cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The secular trend for grip strength in Canada and the United States

Worldwide, body weight has risen dramatically in recent decades, raising the question of whether there were concomitant changes in physical fitness. Past research with children and adolescents has shown that body weight and grip strength are positively correlated. Therefore, it was predicted that grip strength had increased on average in children and adolescents over the past four or five decades. To test this prediction, relevant data were extracted from 18 studies for males (N = 5676 in total) and 17 studies for females (N = 5489 in total). The studies were conducted in Canada and the United States from about 1966 on, with participants' ages ranging from 6 through 19 years. Weighted least squares regression analyses showed that grip strength was significantly predicted by age but not by country. Male grip strength decreased significantly over the period covered, but the change was very small, accounting for far less than 1% of the variance in male grip strength. Discussion focuses on potential explanations for why grip strength did not change over time as predicted.
The Expanding Role of Rapid Thermal Processing in CMOS Manufacturing

The role of single wafer Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) in semiconductor manufacturing has been steadily expanding over the last 2 decades. There are several reasons for the successful adaptation of this technology. These include more critical requirements by advanced semiconductor technologies with respect to thermal exposure and control, as well as tremendous improvements by the RTP equipment community in resolving some fundamental limitations of the tooling, historically restricting wide spread implementation. From rather humble beginnings, RTP technology has now established itself as indispensable to the production of advanced semiconductor products. We review the history and implementation of RTP technology in semiconductor processing technology at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) from the late 1980s to recent time.
“Family Is Here”: Learning in Community-Based After-School Programs

This article examines the culture of community-based after-school programs that serve low-income Hmong immigrant youth. By drawing on knowledge of Hmong culture, history, and family structure, and knowledge of mainstream American culture, the staff at the community centers are able to connect to children and adolescents in ways that schools do not. Despite the success that community centers have in connecting to Hmong immigrant youth, they are less successful in providing youth with literacy-rich activities that promote school success. The authors argue that through collaboration, schools and community based after-school programs may be able to bridge the academic and cultural barriers that marginalize low-income immigrant youth.
WNT3A promotes myogenesis of human embryonic stem cells and enhances in vivo engraftment

The ability of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to differentiate into skeletal muscle cells is an important criterion in using them as a cell source to ameliorate skeletal muscle impairments. However, differentiation of hESCs into skeletal muscle cells still remains a challenge, often requiring introduction of transgenes. Here, we describe the use of WNT3A protein to promote in vitro myogenic commitment of hESC-derived cells and their subsequent in vivo function. Our findings show that the presence of WNT3A in culture medium significantly promotes myogenic commitment of hESC-derived progenitors expressing a mesodermal marker, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α (PDGFRA), as evident from the expression of myogenic markers, including DES, MYOG, MYH1 and MF20. In vivo transplantation of these committed cells into cardiotoxin-injured skeletal muscles of NOD/SCID mice reveals survival and engraftment of the donor cells. The cells contributed to the regeneration of damaged muscle fibers and the satellite cell compartment. In lieu of the limited cell source for treating skeletal muscle defects, the hESC-derived PDGFRA+ cells exhibit significant in vitro expansion while maintaining their myogenic potential. The results described in this study provide a proof-of-principle that myogenic progenitor cells with in vivo engraftment potential can be derived from hESCs without genetic manipulation.
Nutritional regulation of circulating insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins in the ovine fetus

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs) are important for fetal and postnatal development, but the regulation of circulating IGFs and IGFBPs has not been as thoroughly investigated in the maternal/fetal unit as in the adult animal where nutrition status plays a regulatory role. We used the chronically-catheterized, late-gestation ovine model and compared circulating IGFs and IGFBPs levels, and hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels. Following a five-day maternal fast, both IGF-I and IGF-II levels were decreased in the maternal and fetal circulation (P < 0.05), accompanied by a decrease in fetal hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels, but the IGFBP2 level was increased and the IGFBP3 level was decreased in maternal circulation, whereas the IGFBP1 level was increased in fetal circulation. In both fed and fasting states, the infusion of glucose (150% of baseline) did not alter IGFs or IGFBPs in either maternal or fetal circulation. To understand the regulation of the endogenous IGF system, rhIGF-I was infused (6.7 nmol/kg fetus/h) into the fetal circulation. While maternal IGFs or IGFBPs remained unchanged, IGF-I infusion into fetal circulation resulted in an increase in IGF-I, a decrease in IGF-II, and an overall increase in the IGFBPs (P < 0.05). Taken together, circulating IGFs and IGFBPs in the ovine fetus are more sensitive to prolonged nutrient deficit than to a brief glucose increase. The nutrition status therefore regulates the IGF system in maternal and fetal circulation which, in turn, may regulate the nutrient utilization for fetal growth.
Competitive interactions between cytochromes P450 2A6 and 2E1 for NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase in the microsomal membranes produced by a baculovirus expression system.

