cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validation of the Readmission Risk Score in Heart Failure Patients at a Tertiary Hospital.

Abstract Background The Readmission Risk score (RR score) is a software application developed to identify patients at increased risk for readmission. This score was developed to improve on the methodology for 30-day risk-standardized all-cause readmission rates (RSRRs) used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for its quality reporting system. However, the utility of the RR score in clinical practice has not been independently validated. Methods and Results We included patients admitted with the primary discharge diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) from September 2011 to August 2013. Data on individual components of the RR score were obtained by means of detailed chart review. We calculated the RR score of all admissions and examined its ability to predict 30-day all-cause readmission. We repeated the analysis by randomly selecting 1 admission per patient and also by including only those ≥65 years old. A total of 1,046 admissions met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 369 (35.28%) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. The performance of the RR score was poor, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57–0.64) for all age groups and 0.59 (95% CI 0.53–0.64) for patients aged ≥65 years. The AUC for the RR score was 0.58 (95% CI 0.50–0.65) in a randomly selected patient-level model. However, patients in the highest quartile of RR score were twice as likely to be readmitted as those in the lowest quartile (47.24% vs 24.69%; P Conclusion Based on our single-institution data, patients with CHF readmitted within 30 days had a higher RR score than those not readmitted. The ability of the RR score to predict future all-cause readmission was modest at best.
Nested threshold cell discarding for ATM overload control: optimization under cell loss constraints

Overload control in asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks is dealt with via priority cell discarding mechanisms governed by a set of nested queue fill thresholds. An efficient search technique is developed which is applicable to any number of discarding priorities for determining the set of thresholds that optimize the offered load when constraints on cell loss (discarding) probabilities are specified. Results are presented as a function of queue capacity for given traffic distribution and arrival statistics. The results indicate that nested threshold discarding systems can support significantly higher traffic loads than systems without priorities. The sensitivity of the performance advantage to traffic mix and cell loss constraints is also illustrated. The efficient search procedure is shown to provide substantial computational gain when there are more than two discarding priorities. >
Mapping 2007-08 Tuition And Fees In Higher Education

Using data sets from US News & World Report and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, this paper isolates 10 factors that account for 90 percent of the variation in tuition and fees across 523 institutions of higher learning in the United States. It is hoped that the results will give guidance to schools by quantifying the costs and benefits of making a given change to their tuition and fee structure.
Application Of Microelectronic Fabrication Techniques For The Development Of Biosensors

Potential applications of biosensors for process control, clinical laboratories, the food industry, and environmental and health care monitoring, present a significant scientific and commercial challenge. Microelectronic fabrication techniques, such as photolithographic reduction, thick and thin film metallization, chemical and plasma etching, are proven technology and can be applied to the development of biosensors. In combination with proper immobilization of biomolecules, membrane technology, computer and microprocessing hardware and software, etc., microelectronic fabrication provides new impetus and excitement in biosensor research and development.
Effects of Lactobacillus helveticus culture on physical properties of mozzarella cheese

Abstract Six-liter vats of Mozzarella cheese were made using either single strains of Lactobacillus helveticus or paired strains of L. helveticus and Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus. Lactobacillus helveticus strains were either strongly or weakly proteolytic as established by the o -phthaldialdehyde test. Three cheeses were made with each culture type and stored at 4°C. Stretch, melt, color, moisture, and pH values were determined at l, 7, 14, and 28 d. All cheeses lost stretch rapidly from d 1 to 7 and slowly declined between d 7 and 28. Melt increased rapidly for all cheeses from d 1 to 7 and then remained constant. Differences in stretch and melt from one culture type to another were not significant. Cheese made with proteinase-deficient strains had more stretch after holding for 14 and 28 d than cheese made with nondeficient strains. Time of storage significantly affected both stretch and melt over 28 d. Cheeses made from all four culture types decreased in cook color over 28 d of storage. There were no significant strain differences in cook color, but the culture by time interaction was significant. Cheese made with pairs or single strains of L. helveticus had the same melt, more strech, and less cook color than cheese made with paired strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and S. salivarius ssp. thermophilus studied previously.
Coherent beam-beam tune shift of unsymmetrical beam-beam interactions with large beam-beam parameter

Coherent beam-beam tune shift of unsymmetrical beam-beam interactions was studied experimentally and numerically in HERA, where the lepton beam has such a large beam-beam parameter (up to ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{y}=0.272$) that the single-particle motion is locally unstable at the origin (closed orbit). Unlike the symmetrical case of beam-beam interactions, the ratio of the coherent beam-beam tune shift and the beam-beam parameter in this unsymmetrical case of beam-beam interactions was found to decrease monotonically with an increase of the beam-beam parameter. The results of self-consistent beam-beam simulation, the linearized Vlasov equation, and the rigid-beam model were compared with the experimental measurement. It was found that the coherent beam-beam tune shifts measured in the experiment and calculated in the simulation agree remarkably well but they are much smaller than those calculated by the linearized Vlasov equation with the single-mode approximation or the rigid-beam model. The study indicated that the single-mode approximation in the linearization of the Vlasov equation is not valid in the case of unsymmetrical beam-beam interactions. The rigid-beam model is valid only with a small beam-beam parameter in the case of unsymmetrical beam-beam interactions.
Electrochemical, electric and chemical tensions of cells and electrodes☆

