocity and momentum thickness is 300. Neither instantaneous detachment nor reattachment points are fixed in space but fluctuate significantly. The mean detachment and reattachment locations determined by three different definitions, i.e. (i) location of 50% forward flow fraction, (ii) mean dividing streamline (ψ=0), (iii) location of zero wall-shear stress (τw=0), are in good agreement. Instantaneous vorticity contours show that the turbulent structures emanating upstream of separation move upwards into the shear layer in the detachment region and then turn around the bubble. The locations of the maximum turbulence intensities as well as Reynolds shear stress occur in the middle of the shear layer. In the detached flow region, Reynolds shear stresses and their gradients are large away from the wall and thus the largest pressure fluctuations are in the middle of the shear layer. Iso-surfaces of negative pressure fluctuations which correspond to the core region of the vortices show that large-scale structures grow in the shear layer and agglomerate. They then impinge on the wall and subsequently convect downstream. The characteristic Strouhal number St=fδ*in/U0 associated with this motion ranges from 0.0025 to 0.01. The kinetic energy budget in the detachment region is very similar to that of a plane mixing layer.
Mormon Clients’ Experiences of Conversion Therapy The Need for a New Treatment Approach

Perspectives were gathered of 50 Mormon individuals who had undergone counseling to change their sexual orientation. The data were analyzed using the constant comparative method and participant verification, thereby developing a grounded theory. A model emerged that depicted participants’ intrapersonal and interpersonal motivations for seeking conversion or “reparative” therapy, their perceived benefits and harms of such interventions, and the factors that facilitated self-acceptance and consolidation of a positive self-identity. Based on these descriptions, this study provides the foundation for a broader-based treatment approach (besides one focused solely on changing sexual orientation or adopting a lesbian, gay, or bisexual identity), which is designed to produce individualized congruent solutions for religiously conflicted, same-sex-attracted clients.
Chocolate procyanidins decrease the leukotriene-prostacyclin ratio in humans and human aortic endothelial cells

Background: Polyphenolic phytochemicals inhibit vascular and inflammatory processes that contribute to disease. These effects are hypothesized to result from polyphenol-mediated alterations in cellular eicosanoid synthesis. Objective: The objective was to determine and compare the ability of cocoa procyanidins to alter eicosanoid synthesis in human subjects and cultured human aortic endothelial cells. Design: After an overnight fast, 10 healthy subjects (4 men and 6 women) consumed 37 g low-procyanidin (0.09 mg/g) and high-procyanidin (4.0 mglg) chocolate; the treatments were separated by 1 wk. The investigation had a randomized, blinded, crossover design. Plasma samples were collected before treatment and 2 and 6 h after treatment. Eicosanoids were quantitated by enzyme immunoassay. Endothelial cells were treated in vitro with procyanidins to determine whether the effects of procyanidin in vivo were associated with procyanidin-induced alterations in endothelial cell eicosanoid synthesis. Results: Relative to the effects of the low-procyanidin chocolate, high-procyanidin chocolate induced increases in plasma prosta-cyclin (32%; P < 0.05) and decreases in plasma leukotrienes (29%; P < 0.04). After the in vitro procyanidin treatments, aortic endothelial cells synthesized twice as much 6-keto-prostaglandin Fj y (P < 0.01) and 16% less leukotriene (P < 0.05) as did control cells. The in vitro and in vivo effects of procyanidins on plasma leukotriene-prostacyclin ratios in culture medium were also comparable: decreases of 58% and 52%, respectively. Conclusion: Data from this short-term investigation support the concept that certain food-derived flavonoids can favorably alter eicosanoid synthesis in humans, providing a plausible hypothesis for a mechanism by which they can decrease platelet activation in humans.
Silicon-Germanium as an Enabling Technology for Extreme Environment Electronics

“Extreme environment” electronics represent an important niche market in the trillion dollar global electronics industry and span the operation of electronic circuits and systems in surroundings lying outside the domain of conventional commercial or military specifications. Such extreme environments might include, for instance, the following: 1) operation down to very low temperatures (e.g., to 77 K or even 4.2 K or below); 2) operation up to very high temperatures (e.g., to 200°C or even 300°C); 3) operation across very wide and/or cyclic temperature swings (e.g., -230°C +120°C night to day, as found on the lunar surface); 4) operation in a radiation environment (e.g., in space while orbiting the Earth); or 5) at worst case even with all four simultaneously. The unique bandgap-engineered features of silicon-germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistors and the electronic circuits built from them offer a considerable potential for simultaneously coping with all four of these extreme environments, potentially with no process modifications, ultimately providing compelling advantages at the integrated circuit and system level across a wide class of envisioned commercial and defense applications. Here, we detail the nuances associated with using SiGe technology for extreme environment electronics, paying particular attention to recent developments in the field.
Trace detection of explosives using a membrane-based displacement immunoassay.