The present study investigated the interactions between cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes and the NADPH: cytochrome oxidoreductase (OR) in the microsomal membrane. Microsomes containing human cytochrome P450 2A6 (h2A6) coexpressed with human OR (hOR) via a baculovirus expression system displayed coumarin hydroxylase activity with apparentKmandVmaxvalues of 0.41 μmand 4.05 nmol/min/nmol P450, respectively. Incorporation of purified rat liver cytochrome b5(b5) into the microsomes increased theVmax2.5-fold, but did not affect theKm. TheN-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) demethylase activity of human cytochrome P450 2E1 (h2E1) coexpressed similarly was characterized previously. Coumarin was shown not to be a substrate nor an inhibitor of h2E1, and NDMA was not a substrate nor an inhibitor of h2A6. In microsomes containing h2A6, h2E1, and hOR (M-h2A6-h2E1-hOR) obtained from a triple expression system, the two P450 enzymes were shown to compete with each other for interaction with hOR. In incubations with M-h2A6-h2E1-hOR, the presence of a h2A6 substrate (coumarin) decreased NDMA demethylase activity by a maximum of 47%, and the presence of a h2E1 substrate (NDMA) decreased coumarin hydroxylase activity by a maximum of 19%. This substrate-induced competition between h2A6 and h2E1 was decreased by the addition of purified b5. In the absence of a substrate, the NADPH-dependent H2O2formation was high in both M-h2A6-h2E1-hOR and M-h2E1-hOR, but low in M-h2A6-hOR. The addition of NDMA had little effect on the H2O2formation in M-h2A6-h2E1-hOR and M-h2E1-hOR. The addition of coumarin, however, slightly decreased H2O2formation in M-h2A6-h2E1-hOR, but drastically increased H2O2formation in M-h2A6-hOR. These results suggest that the presence of a h2A6 substrate decreased the electron flow to h2E1 in M-h2A6-h2E1-hOR. The activities of coumarin hydroxylase and NDMA demethylase of M-h2A6-h2E1-hOR were decreased and increased, respectively, by an increase in ionic strength. The ionic strength, however, did not drastically change the substrate-induced competition between h2A6 and h2E1 for hOR. The results demonstrate the usefulness of the coexpression system for mechanistic studies and illustrate that the interaction of monooxygenase enzymes in the microsomal membrane is regulated by the presence of substrates and b5.
Reply to the comment on "Entropy of hydrophobic hydration: a new statistical mechanical formulation"

This note is in response to a comment by Smith et al. regarding the correct expression for the solvation entropy of a simple, hydrophobic solute at infinite dilution in water. They argue that the expression given in Lazaridis and Paulaitisl should be supplemented by a term describing the change in water-water pair correlations upon insertion of the solute. On the basis of the work of Yu and Karplus? they also assert that this contribution to the solvation entropy will be large and therefore cannot be neglected. We acknowledge the argument given in ref 1, that led us to neglect such contributions, is flawed. However, we wish to emphasize the important difference between solute insertion at constant volume, as was considered in ref 2, and at constant pressure, as was considered in ref 1, and offer possible reasons why this "solvent reorganization" contribution is apparently small in the system we studied. The correlation expansion for the entropy of a binary mixture in the canonical ensemble is*
Modeling the performance of organizational structures

We develop models for comparing the performance of coordination structures that appear in a wide variety of systems, including human organizations and computer systems. First, we define four generic structures: product hierarchies, functional hierarchies, centralized markets, and decentralized markets. Then, drawing primarily on queueing models, we rank these structures in terms of three performance measures: production costs, coordination costs, and vulnerability costs. The models show how changes in the values of these performance measures affect the desirabilities of the different structures. Then, we show how these simple relationships between performance measures and the desirabilities of structures are consistent with a surprising range of phenomena, including; 1 major historical shifts in the dominant organizational forms used by American businesses, and 2 the evolution of computing system architectures. Finally, we use the models to suggest the possible future evolution of both human and computer systems.
Aging and Place—Neighborhoods and Health in a World Growing Older

The articles in this special issue make it clear that there are interesting and policy-relevant research to identify place-based strategies to improve health and reduce health disparities among older adults. The articles also reveal important areas of future research and policy innovation that are needed related to place and aging.
Improving Name Tagging by Reference Resolution and Relation Detection

Information extraction systems incorporate multiple stages of linguistic analysis. Although errors are typically compounded from stage to stage, it is possible to reduce the errors in one stage by harnessing the results of the other stages. We demonstrate this by using the results of coreference analysis and relation extraction to reduce the errors produced by a Chinese name tagger. We use an N-best approach to generate multiple hypotheses and have them re-ranked by subsequent stages of processing. We obtained thereby a reduction of 24% in spurious and incorrect name tags, and a reduction of 14% in missed tags.
Design of a plug-and-play pulse oximeter