Abstract The language and method of the CITCE reports on “Electrochemical Nomenclature and Definitions” are used in an analysis of galvanic cells which starts at the chemically identical terminals and “digs” gradually towards the single electrodes in a manner submitted as suitable for a textbook presentation. The various tensions are discussed and examined in their connexions with the so-called “European” and “American” conventions.
Coevolution of metal availability and nitrogen assimilation in cyanobacteria and algae

Marine primary producers adapted over eons to the changing chemistry of the oceans. Because a number of metalloenzymes are necessary for N assimilation, changes in the availability of transition metals posed a particular challenge to the supply of this critical nutrient that regulates marine biomass and productivity. Integrating recently developed geochemical, biochemical, and genetic evidence, we infer that the use of metals in N assimilation - particularly Fe and Mo - can be understood in terms of the history of metal availability through time. Anoxic, Fe-rich Archean oceans were conducive to the evolution of Fe-using enzymes that assimilate abiogenic NH(4)(+) and NO(2)(-). The N demands of an expanding biosphere were satisfied by the evolution of biological N(2) fixation, possibly utilizing only Fe. Trace O(2) in late Archean environments, and the eventual 'Great Oxidation Event' c. 2.3 Ga, mobilized metals such as Mo, enabling the evolution of Mo (or V)-based N(2) fixation and the Mo-dependent enzymes for NO(3)(-) assimilation and denitrification by prokaryotes. However, the subsequent onset of deep-sea euxinia, an increasingly-accepted idea, may have kept ocean Mo inventories low and depressed Fe, limiting the rate of N(2) fixation and the supply of fixed N. Eukaryotic ecosystems may have been particularly disadvantaged by N scarcity and the high Mo requirement of eukaryotic NO(3)(-) assimilation. Thorough ocean oxygenation in the Neoproterozoic led to Mo-rich oceans, possibly contributing to the proliferation of eukaryotes and thus the Cambrian explosion of metazoan life. These ideas can be tested by more intensive study of the metal requirements in N assimilation and the biological strategies for metal uptake, regulation, and storage.
Incorporating Security Requirements Engineering into the Rational Unified Process

This paper provides a roadmap for developing security-critical projects using rational unified process as a framework for development. The security quality requirements engineering (SQUARE) methodology provides a way to address security issues early in the development lifecycle. SQUARE can be more effective when it fits into an organization's existing development process. Hence this paper describes a way to fit the SQUARE methodology into the rational unified process.
Cash is surprisingly valuable as a strategic asset

Academics, politicians, and journalists are often highly critical of U.S. firms for holding too much cash. Cash holdings are stockpiled free-cash flow and incur substantial opportunity costs from the perspectives of economics. However, behavioral theory highlights the benefits of cash holdings as fungible slack resources facilitating adaptive advantages. We use the countervailing forces embodied in these two theories to hypothesize and test a quadratic functional relationship of returns to cash measured by Tobin's q. We also build and test a related novel hypothesis of scale-dependent returns to cash based on the competitive strategy concept of strategic deterrence. Tests for both of these hypotheses are positive and show that returns to cash continue to increase far beyond transactional needs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Realized volatility forecasting: empirical evidence from stock market indices and exchange rates

This study evaluates the performance of four models for predicting daily realized volatility of S&P 500 index (SPX), Dow Jones Industry Average (DJIA), Canadian dollar (CAD/USD) and British Pound (USD/GBP) exchange rates. The competing models include a Simple Regression Model (SRM), Stochastic Volatility model with Lagged inter-temporal dependence (SVL), Stochastic Volatility model with Contemporaneous dependence (SVC), and a Heterogeneous Autoregressive (HAR) model. The main purpose is to examine whether allowing asymmetric relationships between return and volatility and leptokurtosis, or modelling the long-memory behaviour of volatility, would result in an improvement in forecast accuracy. Different approaches are considered when constructing daily realized volatility. Employing realized volatility in the in-sample estimation, the procedure is straightforward. The famous Diebold and Mariano's (1995) robust tests are applied to investigate whether the competing models provide equally accurate forecasts. ...
Increased Metallic Character of Electrodeposited Mn Coatings Using Metal Ion Additives

Small amounts of metal ions (Sn 2 + or Cu 2 + ) added to an electrolyte for Mn electrodeposition increase the metallic character of amorphous Mn coatings grown at high current densities. The codeposited oxygen decreases from 54 atom % to less than 7 atom %, while the codeposited Sn or Cu are below 1 and 3 atom %, respectively. The resulting amorphous coatings exhibit very different mechanical properties and better corrosion resistance than those of amorphous manganese coatings electrodeposited without metal ion additives.
Divergent fields, charge, and capacitance in FDTD simulations

Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) grids are often described as being divergence-free in a source-free region of space. However, in the presence of a source, the continuity equation states that charges may be deposited in the grid, while Gauss's law dictates that the fields must diverge from any deposited charge. The FDTD method will accurately predict the (diverging) fields associated with charges deposited by a source embedded in the grid. However, the behavior of the charge differs from that of charge in the physical world, unless the FDTD implementation is explicitly modified to include charge dynamics. Indeed, the way in which charge behaves in an FDTD grid naturally leads to the definition of grid capacitance. This grid capacitance, though small, is an intrinsic property of the grid and is independent of the way in which energy is introduced. To account for this grid capacitance, one should use a slightly modified form of the lumped-element capacitor model currently used.
Robust and flexible FPGA-based digital PUF

We have developed the first FPGA-based digital physical unclonable function (PUF) by leveraging the reconfigurability of an FPGA and introducing a new way of using the standard analog delay PUF. The key observation is that for any analog delay PUF, there is a subset of challenge inputs for which the PUF output is stable regardless of operation and environmental conditions. We use only such stable inputs to initialize the look-up tables (LUTs) that are configured in such a way that the digital PUF is formed. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the new security primitive using extensive simulation and experimental results. For example, we show that the new PUF is resistant against a wide spectrum of security attacks and its output stream passes all the NIST randomness tests.
Immunomodulation in Transplantation with Photopheresis

: Photopheresis is a technique in which peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in the presence of a photoacti-vatable compound, are exposed extracorporeally to ultraviolet A light and reinfused, inducing a host autoregula-tory immune response. Experimental work and ongoing clinical studies are helping to define the role of this novel, safe, and non-toxic immunomodulating technology in the field of transplantation.
Estimating the Value of Home Work Time: The Impact of Income Taxes

According to research reported earlier (Zick and Bryant, 1983), estimates of the value of home work time based on the cost of purchasing substitutes in the market are systematically lower than values implied by reservation wages. We argue that much of this differential reflects differences in the tax status of market purchases as compared with the underlying variable captured in the concept of a reservation price. Specifically, market prices are specified on an after-tax basis; reservation prices are most meaningfully viewed on a pre-tax basis. Evidence is presented that is consistent with this view.
The role of macrophages and dendritic cells in the clearance of apoptotic cells in advanced atherosclerosis.

Accumulating evidence supports the notion that defective phagocytic clearance of dying cells, or defective “efferocytosis,” is causally linked to the progression of advanced atherosclerosis. In advanced atherosclerotic lesions, defective efferocytosis leads to post-apoptotic necrosis, expansion of plaque necrotic cores, and susceptibility to atherothrombosis. Both macrophages and DC-like efferocytes are juxtaposed near expanding necrotic cores, where they engage apoptotic cells. In this Viewpoint, we discuss how reduced efferocytosis by macrophages and CD11cHI DC-like cells may combine to reduce overall plaque stability and therefore promote susceptibility to acute atherothrombosis.
Phylogenetic relationships in the gymnopoid and marasmioid fungi (Basidiomycetes, euagarics clade)

Three distinct lineages of gymnopoid and marasmioid fungi are recognized in parsimony and Bayesian analyses of nLSU rDNA sequences. One lin- eage contains the genera Lentinula, Rhodocollybia, Te- trapyrgos, a resurrected and redefined Mycetinis, and two unresolved clades designated /marasmiellus and /gymnopus. /marasmiellus includes the type species of Marasmiellus and is dominated by members of Gymnopus sect. Vestipedes. /gymnopus includes the type species of Gymnopus, Micromphale and Setulipes, and members of Gymnopus sect. Levipedes. A second lineage includes the genera Marasmius s.s. and Cri- nipellis and represents a redefined /marasmiaceae. A third lineage includes the genera Cylindrobasidium, Flammulina, Gloiocephala, Physalacria, Strobilurus, Xe- rula and Marasmius sect. Epiphylli and represents /physalacriaceae. One new combination in Rhodocol- lybia and four new combinations in Mycetinis are pro- posed. A discussion of the taxonomic implications re- sulting from the phylogenetic reconstruction is pre- sented.
Pancreatoblastoma: A Rare Tumor Still Evolving in Clinical Presentation and Histology