Abstract A compact membrane-based displacement immunoassay has been designed for rapid detection of explosive compounds 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) at high femtomole levels. The system consists of activated porous membranes, onto which either TNT or RDX antibodies are immobilized, that are inserted into microreactor columns, incorporated into a flow system. The assay is prepared by saturating the immobilized antibody binding sites with labeled antigen. Target analyte is introduced upstream of the microreactor, while the displacement of labeled antigen is monitored downstream using a fluorometer. The concentration of displaced labeled antigen detected is proportional to the concentration of the target analyte introduced into the system. This system provides a reusable and reagentless sensor, suitable for continuous monitoring of explosives, with an operating lifetime of over 50 positive samples. Multiple assays were performed in approximately 5 min at different flow rates, using membranes saturated with varying antibody concentrations. The membrane-based format exhibited a detection limit of approximately 450 fmol for TNT and RDX (100 μl of 1 ng/ml solution) in laboratory samples.
United States Military Academy: Simulation and Modeling of New Cadet Uniform and Equipment Fitting, Inventory, and Distribution

More than 1300 cadet candidates enter Cadet Basic Training (CBT) each year at the United States Military Academy (USMA). Immediately following their first day (Reception Day, or R-Day), the new cadets enter into two days of intensive equipment and supply issue to provide them with all the materials they will need for the rest of their cadet careers. Our task was to make this issue more efficient, as, in recent years, new cadet companies have struggled to get through the issue points in the allotted time. As is so with any military operation, it is very important that the Academy personnel stay on schedule to ensure that all objectives are met. By acquiring more space and changing the overall layout of the issue points, we were able to create a system that enabled the eight new cadet companies to complete their issue in the allotted time.
Vaccination with Human Papillomavirus Pseudovirus-Encapsidated Plasmids Targeted to Skin Using Microneedles

Human papilloma virus-like particles (HPV VLP) serve as the basis of the current licensed vaccines for HPV. We have previously shown that encapsidation of DNA expressing the model antigen M/M2 from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in HPV pseudovirions (PsV) is immunogenic when delivered intravaginally. Because the HPV capsids confer tropism for basal epithelium, they represent attractive carriers for vaccination targeted to the skin using microneedles. In this study we asked: 1) whether HPV16 VLP administered by microneedles could induce protective immune responses to HPV16 and 2) whether HPV16 PsV-encapsidated plasmids delivered by microneedles could elicit immune responses to both HPV and the antigen delivered by the transgene. Mice immunized with HPV16 VLP coated microneedles generated robust neutralizing antibody responses and were protected from HPV16 challenge. Microneedle arrays coated with HPV16-M/M2 or HPV16-F protein (genes of RSV) were then tested and dose-dependent HPV and F-specific antibody responses were detected post-immunization, and M/M2-specific T-cell responses were detected post RSV challenge, respectively. HPV16 PsV-F immunized mice were fully protected from challenge with HPV16 PsV and had reduced RSV viral load in lung and nose upon intranasal RSV challenge. In summary, HPV16 PsV-encapsidated DNA delivered by microneedles induced neutralizing antibody responses against HPV and primed for antibody and T-cell responses to RSV antigens encoded by the encapsidated plasmids. Although the immunogenicity of the DNA component was just above the dose response threshold, the HPV-specific immunity was robust. Taken together, these data suggest microneedle delivery of lyophilized HPV PsV could provide a practical, thermostable combined vaccine approach that could be developed for clinical evaluation.
Time course of the enhancement and restoration of the analgesic efficacy of codeine and morphine by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol

Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC) synergizes with morphine and codeine by releasing endogenous opioids. These studies determined 1) the duration of enhancement of morphine and codeine by Δ 9 -THC, 2) the effect of (Δ 9 -THC on the time course of fully efficacious doses of the opioids, 3) restoration of efficacy of morphine and codeine by Δ 9 -THC, and 4) duration of restoration. Sub-active combination doses of Δ 9 -THC/ morphine or Δ 9 -THC/codeine are equivalent in duration of action and efficacy to high-dose opioids alone. Δ 9 -THC (20 mg/kg p.o.) significantly restores the antinociceptive effects of both high-dose morphine and codeine (100 and 200 mg/kg p.o., respectively) at later time points at which morphine or codeine was no longer active (360- and 120-min post-administration, respectively). Thus, the cannabinoid/opioid combination might be useful in therapeutics to enhance opioid activity, as well as to restore the efficacy of opioids.
Silencing MicroRNA-155 Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

IFN-γ–producing Th1 and IL-17–producing Th17 cells are the key participants in various autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Although both of these T cell subsets are known to be regulated by specific transcription factors and cytokines, the role of microRNAs that control these two inflammatory T cell subsets and whether targeting microRNAs can have therapeutic effects are not known. In this study, we show that microRNA-155 (Mir-155) expression is elevated in CD4+ T cells during EAE, and Mir-155−/− mice had a delayed course and reduced severity of disease and less inflammation in the CNS. The attenuation of EAE in Mir-155−/− mice was associated with a decrease in Th1 and Th17 responses in the CNS and peripheral lymphoid organs. The T cell-intrinsic function of Mir-155−/− was demonstrated by the resistance of Mir-155−/− CD4+ T cell-repleted Rag-1−/− mice to EAE. Finally, we found that anti–Mir-155 treatment reduced clinical severity of EAE when given before and after the appearance of clinical symptoms. These findings demonstrate that Mir-155 confers susceptibility to EAE by affecting inflammatory T cell responses and identify Mir-155 as a new target for therapeutic intervention in multiple sclerosis.
Attribution and Symbolic Interaction: An Impasse at the Generalized Other:

Attribution theory and symbolic interactionism have developed independently of each another, although both are concerned with the processes employed by ordinary people to make sense of their everyday world. It was inevitable that developments in the one should at last collide with certain well-established tenets of the other. Recent developments in attribution theory respecting differential attributions by Ego of the causes of his own and Alter's behaviors seem to collide with Mead's notion of the Generalized Other. The authors seek to define the current impasse, which they see as further confounding the problem of intersubjectivity.
Rational Choise and Policy Implementation; Implications for Interorganizational Network Management

Research on interorganizational policy implementation continues to be characterized by diverse theoretical approaches. It is perhaps surprising to observe, however, that formal and especially rational-choice approaches have been essentially neglected in the study of policy implementation processes. This article focuses on this matter and reaches mixed conclusions. An examination of how rational-choice approaches such as game theory might contribute to the enhancement of interorganizational management shows that serious limitations constrain what may be possible theoretically through the formal rational-choice representation and analysis of many interorganizational implementation settings. Nevertheless, and somewhat paradoxically, exploring these qualifications suggests a set of practical implications for the actual conduct of management in policy network settings.
A Video Processing Approach for Distance Estimation

The paper presents a passive ranging method for estimating distances to an object using a video sequence gathered from a moving platform. The motivation is provided by potential application to object distance estimation using video data from general aviation aircraft. The method exploits scale changes of an object in the video sequence, as inferred by processing wavelet transforms of video frames, to compute distance. The underlying principles are presented along with results of bench experiments.
The Role of Online Social Network Travel Websites in Creating Social Interaction for Gen Y Travelers

This paper aims to evaluate Generation Y users' social interaction with online social networks (OSNs) by testing a theoretical model, which consists of antecedents and consequences of social interactions in an OSN travel context. An online self-administered questionnaire was sent to a systematic random sample of 12 000 college students at six US universities, and 513 respondents in total participated in the study. Study results suggest that innovativeness, perceived utility, and information sharing are effective for developing online social interaction. The paper discusses theoretical and practical implications of study results and provides suggestions for future research. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Particle Swarm Optimization based Defensive Islanding of Large Scale Power System

Defensive islanding is an efficient way to avoid catastrophic failures and wide area blackouts. Power system splitting especially for large scale power systems is a combinatorial explosion problem. Thus, it is very difficult to find an optimal solution (if one exists) for large scale power system in real time. This paper proposes to utilize the computational efficiency property of binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) to find some efficient splitting solutions in limited timeframe. The solutions are optimized based on a cost function considering the balance between real power generation and consumption, the relative importance of customers, the capacities of distribution and transmission systems, and possibility of region to be impacted, etc. The solutions not only provide the lines to cut but also the corresponding load shedding information in each island. Simulations with large scale power system demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Beta-carotene and lycopene, but not lutein, supplementation changes the plasma fatty acid profile of healthy male non-smokers.

