cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of hydration and effect of liquid uptake on specific gravity of small hay and silage particles.

Kinetics of hydration of ground hay and silage particles (2-mm screen), determined by a pycnometric technique, was best described by a two- and one-pool exponential model, respectively. Fractional rates of hydration of the large pool, detected in hay particles only, and of the small pool present in both hay and silage particles averaged .135 and .021 min-1, respectively. When hydration was complete, liquid associated with particles averaged 1.16, 1.90, and .83 g/g of insoluble DM for bromegrass hay, alfalfa hay, and alfalfa silage, respectively. Functional specific gravity, which accounts for the effect of associated gas volume, averaged 1.54, 1.46, and 1.54, but unit specific gravity, calculated to include the effect of gases and liquid of hydration, averaged 1.22, 1.14, and 1.26 for bromegrass hay, alfalfa hay, and alfalfa silage, respectively. Preservation of forage as silage not only lowered gas volume, but also reduced water-holding capacity, both of which contribute to greater unit specific gravity and faster rate of escape from the rumen. In addition, estimates of unit specific gravity of approximately 1.2 indicate that even in the absence of associated gas, hydrated forage particles would tend to escape the rumen at a slower rate than that achieved by more dense particles.
AVP stimulates Na+ transport in primary cultures of rabbit cortical collecting duct cells.

Immunodissected rabbit cortical collecting duct (CCD) cells were grown in primary culture on permeable membrane supports. Transepithelial voltage, Na+, K+, and H+ gradients developed as expected fo...
SU-F-R-38: Impact of Smoothing and Noise On Robustness of CBCT Textural Features for Prediction of Response to Radiotherapy Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers

Purpose: To examine the impact of image smoothing and noise on the robustness of textural information extracted from CBCT images for prediction of radiotherapy response for patients with head/neck (H/N) cancers. Methods: CBCT image datasets for 14 patients with H/N cancer treated with radiation (70 Gy in 35 fractions) were investigated. A deformable registration algorithm was used to fuse planning CT's to CBCT's. Tumor volume was automatically segmented on each CBCT image dataset. Local control at 1-year was used to classify 8 patients as responders (R), and 6 as non-responders (NR). A smoothing filter [2D Adaptive Weiner (2DAW) with 3 different windows (ψ=3, 5, and 7)], and two noise models (Poisson and Gaussian, SNR=25) were implemented, and independently applied to CBCT images. Twenty-two textural features, describing the spatial arrangement of voxel intensities calculated from gray-level co-occurrence matrices, were extracted for all tumor volumes. Results: Relative to CBCT images without smoothing, none of 22 textural features extracted showed any significant differences when smoothing was applied (using the 2DAW with filtering parameters of ψ=3 and 5), in the responder and non-responder groups. When smoothing, 2DAW with ψ=7 was applied, one textural feature, Information Measure of Correlation, was significantly different relative to no smoothing. Only 4 features (Energy, Entropy, Homogeneity, and Maximum-Probability) were found to be statistically different between the R and NR groups (Table 1). These features remained statistically significant discriminators for R and NR groups in presence of noise and smoothing. Conclusion: This preliminary work suggests that textural classifiers for response prediction, extracted from H&N CBCT images, are robust to low-power noise and low-pass filtering. While other types of filters will alter the spatial frequencies differently, these results are promising. The current study is subject to Type II errors. A much larger cohort of patients is needed to confirm these results. This work was supported in part by a grant from Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA)
WE-FG-201-04: Cloud-Based Collaboration for Radiotherapy Clinical Trials, Research and Training

Many low- and middle-income countries lack the resources and services to manage cancer, from screening and diagnosis to radiation therapy planning, treatment and quality assurance. The challenges in upgrading or introducing the needed services are enormous, and include severe shortages in equipment and trained staff. In this symposium, we will describe examples of technology and scientific research that have the potential to impact all these areas. These include: (1) the development of high-quality/low-cost colposcopes for cervical cancer screening, (2) the application of automated radiotherapy treatment planning to reduce staffing shortages, (3) the development of a novel radiotherapy treatment unit, and (4) utilizing a cloud-based infrastructure to facilitate collaboration and QA. Learning Objectives: 1.Understand some of the issues in cancer care in low- resource environments, including shortages in staff and equipment, and inadequate physical infrastructure for advanced radiotherapy. 2.Understand the challenges in developing and deploying diagnostic and treatment devices and services for low-resource environments. 3.Understand some of the emerging technological solutions for cancer management in LMICs. NCI; L. Court, NIH, Varian, Elekta; I. Feain, Ilana Feain is founder and CTO of Nano-X Pty Ltd
On finding a smallest augmentation to biconnect a graph (Extended abstract)