Context Pancreatoblastoma is a rare neoplasm in adults with a total of only 24 cases that have been reported in the literature. Adult pancreatoblastomas are large tumors and majority are larger than 8 cm at the time of diagnosis. Metastasis is seen in 26% of adults and usually involves the liver and then the lymph nodes. Metastasis is usually observed in cases where the primary tumor measures more than 10 cm. Pancreatoblastoma is named after its resemblance to fetal pancreatic tissue in the seventh week of life. The presence of squamoid corpuscles with a morular appearance is the most characteristic feature of the tumor. Pancreatoblastomas can have mixed features of both endocrine and exocrine cells; however, acinar differentiation is the most prevalent feature. Case report We present a case of a 27-year-old female with a 3.6 cm pancreatoblastoma with metastasis to the liver and lungs as well as to the breast. This case has several distinguishing features from previously reported cases. Such widespread metastasis is unusual given the small size of the primary tumor. Also, metastasis to the breast from a pancreatoblastoma has been previously undescribed in literature. The histological features in our case of pancreatoblastoma were atypical, characterized by the absence of acinar component, supported by the lack of staining for both trypsin and lipase in the tumor, which has not been described in literature. Additionally, the nests of squamous cells in this tumor had a pilomatricoma like morphology as opposed to the morular appearance of the squamoid corpuscles seen in classical cases. Conclusion Pancreatoblastoma can have an atypical clinical picture and a small primary with extensive metastasis to unusual sites may present a diagnostic challenge. Given its rarity, a high index of suspicion is required to correctly diagnose this condition. The histology reported on this case is unique and has not been reported in the literature.
The Menopausal Transition and Women’s Health

The purposes of this chapter are to: Review the recent history of research on the menopausal transition and early postmenopause Describe approaches to staging the menopausal transition and their application in recent research Summarize current understanding of endocrine changes occurring during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause Characterize symptoms women experience (hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood changes, cognitive changes, pain, sexual desire changes) and their correlates during the menopausal transition and postmenopause Chart the relationship of the menopausal transition to healthy aging
Identifying Different Types of Catalysts for CO2 Reduction by Ethane through Dry Reforming and Oxidative Dehydrogenation

The recent shale gas boom combined with the requirement to reduce atmospheric CO2 have created an opportunity for using both raw materials (shale gas and CO2) in a single process. Shale gas is primarily made up of methane, but ethane comprises about 10 % and reserves are underutilized. Two routes have been investigated by combining ethane decomposition with CO2 reduction to produce products of higher value. The first reaction is ethane dry reforming which produces synthesis gas (CO+H2). The second route is oxidative dehydrogenation which produces ethylene using CO2 as a soft oxidant. The results of this study indicate that the Pt/CeO2 catalyst shows promise for the production of synthesis gas, while Mo2C-based materials preserve the CC bond of ethane to produce ethylene. These findings are supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) characterization of the catalysts under in situ reaction conditions.
Estrogen Metabolite 16α-Hydroxyestrone Exacerbates Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type II–Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Through MicroRNA-29–Mediated Modulation of Cellular Metabolism

Background— Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a proliferative disease of the pulmonary vasculature that preferentially affects women. Estrogens such as the metabolite 16α-hydroxyestrone (16αOHE) may contribute to PAH pathogenesis, and alterations in cellular energy metabolism associate with PAH. We hypothesized that 16αOHE promotes heritable PAH (HPAH) via microRNA-29 (miR-29) family upregulation and that antagonism of miR-29 would attenuate pulmonary hypertension in transgenic mouse models of Bmpr2 mutation. Methods and Results— MicroRNA array profiling of human lung tissue found elevation of microRNAs associated with energy metabolism, including the miR-29 family, among HPAH patients. miR-29 expression was 2-fold higher in Bmpr2 mutant mice lungs at baseline compared with controls and 4 to 8-fold higher in Bmpr2 mice exposed to 16αOHE 1.25 μg/h for 4 weeks. Blot analyses of Bmpr2 mouse lung protein showed significant reductions in peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ and CD36 in those mice exposed to 16αOHE and protein derived from HPAH lungs compared with controls. Bmpr2 mice treated with anti–miR-29 (20-mg/kg injections for 6 weeks) had improvements in hemodynamic profile, histology, and markers of dysregulated energy metabolism compared with controls. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells derived from Bmpr2 murine lungs demonstrated mitochondrial abnormalities, which improved with anti–miR-29 transfection in vitro; endothelial-like cells derived from HPAH patient induced pluripotent stem cell lines were similar and improved with anti–miR-29 treatment. Conclusions— 16αOHE promotes the development of HPAH via upregulation of miR-29, which alters molecular and functional indexes of energy metabolism. Antagonism of miR-29 improves in vivo and in vitro features of HPAH and reveals a possible novel therapeutic target.
A pilot randomized controlled trial testing the effects of a routine-based intervention on outcomes in a behavioural weight loss programme.