Abstract Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are highly susceptible to free radical attack. In vitro studies of carotenoids—including β-carotene, lycopene, and lutein—have shown them to be effective quenchers of singlet oxygen, to have good radical-trapping properties, or to be effective peroxyl radical scavengers (or to have a combination of these qualities). If carotenoids act as antioxidants in vivo, then arguably, plasma PUFA should be conserved. The objective of the current study was to answer the question “Does supplementation with β-carotene, lycopene, or lutein, at dietarily achievable levels, over a time period known to significantly increase circulating carote concentrations, lead to an observable increase in fasting plasma PUFA?” The normal diets of human volunteers were supplemented with either 15 mg/day β-carotene (n = 25), lycopene (n = 23), or lutein (n = 21) for 26 days in three independent double-blind, placebo-controlled supplementation studies. Supplementation with β-carotene increased plasma linoleic acid but left the polyunsaturated:saturated (P:S) fatty acid ratio unaltered. In contrast, supplementation with lycopene reduced linoleic acid, which resulted in a large decrease in the P:S ratio. Lutein supplementation had no effect. It was concluded that neither β-carotene, lycopene, nor lutein supplementation engender antioxidant effects that lead to the widespread general conservation of plasma PUFAs. β-Carotene and lycopene supplementation appear to interact with the metabolism of linoleic acid, the “essential” fatty acid, resulting in either an increase (β-carotene) or decrease (lycopene) in its plasma concentration. Alterations in plasma 18:2 or P:S ratios could ultimately lead to changes in tissue cellular membrane composition and hence to alterations in membrane fluidity and cell-surface protein expression. (J Lab Clin Med 1999;134:592-8)
Giving Patterns By Religious And Non-Religions People

Using the Oaxaca-Blinder (1994) decomposition method to compare the giving levels of money and time of those who claim to attend religious services on a regular basis with those who do not, we find that on average religious people donate more money and time than non-religious people; although a large portion of the average difference is unexplained. We propose that these differences arise from a culture of giving in which religious people are embedded. It may be that individuals who are religious are more likely to be exposed to a culture that encourages giving and volunteering, and will therefore be more likely to give and volunteer.
Observation of Aubry-type transition in finite atom chains via friction

The highly nonlinear many-body physics of a chain of mutually interacting atoms in contact with a periodic substrate gives rise to complex static and dynamical phenomena, such as structural phase transitions and friction. In the limit of an infinite chain incommensurate with the substrate, Aubry predicted a transition with increasing substrate potential, from the chain's intrinsic arrangement free to slide on the substrate, to a pinned arrangement favouring the substrate pattern. So far, the Aubry transition has not been observed. Here, using spatially resolved position and friction measurements of cold trapped ions in an optical lattice, we observed a finite version of the Aubry transition and the onset of its hallmark fractal atomic arrangement. Notably, the observed critical lattice depth for few-ion chains agrees well with the infinite-chain prediction. Our results elucidate the connection between competing ordering patterns and superlubricity in nanocontacts-the elementary building blocks of friction.
The bandmerged Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue: probing sub-structure in the molecular gas at high Galactic latitude

The Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue (ERCSC) includes nine lists of highly reliable sources, individually extracted at each of the nine Planck frequency channels. To facilitate the study of the Planck sources, especially their spectral behaviour across the radio/infrared frequencies, we provide a ‘bandmerged’ catalogue of the ERCSC sources. This catalogue consists of 15 191 entries, with 79 sources detected in all nine frequency channels of Planck and 6818 sources detected in only one channel. We describe the bandmerging algorithm, including the various steps used to disentangle sources in confused regions. The multifrequency matching allows us to develop spectral energy distributions of sources between 30 and 857 GHz, in particular across the 100 GHz band, where the energetically important CO J = 1→0 line enters the Planck bandpass. We find ∼3σ–5σ evidence for contribution to the 100 GHz intensity from foreground CO along the line of sight to 147 sources with |b|>30∘. The median excess contribution is 4.5 ± 0.9 per cent of their measured 100 GHz flux density which cannot be explained by calibration or beam uncertainties. This translates to 0.5 ± 0.1 K km s^(−1) of CO which must be clumped on the scale of the Planck 100 GHz beam, i.e. ∼10 arcmin. If this is due to a population of low-mass (∼15 M_⊙) molecular gas clumps, the total mass in these clumps may be more than 2000 M_⊙. Further, high-spatial-resolution, ground-based observations of the high-latitude sky will help shed light on the origin of this diffuse, clumpy CO emission.
Index of Suspicion in the NurseryCase 1: Infant With Dysmorphic Face and Broad Thumbs