The problem of finding a smallest set of edges whose addition biconnects an undirected graph is considered. An error in the earlier linear time sequential algorithm of Rosenthal & Goldner [19] is corrected and a new O(log2 n) time parallel algorithm using a linear number of processors on an EREW PRAM is given, where n is the number of vertices in the input graph. The time bound is the best that is known for graph problems on an EREW PRAM, and the processor bound is close to the best possible.
Interpretation of Bare and Demonstrative Noun Phrases in the Acquisition of Mandarin

Mandarin nominals may appear bare or non-bare in various positions with different interpretations. Questions arise as to how Mandarin-speaking children interpret bare nominals, given that bare nominals can have various interpretations. On the other hand, how do they interpret non-bare nominals, such as demonstrative nominals? This experimental study tested the interpretation of nominals among Mandarin-speaking children and adults and found that nominal types and age have significant effects on interpretation. The findings include the following. (i) Children distinguish between bare and demonstrative nominals by assigning more generic interpretations to bare nominals. (ii) Children, like adults, have both generic and existential definite readings for bare nominal subjects. (iii) A clear discrepancy exists between children’s and adults’ interpretation of demonstrative nominals. Children assigned a considerable amount of generic interpretation to Mandarin demonstrative nominals, which lack such readings in a...
Changing Epidemiology of Injury in the USA

The aging population of the injured has had a profound effect on injury epidemiology. A recent analysis demonstrates that outcomes in the geriatric population are improved in centers that treat a higher number of elderly trauma patients. To better prevent injuries and manage their population of patients, trauma care providers must concern themselves not only with understanding the overall rates of injury and admissions but also the likelihood that elderly patients will be admitted in greater numbers as well as make up a greater proportion of trauma admissions.
Bone Marrow Monocyte/Macrophages Provide Signals Necessary for Osteoblast Maintenance: Potential Role for Insulin-Like Growth Factor Signaling

Abstract There is considerable evidence showing that osteoblast lineage cells play a key role in regulating hematopoiesis. Less clear is the contribution of hematopoietic cells to osteoblast maintenance. We and others previously showed that treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) results in a striking loss of osteoblast number and function. Bone marrow transplantation experiments demonstrated that G-CSF does not directly suppress osteoblast function but acts through a transplantable hematopoietic intermediary. Earlier work from our lab suggested that mature neutrophils and B- and T-lymphocytes are dispensable for G-CSF-induced osteoblast loss. We therefore hypothesized that bone marrow monocytes play a role in regulating osteoblasts both during G-CSF treatment and at steady state. To begin to test this hypothesis, primary murine bone marrow stromal cultures—consisting of both adherent macrophages and mesenchymal-lineage stromal cells—were established and cultured three weeks in osteogenic media. Removal of macrophages from these cultures resulted in a striking reduction in osteoblast differentiation, as evidenced by reduced alkaline phosphatase and sharply reduced expression of osteocalcin (92% reduction, p 11-fold in bone marrow from monocyte-ablated transgenic mice (p 7-fold in wild type mice treated with G-CSF (p
5-Year imaging sequelae of concussive blast injury and relation to early clinical outcome

Current imaging diagnostic techniques are often insensitive to the underlying pathological changes following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion so much so that the explicit definition of these uncomplicated mild brain injuries includes the absence of radiological findings. In the US military, this is complicated by the natural tendency of service members to down play symptoms for fear of removal from their unit particularly in combat making it challenging for clinicians to definitively diagnose and determine course of treatment. Questions remain regarding the long-term impact of these war-time brain injuries. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the long-term imaging sequelae of blast concussion in active-duty US military and leverage previous longitudinal data collected in these same patients to identify predictors of sustained DTI signal change indicative of chronic neurodegeneration. In total, 50 blast TBI and 44 combat-deployed controls were evaluated at this 5-year follow up by advanced neuroimaging techniques including diffusion tensor imaging and quantitative volumetry. While cross-sectional analysis of regions of white matter on DTI images did not reveal significant differences across groups after statistical correction, an approach flexible to the heterogeneity of brain injury at the single-subject level identified 74% of the concussive blast TBI cohort to have reductions in fractional anisotropy indicative of chronic brain injury. Logistic regression leveraging clinical and demographic data collected in the acute/sub-acute and 1-year follow up to determine predictors of these long-term imaging changes determined that brain injury diagnosis, older age, verbal memory and verbal fluency best predicted the presence of DTI abnormalities 5 years post injury with an AUC of 0.78 indicating good prediction strength. These results provide supporting evidence for the evolution not resolution of this brain injury pathology, adding to the growing body of literature describing imaging signatures of chronic neurodegeneration even after mild TBI and concussion.
Closest friendships of nonconfined aged males