Summary Background Structured routines aimed at eating and sleep have been successfully employed in weight loss interventions for children. Although such routines are discussed in lifestyle modification programmes for adults, they are not a primary focus. Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine if establishing healthy eating and sleep routines may improve outcomes in a behavioural weight loss (BWL) intervention. Methods Twenty-five overweight/obese participants (age = 52.4 ± 9.8; body mass index = 33.5 ± 4.1) were randomly assigned to either a 4-week routine-based intervention (ROU) targeting regular eating and sleep or an education control before beginning an 18-week BWL intervention. Results Routine-based intervention participants reported adhering to eating routines, with increased ‘on-schedule’ eating (p = 0.007) and decreased ‘off-schedule’ eating (p = 0.002) but showed no change in ‘on-schedule’ sleep (p = 0.74). However, contrary to our hypothesis, ROU participants lost less weight than controls after 6 weeks of BWL (2.3 ± 2.5 vs. 4.6 ± 2.6 kg, p = 0.04) and achieved only modest weight loss over the full 18 weeks (ROU: 3.2 ± 4.6 vs. education control: 5.8 ± 5.7 kg, p = 0.23). Conclusions Focusing initially on establishing healthy sleep and eating routines led to poorer, rather than better, subsequent weight loss outcomes. Further studies using a longer initial intervention period or focusing on only sleep or eating behaviour are needed to determine whether establishing routines for eating and sleep behaviours can enhance weight loss in adults.
Managing Iterations in the Modular Real Estate Development Process

Real estate development (RED) is a dynamic business with long-duration projects involving multiple parties with both common and sometimes conflicting goals. With large capital budgets in RED projects, time management is a primary factor determining success or failure. In recent years, Modular Construction Methods (MCM) have been successfully used to accelerate the construction of both residential and commercial RED projects. However, MCM requires higher levels of involvement from many parties earlier in the design and engineering stages of the RED process. This paper explores the interdependent relationships among the tasks involved in MCM RED projects. Using Design Structure Matrix (DSM) analysis, we have identified the planned and unplanned iterations in the development process which reflect rework of tasks that inherently require it and feedback loops that occur because of unanticipated problems. In our application of DSM to a typical large residential RED project, we have created both a normative process model and an improved one employing solutions to avoid the unplanned iterations in the original process which would result in costly setbacks. In doing so, we have identified best practices from MCM processes that can help enhance traditional RED processes.
Tourism in the Anthropocene Park? New analytic possibilities

As one of the largest industries in the world, tourism is subject to constant reinvention. Anthropological engagements with tourism reflect this multiplicity through an attention to the dynamics of culture and power within the tourism industry at both global and local levels. As tourism scholars we must be on the lookout for trends in travel and destination dynamics, and we must craft conceptual tools to analyse emergent trends. In this article, I outline a broad theme in travel design and branding - sustainable tourism - and I relate this theme to an emergent framing for global change - the Anthropocene. This concept has moved from the realm of the natural sciences, beginning to gain traction within the humanities and social sciences. In light of the spread of this idea, I utilise concepts from critical studies of nature and design to point towards possible new research areas for scholars of tourism.
Abstract 74: Naturally Occurring Human α1a-Adrenergic Receptor Genetic Variant Induces Transformation of Cardiomyoblasts to Fibroblast-Like Phenotype

Hypertensive heart disease is a progressive condition leading to myocardial remodeling, alterations in cardiomyocytes and fibrosis. Three α1 adrenergic receptor (AR) subtypes are expressed in human...
Robotic Liver Resection: A Case-Matched Comparison

In recent years, increasingly sophisticated tools have allowed for more complex robotic surgery. Robotic hepatectomy, however, is still in its infancy. Our goals were to examine the adoption of robotic hepatectomy and to compare outcomes between open and robotic liver resections. The robotic hepatectomy experience of 64 patients was compared to a modern case-matched series of 64 open hepatectomy patients at the same center. Matching was according to benign/malignant diagnosis and number of segments resected. Patient data were obtained retrospectively. The main outcomes and measures were operative time, estimated blood loss, conversion rate (robotic to open), Pringle maneuver use, single non-anatomic wedge resection rate, resection margin size, complication rates (infectious, hepatic, pulmonary, cardiac), hospital stay length, ICU stay length, readmission rate, and 90-day mortality rate. Sixty-four robotic hepatectomies were performed in 2010–2014. Forty-one percent were segmental and 34 % were wedge resections. There was a 6 % conversion rate, a 3 % 90-day mortality rate, and an 11 % morbidity rate. Compared to 64 matched patients who underwent open hepatectomy (2004–2012), there was a shorter median OR time (p = 0.02), lower median estimated blood loss (p < 0.001), and shorter median hospital stay (p < 0.001). Eleven of the robotic cases were isolated resections of tumors in segments 2, 7, and 8. Robotic hepatectomy is safe and effective. Increasing experience in more centers will allow definition of which hepatectomies can be performed robotically, and will enable optimization of outcomes and prospective examination of the economic cost of each approach.
Regularized thin-fiber model for nanofiber formation by centrifugal spinning.