Presents the design of a plug-and-play pulse oximeter that communicates with a LabVIEW virtual instrument. The sensor module samples plethysmographic data and sends them to a personal computer via an RS-232 serial link. The system configuration is described, and the response of the system is discussed when either the computer, sensor, or RS-232 connection breaks down. The oximeter is suitable for home use and can reliably collect pulsatile data from multiple body locations (e.g. finger, forehead, palm, etc.).
Spatial Integration in Construction

Work in construction always requires moving within, and interacting with, a complex environment while handling heavy materials and building elements to be joined, inserted, or aligned. Modern design software is able to digitally model all of those elements in their spatially correct configuration, and without interference. When it comes to the actual construction, however, the spatial models do not find any use. Twenty years after the manufacturing industry began using electronic design data to control their machinery, construction is also getting ready to move away from its longstanding tradition of working with paper-based blueprints. The newest steps on the path toward the use of three-dimensional digital design data in support of site operation are stimulated by the global positioning system and the many uses of lasers. Surveying has always performed critical functions on construction sites, such as marking building layouts, anchor bolts, concrete formwork, or bridge bearings. The objective of spatial...
EF1α and RPL13a represent normalization genes suitable for RT-qPCR analysis of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells

Background RT-qPCR analysis is a widely used method for the analysis of mRNA expression throughout the field of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) research. Comparison between MSC studies, both in vitro and in vivo, are challenging due to the varied methods of RT-qPCR data normalization and analysis. Therefore, this study focuses on putative housekeeping genes for the normalization of RT-qPCR data between heterogeneous commercially available human MSC, compared with more homogeneous populations of MSC such as MIAMI and RS-1 cells.
Efficient error control scheme for video streaming over wireless networks

Recently, successful video streaming over wireless channels has received more and more attentions. However, wireless video streaming is a challenging task because of limited bandwidth, time-varying error- prone environment and stringent quality of service requirements. In this paper, an efficient low-delay and robust error control scheme is proposed for wireless video communications. This architecture uses a hybrid approach that dynamically combines unequal error protection (UEP) and automatic repeat request (ARQ) to balance trade-offs between delay constraint and error protection requirements. In UEP, the bitstream is divided into two groups and is reorganized into a fixed length structure to reduce the side information and channel decoding delay. The ARQ scheme takes the strict delay constraint into account. Based on a preset delay bound, it utilizes the receiver initiated mechanisms to determine whether a retransmission request will be sent out. Simulations show that the proposed error control scheme significantly improves the video quality.
A magnetohydrodynamic chaotic stirrer

A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stirrer that exhibits chaotic advection is investigated experimentally and theoretically. The stirrer consists of a circular cavity with an electrode (C) deposited around its periphery. Two additional electrodes (A) and (B) are deposited eccentrically inside the cavity on the bottom. The cavity is positioned in a uniform magnetic field that is parallel to the cylinder's axis, and it is filled with a weak electrolyte solution. Fluid motion is induced in the cavity by applying a potential difference across a pair of electrodes. A closed-form, analytical solution is derived for the MHD creeping flow field in the gap between the two eccentric cylinders. A singular solution is obtained for the special case when the size of the inner electrode shrinks to a point. Subsequently, passive tracers' trajectories are computed when the electric potential differences are applied alternately across electrodes AC and BC with period T. At small periods T, the flow is regular and periodic in most of the cavity. As the period increases, so does the complexity of the motion. At relatively large periods, the passive tracer experiences global chaotic advection. Such a device can serve as an efficient stirrer. Since this device has no moving parts, it is especially suitable for microfluidic applications. This is yet another practical example of a modulated, two-dimensional Stokes flow that exhibits chaotic advection.
Promoter de-methylation of cyclin D2 by sulforaphane in prostate cancer cells

Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate derived from cruciferous vegetables, induces potent anti-proliferative effects in prostate cancer cells. One mechanism that may contribute to the anti-proliferative effects of SFN is the modulation of epigenetic marks, such as inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes. However, the effects of SFN on other common epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation are understudied. Promoter hyper-methylation of cyclin D2, a major regulator of cell cycle, is correlated with prostate cancer progression, and restoration of cyclin D2 expression exerts anti-proliferative effects on LnCap prostate cancer cells. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of SFN on DNA methylation status of cyclin D2 promoter, and how alteration in promoter methylation impacts cyclin D2 gene expression in LnCap cells. We found that SFN significantly decreased the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), especially DNMT1 and DNMT3b. Furthermore, SFN significantly decreased methylation in cyclin D2 promoter regions containing c-Myc and multiple Sp1 binding sites. Reduced methlyation of cyclin D2 promoter corresponded to an increase in cyclin D2 transcript levels, suggesting that SFN may de-repress methylation-silenced cyclin D2 by impacting epigenetic pathways. Our results demonstrated the ability of SFN to epigenetically modulate cyclin D2 expression, and provide novel insights into the mechanisms by which SFN may regulate gene expression as a prostate cancer chemopreventive agent.
Physiological functions of MTA family of proteins