A male neonate is born at 39 weeks’ gestation to a 33-year-old mother. Her prenatal laboratory findings were unremarkable, and she was followed up closely for intrauterine growth restriction, probable left renal agenesis, and possible bowel abnormality noted on biophysical profile. The neonate is born via cesarean delivery for nonreassuring fetal well-being with Apgar scores of 8 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively. In the delivery room, the infant develops some respiratory distress, and with the prenatal history concern for multiple congenital anomalies, he is transferred to the level 3 neonatal intensive care unit for further care. On examination, his birth weight is 2.895 kg (15th percentile), length is 51 cm (approximately 75th percentile), and head circumference is 33.5 cm (10th percentile). The facial dysmorphology examination findings are remarkable for small palpebral fissures, flattened nasal bridge, and micrognathia (Fig 1). The rest of the physical examination findings are notable for a soft systolic …
Do we need more research on platelet function in South Asian immigrants

South Asian Immigrants (SAIs) have high rates of coronary artery disease (CAD) and its risk factors. This is alarming as i) SAIs are the 2nd fastest growing Asian immigrant population in the US; ii) CAD prevalence is 2 times higher than in other immigrant populations; iii) at any risk factor level, SAIs are at a greater risk of CAD; and iv) Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor and associated co-morbidity in SAIs. Although clinical guidelines for CAD prevention recommend risk management based on Framingham Risk Scores (FRS), available data suggest that FRS underestimate CAD risk in SAIs. This review presents an overview of platelet related research in SAIs, its importance in predicting CAD risk and methods of diagnosis. Further we provide discussion on the importance of platelet function assessment for more appropriate stratification of SAIs based on cardiovascular risk.
Transit use by children and adolescents: An overlooked source of and opportunity for physical activity?

Background:The potential for adults to accrue significant physical activity through public transit use is a topic of interest. However, there are no data on analogous questions among children. The goal of this analysis was to quantify patterns of transit use and correlates of transit-related physical activity among children aged 5 to 17 years.Methods:Data for this cross-sectional study came from the 2012 California Household Travel Survey. Probit regressions modeled the probability of transit use; negative binomial regressions modeled minutes/day in transit-related active travel.Results:Public transit use accounted for 3% of trips in California in 2012. Older Hispanic youth and those residing in areas with greater housing density and county size had a higher probability of transit use. Driver licensure, home ownership, household income, and vehicles in household were negatively correlated with public transit use. Race/ethnicity, income, and transit type were correlated with time spent in active travel to/...
Shall We Overcome? Self-Efficacy, Teacher Licensure Exams, and African American Preservice Teachers

ABSTRACTThis article reports findings from a 3-year qualitative study exploring the experiences of African American preservice teachers as they prepared for the Praxis “basic skills” teacher-licensure exam, a gatekeeper to many teacher-education programs. Using the construct of self-efficacy, results illustrate how students assess their Praxis capabilities from (a) previous mastery or failure experiences with other standardized tests and classes from college to elementary school and (b) vicarious experiences from African American students, friends, and family members. The article provides recommendations to prepare students for preprofessional examinations such as Praxis that often limit the numbers of African American teachers eligible for certification.
Bifurcations and Stabilities in Parallel-Connected Current-Programmed Boost Converters

A stroboscopic model is derived to describe the dynamics of the multi-parallel-connected current-programmed Boost converters operating in continuous mode.By means of Lyapunov's first method,the system stabilities are analyzed qualitatively,and the effects of parameters on system bifurcation behaviors are then discussed.The results obtained here are of great importance in optimizing the design of the circuit systems,which effectively enlarges the stability of the converter,improves the voltage conversion efficiency,and suppresses harmonics radiation.
Toward a simulation and assessment method for the practice of camera-guided rigid bronchoscopy