Inspired by recently developed nanofiber-forming technology, this work introduces a model to determine the steady fiber trajectory, velocity, and diameter for a viscous thin fiber emerging from a nozzle through a small spinning orifice.
Stable Amyloid Oligomers can Seed Fibril Growth Near Physiological Conditions

Spontaneous formation and deposition of protein fibrils with cross beta-sheet structure are associated with an increasing number of human disorders including Alzheimer's disease, senile systemic or dialysis-related amyloidosis. The morphological and structural similarities of amyloid deposits and their various intermediates suggest that amyloid diseases share basic aspects of their etiology. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying these similarities has been challenging since biophysical studies of fibril formation in vitro require partial denaturation of native proteins. These conditions are far from the physiological environment relevant to fibril growth in vitro. Here we show that metastable amyloid oligomers and protofibrils of lysozyme, transiently formed under denaturing conditions, can become stabilized at physiological conditions. In addition, they are capable of inducing the conversion of natively folded, monomeric lysozyme into aggregated β-sheet rich fibrils in vitro. There was no discernible threshold concentration of lysozyme monomers below which seeding didn't induce growth.Our data suggest that only the nucleation of amyloid oligomers is a low-probability event requiring partially denaturing conditions. Once formed, these seeds can become stabilized under near physiological conditions and induce seed elongation and fragmentation. The stabilization of amyloidogenic intermediates away from nucleation conditions, their ability to remain soluble or to seed subsequent fibril growth of native monomers appear to be protein-specific. The oligomer/protofibril-induced growth of native lysozyme observed in our experiments bears intriguing similarities with the ability of prion proteins to drive the autocatalytic conversion of their native counterpart into amyloid fibrils.
Medical Foundations of Various Approaches to Medical-Ethical Decision-Making

Philosophers have long recognized that the unique values of the individual physician effect medical-ethical decision-making. While not taking issue with this basic assumption, this article critically examines one discussion of how different philosophies (existential, utilitarian, and value realist) can influence a neurosurgeon's decision to operate upon a person having a malignant brain tumor. It also delineates and discusses a fund of "medical wisdom" commonly available to any neurosurgeon and easily obtainable by both researcher and patient. The article suggests that those in the humanities interested in studying the ethical decision-making process in a medical subspecialty become familiar with this fund of knowledge. It can provide a base for evaluating when and how individual medical decisions vary. In this specific instance, the medical knowledge base was used to direct attention to when and how ethical issues are identified and resolved within the staff clinical neurosurgical setting. An informal survey among resident and staff neurosurgeons supported the conclusions that philosophical analyses of medical-ethical decision-making are appreciated when case examples are carefully and accurately documented, when medical terminology is used correctly and when recognition of the practical limits placed on medical decision-making is given.
Issues on Health Management Architecture of Integrated Avionics System

Health management architecture is of great importance for safety, survivability and maintainability of the whole aircraft system.The architecture features and system failure factors of integrated avionics system are analyzed, and the requirements to health management are specified.Based on the architecture characteristics and the requirements to health management, a hierarchical health management architecture is presented for integrated avionic system.The process design of the three-level health management is completed, including device level, integration areas level and system level.Furthermore, message interfaces and run-time blue print are designed based on ARINC653 and ASAAC standards.Some problems need to be studied and solved in the future are presented.
Multi-channel microring weight bank control for reconfigurable analog photonic networks

We demonstrate 4-channel weighted addition in a silicon microring filter bank with 3.8 bit accuracy. Scalable calibration techniques are developed for thermal cross-talk and cross-gain saturation. Practical weight control is essential for large-scale photonic processing based on microrings.
Intracellular lymphocytes in leukaemia.

IT has recently been reported that lymphocytes may exist inside large cells cultured from leukaemic human bone marrow during the phase of remission1.
Influence of sucrose and xylitol on an early Streptococcus mutans biofilm in a dental simulator

Abstract Objectives In vitro methods to study dental biofilms are useful in finding ways to support a healthy microbial balance in the oral cavity. The effects of sucrose, xylitol, and their combination on three strains of Streptococcus mutans and one strain of Streptococcus sobrinus were studied using a dental simulator. Methods A simulator was used to mimic the oral cavity environment. It provided a continuous-flow system using artificial saliva (AS), constant temperature, mixing, and hydroxyapatite (HA) surface in which the influence of xylitol was studied. The quantities of planktonic and adhered bacteria were measured by real-time qPCR. Results Compared against the untreated AS, adding 1% sucrose increased the bacterial colonization of HA (p S. mutans isolate 117. The combination of xylitol and sucrose decreased the bacterial quantities within the AS and the colonization on the HA by clinical S. mutans isolate 2366 was reduced (p Conclusions The continuous-culture biofilm model showed that within a young biofilm, sucrose significantly promotes whereas xylitol reduces bacterial colonization and proliferation. The results indicate that xylitol affects the ability of certain S. mutans strains to adhere to the HA. Clinical studies have also shown that xylitol consumption decreases caries incidence and reduces the amount of plaque. This study contributes to the understanding of the mechanism behind these clinical observations.
Source Control Debugging