Although the functional significance of the metastasic tumor antigen (MTA) family of chromatin remodeling proteins in the pathobiology of cancer is fairly well recognized, the physiological role of MTA proteins continues to be an understudied research area and is just beginning to be recognized. Similar to cancer cells, MTA1 also modulates the expression of target genes in normal cells either by acting as a corepressor or coactivator. In addition, physiological functions of MTA proteins are likely to be influenced by its differential expression, subcellular localization, and regulation by upstream modulators and extracellular signals. This review summarizes our current understanding of the physiological functions of the MTA proteins in model systems. In particular, we highlight recent advances of the role MTA proteins play in the brain, eye, circadian rhythm, mammary gland biology, spermatogenesis, liver, immunomodulation and inflammation, cellular radio-sensitivity, and hematopoiesis and differentiation. Based on the growth of knowledge regarding the exciting new facets of the MTA family of proteins in biology and medicine, we speculate that the next burst of findings in this field may reveal further molecular regulatory insights of non-redundant functions of MTA coregulators in the normal physiology as well as in pathological conditions outside cancer.
Characterization of the Ah Receptor-associated Protein, ARA9 *

The unliganded aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is found in a complex with other proteins including the 90-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp90) and a 37-kDa protein we refer to as ARA9. We found that the three tetratricopeptide repeats found in the COOH terminus of ARA9 are necessary and sufficient for interaction with the AHR complex. Conversely, the AHR's "repressor"/Hsp90 binding domain is required for interaction with ARA9. Because ARA9 closely resembles the 52-kDa FK506-binding protein (FKBP52), found in the unliganded glucocorticoid receptor (GR) complex, we compared the binding specificities of ARA9 and FKBP52 for AHR and GR. In co-immunoprecipitation experiments, ARA9 specifically associated with AHR-Hsp90 complex but not with GR-Hsp90 complexes. In addition, ARA9 showed a greater capacity than FKBP52 to associate with AHR-Hsp90 complexes. The biological importance of this interaction was suggested by the observation that in a yeast expression system ARA9 expression enhanced the response of AHR to the agonist beta-napthoflavone, decreasing the EC50 by greater than 5-fold and increasing the maximal response 2.5-fold. In contrast, co-expression of FKBP52 had no effect on AHR signaling. In addition, although ARA9 contains a domain similar to that found in other FK506-binding proteins, ARA9 binding to 3H-FK506 could not be detected. Finally, we have characterized the developmental and expression pattern of ARA9 in the developing mouse embryo and mapped the ARA9 locus to human chromosome 11q13.3.
Propulsive energy harvesting by a fishlike vehicle in a vortex flow: Computational modeling and control

Using a model rooted in Hamiltonian mechanics, we consider the self-propulsion of a deformable planar hydrofoil in an ideal fluid in the presence of ambient vorticity, and investigate the mechanism whereby the hydrofoil can harvest energy from the surrounding flow in order to improve its own energy efficiency. We demonstrate, in particular, that energy harvesting can be achieved via closed-loop control without explicitly incorporating an assessment of the fluid velocity field into the feedback signal.
Motif mismatches in microsatellites: insights from genome-wide investigation among 20 insect species.

We present a detailed genome-wide comparative study of motif mismatches of microsatellites among 20 insect species representing five taxonomic orders. The results show that varying proportions (∼15–46%) of microsatellites identified in these species are imperfect in motif structure, and that they also vary in chromosomal distribution within genomes. It was observed that the genomic abundance of imperfect repeats is significantly associated with the length and number of motif mismatches of microsatellites. Furthermore, microsatellites with a higher number of mismatches tend to have lower abundance in the genome, suggesting that sequence heterogeneity of repeat motifs is a key determinant of genomic abundance of microsatellites. This relationship seems to be a general feature of microsatellites even in unrelated species such as yeast, roundworm, mouse and human. We provide a mechanistic explanation of the evolutionary link between motif heterogeneity and genomic abundance of microsatellites by examining the patterns of motif mismatches and allele sequences of single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified within microsatellite loci. Using Drosophila Reference Genetic Panel data, we further show that pattern of allelic variation modulates motif heterogeneity of microsatellites, and provide estimates of allele age of specific imperfect microsatellites found within protein-coding genes.
EXAMINING THE GENERALITY OF CHILDREN'S PREFERENCE FOR CONTINGENT REINFORCEMENT VIA EXTENSION TO DIFFERENT RESPONSES, REINFORCERS, AND SCHEDULES

Studies that have assessed whether children prefer contingent reinforcement (CR) or noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) have shown that they prefer CR. Preference for CR has, however, been evaluated only under continuous reinforcement (CRF) schedules. The prevalence of intermittent reinforcement (INT) warrants an evaluation of whether preference for CR persists as the schedule of reinforcement is thinned. In the current study, we evaluated 2 children's preference for contingent versus noncontingent delivery of highly preferred edible items for academic task completion under CRF and INT schedules. Children (a) preferred CR to NCR under the CRF schedule, (b) continued to prefer CR as the schedule of reinforcement became intermittent, and (c) exhibited a shift in preference from CR to NCR as the schedule became increasingly thin. These findings extend the generality of and provide one set of limits to the preference for CR. Applied implications, variables controlling preferences, and future research are discussed.
Inhibition of antithrombin and bovine serum albumin native state aggregation by heparin.