We have developed a way to measure performance during a camera-guided rigid bronchoscopy using manikin-based simulation. In an effort to measure contact pressures within the airway during a rigid bronchoscopy, we instrumented pressure sensors in a commercially available bronchoscopy task trainer. Participants were divided into two groups based on self-reported levels of expertise: novice (none to minimal experience in rigid bronchoscopy) and experts (moderate to extensive experience). There was no significant difference between experts and novices in the time taken to complete the rigid bronchoscopy. However, novices touched a greater number of areas than experts, showing that novices induce a higher number of unnecessary soft-tissue contact compared to experts. Moreover, our results show that experts exert significantly less soft tissue pressure compared to novices.
Transcription Factor KLF2 in Dendritic Cells Downregulates Th2 Programming via the HIF-1α/Jagged2/Notch Axis

ABSTRACT The adaptive immune response is tightly regulated by complex signals in dendritic cells (DCs). Although Th2 polarization is dictated by defined functional DC subsets, the molecular factors that govern the amplitude of these responses are not well understood. Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is a transcription factor that negatively regulates the activation of numerous immune cells in response to stimuli. Here, we demonstrate that suppression of KLF2 in conditioned DCs preferentially amplifies Th2 responses in two model systems, one of which is a prototypical intracellular pathogen and the other an allergen. This elevation in Th2 responses was dependent on contact-mediated Notch signaling in vitro and in vivo . A deficiency of KLF2 increased the expression of Notch ligand Jagged2 via hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), which led to Th2 amplification. Our results revealed a novel circuit in DCs for Th2 polarization that is governed by KLF2. IMPORTANCE Dendritic cells are the key element that bridges innate and adaptive immunity. A complex and not-well-understood area in dendritic cell biology is the regulatory network that predetermines or moderates their function to shape the adaptive immune response. Our study for the first time demonstrates that KLF2, a transcription factor, conditions dendritic cells to regulate Th2 responses via a Jagged2/Notch axis. Downregulation of KLF2 expression in dendritic cells may provide a beneficial effect for treatment of diseases such as obesity or parasitic infections but may be deleterious in the case of invasion by intracellular pathogens. Strategies to tune KLF2 may be useful for future therapeutic approaches to particular diseases of mankind.
Le bégaiement: Mise à jour clinique et de la recherche

Resume Objectif Fournir une mise a jour sur l’epidemiologie, l’heredite, la physiopathologie, le diagnostic et le traitement du begaiement developpemental. Qualite des donnees Une recherche d’etudes recentes ou non portant sur l’epidemiologie, l’heredite, la physiopathologie, le diagnostic et le traitement du begaiement developpemental a ete effectuee dans les bases de donnees MEDLINE et Cochrane. La plupart des recommandations s’appuient sur des etudes de petite envergure, des donnees probantes de qualite limitee ou des consensus. Message principal Le begaiement est un trouble d’elocution frequent chez les personnes de tous âges, il altere la fluidite verbale normale et l’enchainement du discours. Le begaiement a ete lie a des differences de l’anatomie, du fonctionnement et de la regulation dopaminergique du cerveau qui seraient de source genetique. Il importe de poser le diagnostic avec attention et de faire les recommandations qui conviennent chez les enfants, car de plus en plus, le consensus veut que l’intervention precoce par un traitement d’orthophonie soit cruciale chez les enfants begues. Chez les adultes, le begaiement est lie a une morbidite psychosociale substantielle, dont l’anxiete sociale et une pietre qualite de vie. Les traitements pharmacologiques ont souleve l’interet depuis quelques annees, mais les donnees cliniques sont limitees. Le traitement des enfants et des adultes repose sur l’orthophonie. Conclusion De plus en plus de recherches ont tente de lever le voile sur la physiopathologie du begaiement. La meilleure solution pour les enfants et les adultes begues demeure la recommandation a un traitement d’orthophonie.
Abstract P87: Reduction of Appropriate Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Shocks for Ventricular Arrhythmias with Statin Therapy in Ischemic Versus Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: Statins have been hypothesized to decrease ventricular tachycardia/ fibrillation (VT/VF) through a direct anti-arrhythmic effect. Clinical studies have demonstrated a reduction in VT/VF only in populations with underlying ischemic heart disease. There have been no conclusive studies in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Methods: Patients with an ejection fraction <35% who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and had more than one month of follow up were included. The ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy patients were further separated into statin treatment and control groups. Occurrence and frequency of appropriate shocks were analyzed utilizing negative binomial models to account for over dispersion of the “count” data (number of appropriate shocks) and an adjusted intensity rate (IR) was calculated. Models were separately developed for the ischemic and non-ischemic groups and the IR was compared. Results: We included 676 patients whose mean age was 67.0 (±12.3) years, follow-up 3.32 (±2.43) years and ejection fraction 25.7 (±6.8) %. There were 65% (329/506) and 42% (72/170) patients on statin therapy in the ischemic and non-ischemic groups, respectively. Occurrence of appropriate shocks was significantly reduced with statins in the ischemic cardiomyopathy patients (13.4 % [44/329] versus 20.9% [37/177]; relative risk=0.64, p=0.028), but not in the non-ischemic group. The final negative binomial models for the two groups had adequate goodness of fit. The adjusted IR of shocks was significantly lowered in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients with statin therapy [IR ratio=0.23, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.47]. No such benefit was noted in the the non-ischemic cardiomyopathy patients [IR ratio=1.27, 95% CI 0.37 to 4.40]. Conclusions: Statins reduced the occurrence and frequency of appropriate shocks for VT/VF in patients with ischemic but not in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Larger, prospective studies comparing these two groups are needed to confirm these findings.
A randomized, double-blind phase 2 study of sipuleucel-T followed by indoximod or placebo in the treatment of patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