Some developers use source control systems like Visual SourceSafe only on very large teams. After all, the main feature of source control is to prevent multiple developers from overwriting each other’s code changes, and small teams usually don’t have nearly as big a problem with that as larger teams do. But that belief isn’t entirely accurate. There are also other benefits of using a source control system, including benefits that apply to teams even as small as a single developer. In fact, a good source control system is one of the most important tools developers have.
Direct sample analysis-mass spectrometry vs separation mass spectrometry techniques for the analysis of writing inks

Abstract Direct sample analysis (DSA) coupled with high resolution, high mass accuracy time of flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) is an emerging technique for the in situ analysis of various substances. DSA is similar to desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and direct analysis in real time (DART), however, it uses an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source for ionization of organic compounds. In this study, DSA was applied to the identification of 80 black and blue writing inks from both ballpoint and non-ballpoint pens. Approximately 3 mm sections of each writing was placed on the DSA sample holder and analyzed in an automated fashion. The holder can analyze 13 samples in a serial manner. Utilizing a high mass accuracy TOF-MS and using internal calibration, mass accuracy of
Computation of induced fields in the human torso at low frequencies due to contact electrodes using the ADI-FDTD method

The alternating-direction implicit (ADI) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method allows larger time steps than the traditional explicit method by bypassing the Courant limit, thus leading to shorter simulation times. In this paper, the use of the ADI-FDTD method in D-H formulation, to compute low-frequency induced fields due to contact electrodes in the human body is reported. Since the frequency is low (120 KHz), quasi-static assumptions have been used to reduce the number of time steps required. An averaging scheme based on Discrete-Fourier Transforms (DFT) have been used to obtain the ratio of the induced field magnitudes to the source, which can then be scaled for any applied signal magnitude.
Extracellular matrix components and culture regimen selectively regulate cartilage formation by self-assembling human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and in vivo

Cartilage formation from self-assembling mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro recapitulate important cellular events during mesenchymal condensation that precedes native cartilage development. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of cartilaginous extracellular matrix (ECM) components and culture regimen on cartilage formation by self-assembling human MSCs in vitro and in vivo. Human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hMSCs) were seeded and compacted in 6.5-mm-diameter transwell inserts with coated (type I, type II collagen) or uncoated (vehicle) membranes, at different densities (0.5 × 106, 1.0 × 106, 1.5 × 106 per insert). Pellets were formed by aggregating hMSCs (0.25 × 106) in round-bottomed wells. All tissues were cultured for up to 6 weeks for in vitro analyses. Discs (cultured for 6, 8 or 10 weeks) and pellets (cultured for 10 weeks) were implanted subcutaneously in immunocompromised mice to evaluate the cartilage stability in vivo. Type I and type II collagen coatings enabled cartilage disc formation from self-assembling hMSCs. Without ECM coating, hMSCs formed dome-shaped tissues resembling the pellets. Type I collagen, expressed in the prechondrogenic mesenchyme, improved early chondrogenesis versus type II collagen. High seeding density improved cartilage tissue properties but resulted in a lower yield of disc formation. Discs and pellets exhibited compositional and organizational differences in vitro and in vivo. Prolonged chondrogenic induction of the discs in vitro expedited endochondral ossification in vivo. The outcomes of cartilage tissues formed from self-assembling MSCs in vitro and in vivo can be modulated by the control of culture parameters. These insights could motivate new directions for engineering cartilage and bone via a cartilage template from self-assembling MSCs.
Virtual Schools: Redefining “A Place Called School”

This chapter discusses the relatively recent phenomenon of offering K-12 courses at a distance using technologies such as videoconferencing and the Internet. After providing some background on how virtual schools (VS) came about and their current characteristics and configurations, this chapter reviews issues about virtual schools frequently discussed in the education literature. Also included is a review of research on the wide range of quality and services in virtual schools and what it takes to make an effective virtual school program. Finally, this chapter gives recommendations on research and policy issues that should be addressed to shape the future of virtual schools.
National Estimates of Intimate Partner Violence and Service Receipt among Latina Women with Child Welfare Contact

A rise in the Latino population resulting from increased immigration to the United States over the past several decades has invoked increasing concern about factors contributing to the victimization of Latinas. The present study used the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being to explore experiences of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and service receipt for IPV issues among Latina caregivers reported to the child welfare system for alleged child abuse or neglect. Results showed no significant differences in severity and overall rates of physical violence between immigrants and nonimmigrants, with the exception of the frequency of violence; U.S.-born women reported more incidents than immigrants. Despite experiencing a high overall rate of IPV during the previous year (33.0%), during the same period only 16.8% of Latinas reported being referred to services and 9.4% of mothers reported receiving services to address IPV issues. Despite evidence of disparities in use of other types of services by immigrant parents involved with the child welfare system, no differences in IPV service use were noted between immigrant and nonimmigrant mothers. Adjusting for covariates, neither nativity nor legal status was predictive of recent experiences of physical violence or service use. Potential reasons for these findings and implications are discussed.
Innovative Approaches to Connecting the Unconnected