Protein native state aggregation, a major problem in pharmaceutical and biological processes, has been addressed pharmacologically by the addition of protein-binding excipients. Heparin (Hp), a highly sulfated polysaccharide, interacts with numerous proteins with moderate to high affinity, but reports about its effect on protein aggregation are contradictory. We studied the pH dependence of the aggregation of antithrombin (AT) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in the presence and absence of heparin. High-precision turbidimetry showed strong aggregation for both AT and BSA in I = 10 mM NaCl, conditions at which electrostatically driven Hp binding and aggregation both occur, with more obvious aggregation of heparin-free AT appearing as larger aggregate size. Aggregation of AT was dramatically inhibited at Hp: protein 6:1 (mole ratio); however, the effect at 0.5:1 Hp:protein was greater for BSA. Frontal analysis capillary electrophoresis showed a much larger equilibrium association constant Kobs between Hp and ...
The use of Fundus Photographs and Fluorescein Angiograms in the Identification and Treatment of Choroidal Neovascularization in the Macular Photocoagulation Study

The Macular Photocoagulation Study (MPS) Fundus Photograph Reading Center has developed a standard set of methods for assessing color photographs and fluorescein angiograms on study patients. For pretreatment angiograms, these methods are used to determine the location and extent of the choroidal neovascularization. For posttreatment color fundus photographs, these methods are used to assess the extent and intensity of treatment. Although these methods were developed to judge eligibility and treatment of patients enrolled in the MPS, they provide an excellent way for all treating ophthalmologists to evaluate their patients' angiograms and to assess immediately the intensity and extent of laser photocoagulation. The technique requires a microfilm reader or slide projection device to determine the completeness of treatment. The authors superimpose independent drawings made from pre- and posttreatment photographs. The techniques described can be applied readily in clinical practice. Since persistent neovascularization is highly correlated with incomplete and/or inadequate photocoagulation treatment, clinicians may adopt these Reading Center techniques to minimize the frequency of persistent neovascularization and, possibly, to reduce the frequency of visual loss in treated eyes.
Acute myocardial infarction caused by coronary embolism from infective endocarditis

Abstract Background: Identifying an acute myocardial infarction caused by a non-atherosclerotic process can have consequences on the short- and long-term management of the disease. Case Reports: In the first case reported, a 39-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, deep vein thrombosis, and a recent hospitalization for staphylococcal bacteremia presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with acute onset of chest pain and shortness of breath. Her electrocardiogram (ECG) showed findings of an ST-segement elevation lateral wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The patient's condition worsened in the ED, and thrombolytic therapy was initiated. The patient subsequently had a coronary catheterization that illustrated an irregular mitral valve and abrupt occlusions in the left anterior descending artery, suggestive of coronary embolism from a mitral valve source. This patient was later treated with intravenous antibiotics and mitral valve replacement. In the second case reported, a 56-year-old man with a history of hypertension, diabetes, and end-stage renal disease presented to the ED with shortness of breath, fever, and chest pain. His ECG was significant for ST-segment elevation in the lateral leads, suggestive of an AMI. This patient had a history of positive blood cultures in a previous admission as well as an echocardiogram revealing an aortic valve vegetation. Given the high suspicion for an infective endocarditis causing an embolic event that in turn led to the myocardial infarction, thrombolytics were withheld in the ED and the patient was transported for coronary catheterization. The coronary angiogram demonstrated abrupt cutoffs at the distal left anterior descending artery and distal left posterior descending artery suggestive of an embolic occlusion of these vessels. He was subsequently treated with intravenous antibiotics and aortic valve replacement. Conclusions: These two cases illustrate the importance of broadening our differential in the causes of AMI. In these cases, the recognition of an embolic event from infective endocarditis as the cause of the acute coronary syndrome allowed physicians to direct their interventions to optimize the appropriate care for each patient.
The Pyro- and Hydrometallurgical Processing of Uranium-Containing Waste

As large amounts of uranium-containing (both high and low-level) waste are generated from activities such as fuel fabrication, fuel reprocessing, and R&D, concern is growing over the safe disposal of these radioactive materials. Over the past few decades, numerous disposal options have been investigated, including pyrometallurgical high-temperature fusion/vitrification, hydrometallurgical processing, biological remediation, polymerization, clay back-filling, and zeolite adsorption. This paper reviews the techniques, thermodynamics, and kinetic aspects of processing uranium-containing waste. In particular, the removal of uranium waste by zeolite adsorption and mechanisms are discussed. In addition, the pyro- and hydrometallurgical conceptual flow sheet is proposed for the disposal of uranium-containing waste.
Impacts of meteorological uncertainties on ozone pollution predictability estimated through meteorological and photochemical ensemble forecasts