TPS5111 Background: Vaccine development is complicated by tumor induced immune tolerance, a phenomenon in which the immune system identifies tumor antigens as “self” and allows immune evasion and s...
Prednisone (P) prophylaxis decreases incidence and severity of lenalidomide (L) induced flare reaction (flr) in patients with relapse (rel) or refractory (ref) chronic lymphocytic leukemia

18512 Background: Flare reaction (flr) is a new side effect unique to CLL pts treated with immunomodulating agents both thalidomide (T) and L. It is characterized by tender swelling of disease involved lymph nodes (LN), spleen, rash, low-grade fever and/or increase in absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC). Underlying biologic process remains unknown though it is postulated to be mediated through activation of immune effector cells and/or change in serum concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In a phase II clinical trial of L in rel/ref CLL pts we noted a high incidence of flr. Here we report treatment schema for flr and a new preventive approach employed in this study. Methods: A total of 35 pts are enrolled. No prophylaxis given to initial cohort (A). Pts were treated at onset of symptoms with (1) ibuprofen (Ib) 600 mg po q6 hours (2) oxycodone (oxy) 5–10 mg po prn q 6 hours. In subsequent cohort (B) we are investigating prophylactic use of P 20 mg PO QD starting day −1 × 5 days followed by 10 mg QD × 5...
In Response to: Utility of Antinuclear Antibody Screening by Various Methods in a Clinical Laboratory Patient Cohort.

In the inaugural issue of The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine , Deng et al. (1) reported the utility of antinuclear antibody screening by various methodologies. …
A 52 ps resolution ILO-based time-to-digital converter array for LIDAR sensors

Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems offer fast detection and high spatial resolution for imaging and mapping in a host of applications, such as robotics, automotive, agriculture, military, and spaceflight. This paper presents a high-resolution LIDAR sensor system-on-a-chip (SoC) prototype containing a 31×2 pixel channel array with the input time-of-flight (ToF) resolved by a 32×1 time-to-digital converter (TDC) array. A novel TDC design employs injection-locked oscillators (ILOs) to both minimize TDC clock distribution power and improve time accuracy. Global PVT variations among the ILOs is calibrated by an on-chip phase-looked loop (PLL) that ensures good circuit reliability over a wide operating range. Fabricated in GP 65 nm CMOS, the 14-bit TDC consumes 788 μW/channel and achieves 52 ps resolution over an 830 ns full-scale range, 37.2 ps rms single-shot precision, 11 ps rms channel uniformity, and DNL/INL of 0.56/1.56 LSB, respectively. This electrical characterization projects that with future integration with stacked-die avalanche photodiodes (APDs) the SoC has the potential for 0.78 cm ranging precision over a 124 meter maximum ranging distance.