Scholars have suggested that the elderly need close, intimate relationships to enhance the quality of their lives. These relationships can be found in closest friendships. In the present study, we aimed to determine self-perceived variable patterns in the closest friendship relational network of both, one, or neither gender among nonconfined aged males. Specifically, we examined the most frequently perceived variable patterns with reference to the particular structural friendship unit, then reported on the similarities and/or differences among the groups.
Time-resolved measurements of liquid–vapor thermal interactions throughout the full life-cycle of sliding bubbles at subcooled flow boiling conditions

Abstract The local thermal response of the liquid phase to the presence of sliding bubbles was measured with an infrared camera in subcooled flow-boiling conditions. These measurements were complemented with two high-speed cameras to capture the corresponding bubbles’ dynamics. The liquid–vapor interactions were captured in detail over the full life-cycle of sliding bubbles. Four distinctive phases for the bubble life-cycle were identified: A) Spherical bubble growth with strong attachment, B) Deformed bubble growth with weak attachment, C) Detachment with hot liquid quenching, and D) Cold liquid quenching. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first time that the “detachment with hot liquid quenching phase has been observed. This phase is characterized by a “hot” thermal footprint during the bubble detachment process. It is believed that this footprint is constituted partially from hot liquid released during the condensation of the recently detached bubble, and from released hot fluid previously collected by the bubble during sliding. In addition, this work reveals that using traditional high-speed visualization techniques (side-view camera only) can lead to an underestimation of approximately 40% of the actual bubble–wall contact diameter (dc) which was inferred from the infrared camera measurements.
Inhibition of valproic acid-induced neural tube defects through Nrf2 signaling

Valproic acid (VPA) is an effective antiepileptic drug but is also a known human teratogen that causes neural tube defects (NTDs). The mechanisms responsible for VPA-induced embryopathy remain poorly understood, but various studies suggest that VPA-induced oxidative stress is central to its involvement in its developmental toxicity. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that activates the cellular antioxidant response and upregulates detoxification enzymes, potentially preventing the disruption of redox-sensitive signaling. The aim of this study is to elucidate if VPA-induced NTDs can be attenuated though Nrf2 induction using both in vivo and ex vivo mouse models. Gestational day 8.0 mice were treated with or without 5 μM D3T, a Nrf2 inducer, and were then treated with 600 μM VPA on GD 8.6 and collected periodically over an 18 h period for glutathione (GSH) redox potential (Eh) and morphology assessment on GD 9.0. In embryos treated with VPA only, GSH Eh increased by over +20 mV at 2 h post VPA treatment and then slowly rebounded, nearing untreated control GSH Eh levels by 18 h. Pretreatment with D3T prevented any changes to GSH Eh. At 24 h, 58% of embryos treated with only VPA exhibited NTDs, but NTD rates dropped to 5% with D3T pretreatment. Embryos from WT mice treated on GD 8.0 in utero and evaluated on GD 9.0 demonstrated similar NTD rates, but the prevalence of NTDs nearly doubled in Nrf2 KO embryos. To further understand the role of Nrf2 in NTDs, both WT and Nrf2 KO mice were treated with D3T (i.p. 5 mg/kg) on GD 7.12, followed by treatment with VPA (s.c. 400mg/kg) on gestational day 8.0. D3T pretreatments significantly reduced NTDs in WT embryos but failed to reduce rates in KO mice treated with VPA. These data suggest that mitigation of VPA-induced redox imbalance in the early organogenesis stage mouse embryo is critical for NTD prevention and that Nrf2 is a protective factor during development that requires further investigation.
Transfer of a learned coordination function: Specific, individual and generalizable.

Abstract It is generally held that transfer of practice is a function of the similarity between the originally learned task and the subsequent transfer task. In the present paper, we examine the proposition that individuals learn a coordination function that is specific to the task, individual and yet generalizable, depending on the characteristics of the learned coordination function. Seventeen individuals performed for 5 days the task of learning to throw for accuracy to a target and then performed two transfer tests that differed in terms of the axis of variation that individuals could vary in task outcome. The results showed individual differences in terms of the acquired movement pattern even when a similar performance was achieved. Additionally, the coordination function characterized by principal component analysis and its projection into the landing plane predicted performance in the transfer tests. These results support the proposition that individuals learn a coordination function that is specific, individual and generalizable.
Deep convolutional priors for indoor scene synthesis

We present a convolutional neural network based approach for indoor scene synthesis. By representing 3D scenes with a semantically-enriched image-based representation based on orthographic top-down views, we learn convolutional object placement priors from the entire context of a room. Our approach iteratively generates rooms from scratch, given only the room architecture as input. Through a series of perceptual studies we compare the plausibility of scenes generated using our method against baselines for object selection and object arrangement, as well as scenes modeled by people. We find that our method generates scenes that are preferred over the baselines, and in some cases are equally preferred to human-created scenes.
A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF ANALYTIC FUNCTIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a new technique for proving the existence of analytic functions. It presents a description of the principal features of a new technique for establishing the existence of analytic functions. The chapter presents a proof of the standard existence theorem for systems of first order analytic ordinary differential equations. The proof if completed is considerably longer than any other for that existence theorem.
The methionine-rich domain of the 54 kd protein subunit of the signal recognition particle contains an Rna binding site and can be crosslinked to a signal sequence