[1] This study explores the sensitivity of ozone predictions from photochemical grid point simulations to small meteorological initial perturbations that are realistic in structure and evolution. Through both meteorological and photochemical ensemble forecasts with the Penn State/NCAR mesoscale model MM5 and the EPA Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) Model-3, the 24-hour ensemble mean of meteorological conditions and the ozone concentrations compared fairly well against the observations for a highozone event that occurred on 30 August during the Texas Air Quality Study of 2000 (TexAQS2000). Moreover, it was also found that there were dramatic uncertainties in the ozone prediction in Houston and surrounding areas due to initial meteorological uncertainties for this event. The high uncertainties in the ozone prediction in Houston and surrounding areas due to small initial wind and temperature uncertainties clearly demonstrated the importance of accurate representation of meteorological conditions for the Houston ozone prediction and the need for probabilistic evaluation and forecasting for air pollution, especially those supported by regulating agencies.
Evaluation of Warfarin Reversal with 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Compared to 3-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate at a Tertiary Academic Medical Center.

Abstract Background The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4-PCC) for warfarin reversal. The literature supporting its use over three-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (3-PCC) is limited. Objective Our objective was to retrospectively compare the efficacy of 3-PCC to 4-PCC in reversing warfarin in patients who were actively bleeding. Methods We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients who received 3-PCC or 4-PCC for international normalized ratio (INR) reversal. Our study excluded patients not actively bleeding and not on warfarin. The main outcome was the percentage of patients who achieved warfarin reversal defined as INR ≤ 1.3 at first INR check post factor administration. We recorded baseline data including PCC dose, location of bleed, pre- and posttreatment INR, and time to INR reversal. Results We included a total of 53 patients. Intracranial hemorrhage was the most common site of bleeding (26 [74.3%] in 3-PCC vs. 12 [66.7%] in 4-PCC). The mean dose of 3-PCC was 25.5 units/kg, compared to 27.9 units/kg of 4-PCC. The mean baseline INR was 2.3 in the 3-PCC group and 3 in the 4-PCC group ( p = 0.03), and the first posttreatment INRs were 1.4 and 1.2, respectively ( p p p = 0.48). Conclusion A higher percentage of patients achieved warfarin reversal with 4-PCC compared to 3-PCC treatment. A prospective randomized control trial is necessary to confirm our results.
Timing-pattern of U.S. Bank Entry Overseas: A Test of the 'Follow-thy-Client' Hypothesis

I concentrate on analyzing the determinants and timing-patterns of U.S. bank expansion throughout the world since the 1890s using data sources from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. One objective of this paper is to describe timing-patterns of U.S. bank branching overseas by region. Another major objective is to test whether or not U.S. banks expand overseas due to the "follow-thy-client" hypothesis. I apply a regression model where I analyze how the number of new U.S. bank branches per year is being affected by the annual amount of U.S. direct investment overseas for the period from 1966 to 2004. Using a Poisson regression framework, my research findings suggest that U.S. banks have not been locating overseas due solely to a U.S. business presence in foreign countries. This finding contradicts the "follow-the-client" hypothesis that several other studies in the past have found to be true. Specifically, I find that U.S. direct investment overseas is highly negatively related to the number of new U.S. bank branches overseas.
β-Adrenergic stimulation causes cardiocyte apoptosis: Influence of tachycardia and hypertrophy

To establish whether catecholamines per se in the absence of significant increases in systolic load induce myocardial damage via apoptosis, rats were treated with vehicle or isoproterenol (400 microg . kg-1 . h-1). Apoptotic cardiocytes (Apo) were identified in paraffin-embedded sections using terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling. Results were confirmed using an independent ligase assay. Systolic blood pressures were comparable in isoproterenol-treated and control rats. Twenty-four hours of treatment with isoproterenol resulted in significant numbers of Apo compared with control [7.9 +/- 2.5 vs. 0.3 +/- 0.3 (SE) cm-2, P < 0.05]. A cohort of animals was subjected to ventricular pacing to induce a tachycardia equivalent to that induced by isoproterenol, and these animals did not show an increase in Apo. The left ventricular hypertrophy induced by 2 wk of abdominal aortic banding also increased Apo ( approximately 7. 2-fold); however, 24 h of isoproterenol infusion did not induce additional Apo in these rats. Thus catecholamines, in the absence of altered systolic load, induce Apo which is not mediated solely by tachycardia. Left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to abdominal aortic banding is associated with Apo, but this does not increase sensitivity to isoproterenol-induced Apo.
Supporting Multiplayer Online Ball Passing at a Distance with Multiple Sets of Kinect