Governments, civil society organizations, and technology companies are experimenting with novel approaches to connect the unconnected. The problem is that no one is undertaking the systematic assessment of these efforts needed to turn these efforts into the information that decisionmakers need to determine how to proceed. The proposed panel would take a step in that direction by bringing together experts conducting empirical research able to provide insights into the success of these efforts. Potential topics would include new technologies for Internet deployment, the role of Internet exchange points and local content, computer literacy programs, and an analysis of user surveys of adoption barriers. This information would provide input into initiatives started by the Internet Governance Forum, the World Economic Forum, the U.S. State Department, as well as key development banks around the world.
Effect of High Pressures in Combination with Temperature on the Inactivation of Spores of Nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum Types B and F

The impact of high pressure processing on the inactivation of spores of nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum is important in extended shelf life chilled low-acid foods. The three most resistant C. botulinum strains (Ham-B, Kap 9-B, and 610-F) were selected for comparison of their thermal and pressure-assisted thermal resistance after screening 17 nonproteolytic C. botulinum strains (8 type B, 7 type E, and 2 type F). Spores of strains Ham-B, Kap 9-B, and 610-F were prepared using a biphasic media method, diluted in N-(2-acetamido)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (ACES) buffer (0.05 M, pH 7.00) to 105 to 106 CFU/mL, placed into a modified sterile transfer pipette, heat sealed, and subjected to a combination of high pressures (600 to 750 MPa) and high temperatures (80 to 91°C) using laboratory and pilot-scale pressure test systems. Diluted spores from the same crops were placed in nuclear magnetic resonance tubes, which were heat sealed, and subjected to 80 to 91°C in a Fluke 7321 high precision bath with Duratheram S oil as the heat transfer fluid. After incubation for 3 months, survivors in both studies were determined by the five-tube most-probable-number method using Trypticase-peptone-glucose-yeast extract broth. The highest (>5.0) log reductions in spore counts for Ham-B, Kap 9-B, and 610-F occurred at the highest temperature and pressure combination tested (91°C and 750 MPa). Thermal D-values of Ham-B, Kap 9-B, and 610-F decreased as the process temperature increased from 80 to 87°C, decreasing to <1.0 min at 87°C for these strains. Pressure-assisted thermal D-values of Ham-B, Kap 9-B, and 610-F decreased as the process temperature increased from 80 to 91°C with any pressure combination and decreased to <1.0 min as the pressure increased from 600 to 750 MPa at 91°C. Based on the pressure-assisted thermal D-values, pressure exerted a more protective effect on spores of Ham-B, Kap 9-B, and 610-F when processed at 83 to 91°C combined with pressures of 600 to 700 MPa when compared with thermal treatment only. No protective effect was observed when the spores of Ham-B, Kap9-B, and 610-F were treated at lower temperatures (80 to 83°C) in combination with 750 MPa. However, at higher temperatures (87 to 91°C) in combination with 750 MPa, a protective effect was seen for Ham-B, Kap9-B, and 610-F spores based on the calculated pressure-assisted thermal D-values.
Shuihu (Water Margin) and Honglou (Dream of the Red Chamber) Adaptations on the Modern Stage

Two performances at the National Theater in Taipei 台北國家戲劇院 in December 2014 adapted masterworks of classical Chinese novels: Dangkou zhi 蕩寇誌 (108 Heroes: Tales from Water Margin) directed by Wu Hsi...
The Effectiveness of Brand- and Customer-Centric Content Strategies at Generating Shares, ‘Likes’, and Comments

Brands are constantly competing for user attention on Facebook and are trying to encourage fans to share, click ‘like’, and comment their posts. Yet, it remains unclear what content strategies are ...
Collaborating genomic, transcriptomic and microbiomic alterations lead to canine extreme intestinal polyposis

Extreme intestinal polyposis in pet dogs has not yet been reported in literature. We identified a dog patient who developed numerous intestinal polyps, with the severity resembling human classic familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), except the jejunum-ileum junction being the most polyp-dense. We investigated this dog, in comparison with 22 other dogs with spontaneous intestinal tumors but no severe polyposis, and with numerous published human cancers. We found, not APC mutation, but three other alteration pathways as likely reasons of this canine extreme polyposis. First, somatic truncation mutation W411X of FBXW7, a component of an E3 ubiquitin ligase, over-activates MYC and cell cycle-promoting network, accelerating crypt cell proliferation. Second, genes of protein trafficking and localization are downregulated, likely associated with germline mutation G406D of STAMBPL1, a K63-deubiquitinase, and MYC network activation. This inhibits epithelial apical-basolateral polarity establishment, preventing crypt cell differentiation. Third, Bacteroides uniformis, a commensal gut anaerobe, thrives and expresses abundantly thioredoxin and nitroreductase. These bacterial products could reduce oxidative stress linked to host germline mutation R51X of CYB5RL, a cytochrome b5 reductase homologue, decreasing cell death. Our work emphasizes the close collaboration of alterations across the genome, transcriptome and microbiome in promoting tumorigenesis.