We present Alone Together, a collaborative virtual ball playing environment augmented with three sets of Microsoft Kinect. The play environment fulfills a `sport over the distance' them via the attempt to mimic the real world ball-passing exercise (or rehabilitation sessions) except that the players can be miles away from each other, and they interact without a physical ball. Moreover, our system allows each player to see the other two and their physical environment respectively, which is a combination of the physical world where players are situated and the virtual world where they play with each other. Kinect sensors are used to map players' action into a virtual world including the passing of the virtual ball.
Micro-cultures: deconstructing race/expanding multiculturalism

Multicultural educational research, perspectives, and pedagogical practices emerged in response to assimilationist models for addressing cultural diversity. As a field of study, it incorporates an array of concepts, principles, theories, and content aimed at increasing educational equity and achievement for all students. Though working toward progressive goals, this article argues that multicultural education in the United States mainly operates within racial categories that are defined and sustained by ideological, social, political, and economic forces and practices of white supremacy and, therefore, is constrained – if not subverted – in its important work. Collaterally, this article makes the case that its delineation of a concept of “micro-cultures” can help to productively expand multicultural conceptualizations and practices by deconstructing static, reductive categories of race to reveal more nuanced and complex personal/cultural positioning and affinities that are often (though not always) enable...
On Improving Battery State of Charge Estimation Using Bulk Force Measurements

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries undergo physical deformation as their state-of-charge (SOC) changes. The physical deformation causes changes in the pressure (equivalently, force) applied at the end-plates of a constrained battery pack or module. This paper proposes the fusion of bulk force and battery voltage measurements to estimate the SOC in Li-ion battery packs. In this paper, using discrete Linear Quadratic Estimators (dLQEs), the advantage of using force measurements in addition to voltage measurement to improve SOC estimates is quantitatively studied through simulations. It is observed that including force measurements can decrease the mean and standard deviation of SOC estimation error by 50% in some SOC intervals.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Experimental investigation of the impact of post-injection on emissions, combustion and lubricant dilution in a diesel engine with B20 fuel

A 100 hour (h) engine experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of post-injection strategy on emissions, combustion and lubricant dilution with a common-rail turbocharged direct-injection ...
Effects of Selenium on Children with Hashmoto's Thyrolditis

To study the effects of selenium on children with hashmoto's thyroiditis, adouble-blinded, place- bo-controlled, prospective study were performed in patients [n = 50; mean age (9.7±1.6) yr] with au- toimmune thyroiditis and thyroid microsomic antibody(TMA) and Tg antibodies (TGA). The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. 25 patients received 200 mg sodium selenite orally for 3 months, and the oth- ers received placebo. The result showed that after treatment with sodium selenite, the level of TGA had no dif- ference between sodium selenite and placebo (P0.05), but the difference of TMA was significant (P 0.01). It concluded sodium selenite could significantly decrease the level of TMA of hashmoto's thyroiditis.
Responsibility and Ecuador’s Yasuní-ITT Initiative

This chapter argues that environmental protection is a strong energy justice concern, given our duties to nonhuman species as well as the dependence that many communities have on ecosystems for things like fresh air, drinkable water, and edible fish. After detailing how the exploration and drilling of crude oil can devastate ecosystems and communities, the chapter showcases the Yasuni-ITT initiative in Ecuador. That initiative, promoted by President Correa in 2007, would leave almost one billion barrels of crude oil in the ground beneath the Ishpingo Tambococha Tiputini (ITT) oilfield within the country’s Parque Nacional Yasuni, or Yasuni National Forest. In exchange for not developing the ITT oilfield, President Correa has asked the international community for “fair compensation” of $3.6 billion. The chapter exhibits how prohibiting ITT development brings with it a suite of positive benefits, including the conservation of precious biodiversity, the protection of indigenous peoples, revenues for poverty alleviation and economic development, and the displacement of millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Vascular surgery: An essential hospital resource in modern health care

Objective In modern health care, vascular surgeons frequently serve as a unique resource to other surgical specialties for vascular exposure, repair, reconstruction, or control. These services occur both in planned and unplanned clinical settings. We analyzed the frequency, outcomes, and value of vascular services in this setting to other surgical specialties and the hospital. Methods Intraoperative planned and unplanned vascular surgery operative consultations were reviewed over a 3-year period (2013-2016). Patient demographics, requesting surgical specialty, indication and type of vascular intervention, and work relative value units generated were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analysis of factors affecting a composite outcome of in-hospital and 30-day mortality or morbidity, or both, was performed. Results Seventy-six vascular surgery intraoperative consultations were performed, of which 56% of the consultations were unplanned. The most common unplanned consultation was for bleeding (33%). The aorta and lower extremity were the most common vascular beds requiring vascular services. The mean work relative value units generated per vascular surgery intervention was 23.8. In-hospital and 30-day mortality was 9.2%. No difference in mortality and morbidity was found between planned and unplanned consultations. Factors associated with the composite mortality/morbidity outcome were coronary artery disease ( P = .002), heart failure ( P = .02), total operative blood loss ( P = .009), consultation for limb ischemia ( P = .013), and vascular consultation for the lower extremity ( P = .01). On multivariate analysis, high operative blood loss (>5000 mL) remained significant ( P = .04), and coronary artery disease approached significance ( P = .06). Conclusions The need for vascular surgery services is frequent, involves diverse vascular beds, and occurs commonly in an unplanned setting. When requested, vascular surgery services effectively facilitate the completion of the nonvascular procedure, even those associated with significant intraoperative blood loss. Vascular surgery services are essential to other surgical specialties and the hospital in today's modern health care environment.
Computed tomography imaging-based bitter pit evaluation in apples

Bitter pit is an economically important physiological disorder in apples resulting in serious economic losses. Current visual assessment techniques are not completely useful in evaluating the extent of bitter pit development as they are limited to external symptoms. An X-ray computer tomography (CT) based imaging and associated image processing algorithm was used to assess the number of bitter pits inside the fruit and on the surface of apples. Samples of 40 healthy and 40 bitter pit affected ‘Honeycrisp’ apples were selected from two different field sites, and scanned with CT equipment on 0, 21 and 63 days after harvest. The results showed that the average number of bitter pits increased both on the surface and inside the fruits with increasing storage period. An average of 42–66% pits was present inside the apple fruits in bitter pit-affected apples. In addition, most of the newly developed bitter pits in healthy apples appeared within the fruit. Therefore, the usefulness of X-ray CT imaging as an effective phenotyping tool in identifying internal bitter pit and on the surface in the automated manner was demonstrated in this study.
Somatic Engineering of Oncogenic Chromosomal Rearrangements: A Perspective

The ability to engineer specific mutations in mice has proven essential to advancing our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer. Chromosomal rearrangements, a common and clinically relevant class of cancer-causing mutations, have however remained difficult to faithfully recapitulate in vivo . The development of genetic tools for in vivo somatic genome editing has recently overcome this limitation and led to the generation of more sophisticated and accurate preclinical models of human cancers. Here, we review the potential applications of these new technologies to the study of tumor biology and discuss their advantages over more conventional strategies, their limitations, and the remaining challenges. Cancer Res; 76(17); 4918–23. ©2016 AACR .
Real-time analysis of RAG complex activity in V(D)J recombination

Single-molecule FRET (smFRET) and single-molecule colocalization (smCL) assays have allowed us to observe the recombination-activating gene (RAG) complex reaction mechanism in real time. Our smFRET data have revealed distinct bending modes at recombination signal sequence (RSS)-conserved regions before nicking and synapsis. We show that high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) acts as a cofactor in stabilizing conformational changes at the 12RSS heptamer and increasing RAG1/2 binding affinity for 23RSS. Using smCL analysis, we have quantitatively measured RAG1/2 dwell time on 12RSS, 23RSS, and non-RSS DNA, confirming a strict RSS molecular specificity that was enhanced in the presence of a partner RSS in solution. Our studies also provide single-molecule determination of rate constants that were previously only possible by indirect methods, allowing us to conclude that RAG binding, bending, and synapsis precede catalysis. Our real-time analysis offers insight into the requirements for RSS-RSS pairing, architecture of the synaptic complex, and dynamics of the paired RSS substrates. We show that the synaptic complex is extremely stable and that heptamer regions of the 12RSS and 23RSS substrates in the synaptic complex are closely associated in a stable conformational state, whereas nonamer regions are perpendicular. Our data provide an enhanced and comprehensive mechanistic description of the structural dynamics and associated enzyme kinetics of variable, diversity, and joining [V(D)J] recombination.
Insights on thermal efficiency analysis for the water boiling test

The Water Boiling Test (WBT) is one of the most common methods used for analyzing biomass cookstoves. For example, thermal efficiency, time to boil, and emissions metrics are assessed. These metrics are used as part of cookstove development including informing decisions about the suitability of cookstoves for dissemination. As these metrics have been used extensively, significant efforts have been extended by many individuals to refine and expand the implementation of the metrics. This work continues this effort by focusing on the thermal efficiency metric. For the WBT, thermal efficiency is the amount of heat that is transferred to the water in a pot on the cookstove compared to the amount of heat available from combustion. Thermal efficiency analysis can be expanded by exploring the impact of measurement uncertainties and by providing transient estimations to further opportunities for cookstove comparisons and insights into the testing process. This work will present a method for estimating transient thermal efficiencies that are validated by experiment. In addition, a statistical model for assessing the impact of measurement uncertainties is described. From these efforts, insights on expanding WBT analysis are presented.
Why is the Journal of Critical Library and Information Studies Needed Today

In this Editors' Note, guest editors Andrew J Lau, Alycia Sellie, and Ronald E. Day introduce the inaugural issue for the Journal of Critical Library and Information Studies (JCLIS).
Toward computational net assessment

a. In 1973, the Department of Defense (DoD) created the Office of Net Assessment (ONA) with a charter and unique approach to strategic analysis. This approach questioned the suitability of systems ...