The 54 kd protein subunit of the signal recognition particle (SRP54) has been shown to bind signal sequences by UV crosslinking. Primary structure analysis and phylogenetic comparisons have suggested that SRP54 is composed of two domains: an amino-terminal domain that contains a putative GTP-binding site (G-domain) and a carboxy-terminal domain that contains a high abundance of methionine residues (M-domain). Partial proteolysis of SRP revealed that the two proposed domains of SRP54 indeed represent structurally discrete entities. Upon proteolysis the intact G-domain was released from SRP, whereas the M-domain remained attached to the core of the particle. Reconstitution experiments demonstrated that the isolated M-domain associates with 7SL RNA in the presence of SRP19. In addition, we observed a specific binding of the M-domain directly to 4.5S RNA of Escherichia coli, which contains a structural motif also present in 7SL RNA. This shows that the M-domain contains an RNA binding site, and suggests that SRP54 may be linked to the rest of SRP through this domain by a direct interaction with 7SL RNA. Using UV crosslinking, we found that in an in vitro translation system the preprolactin signal sequence contacts SRP through the M-domain of SRP54. These results imply that the M-domain contains the signal sequence binding site of SRP54, although we cannot exclude that the G-domain may also be in proximity to bound signal sequences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Specialization and Marine Based Environmental Behaviors Among SCUBA Divers

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between recreation specialization and marine based environmental behaviors among SCUBA divers. Additionally, the study compared relationshi...
Enhanced Data Transfer for Multi-Loaded Source Synchronous Signal Groups

Enhanced performance of memory channels directly correlates to increased system performance. This paper presents an alternative opportunity to regain lost performance on high-capacity low-cost DDR channels. A novel way of modifying synchronous timing of DDR signal groups is presented. Signal integrity metrics with simulation data are also demonstrated.
Annals On Call - SGLT2 Inhibitors: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

In this episode of Annals On Call, Dr. Centor discusses the risks and benefits of using SGLT2 inhibitors to treat patients with type 2 diabetes with Dr. Katherine Tuttle, an endocrinologist and nep...
Multi - Agent Reinforcement Learning for Spectrum Sharing in Vehicular Networks

This paper investigates the spectrum sharing problem in vehicular networks, where multiple vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) links reuse the frequency spectrum preoccupied by vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) links. We model the resource sharing as a multi-agent reinforcement learning (RL) problem, which is then solved using a fingerprint-based deep Q-network method. The V2V links, each acting as an agent, collectively interact with the vehicular environment, receive distinctive observations yet a common reward, and then improve policy design through updating their Q-networks with gained experiences. Simulation results demonstrate desirable performance of the proposed resource allocation scheme based on multi-agent RL in terms of both V2I capacity and V2V payload delivery probability.
National Assessment of Workplace Bullying Among Academic Surgeons in the US

This study assesses the prevalence of bullying and barriers to its eradication among US surgeons.
Treasury Growth Dividends

I propose a specific use for the Treasury-issued ‘Digital Greenbacks’ (DGBs) and associated system of TreasuryDirect Digital Wallets that I have proposed elsewhere. I propose that these be issued as equitably distributed ‘Treasury Growth Dividends’ (TGDs) under normal circumstances, and deployed as a countercyclical policy lever under abnormal circumstances of deepening deflation or heightening inflation. This use of DGBs offers three highly attractive prospects: first, an equitable distribution of the proceeds of capital and labor investment nation-wide; second, a far more efficient, ‘leak-proof’ monetary policy transmission belt for countercyclical money modulation; and third, a mode of such countercyclical action that is ‘debt-free.’
The Distortion of Nature’s Image: Reification and the Ecological Crisis

Damian Gerber’s The Distortion of Nature’s Image: Reification and the Ecological Crisis is a provocative work that will be of particular interest to environmental and progressive political theorist...
Genetic counseling for early onset and familial dementia: Patient perspectives on exome sequencing

Genetic testing has become routine for many inherited conditions; however, little is known about the unique issues that arise when offering genetic testing for inherited forms of dementia. To better understand the patient perspective, we surveyed study participants about their experiences as they underwent genetic counseling and genetic testing for dementia. We recruited 50 pairs of subjects. Each pair was comprised of one person with cognitive impairment and a cognitively intact co-participant. Study participants received pre- and post-test genetic counseling and comprehensive genetic testing for dementia. During the study, participant pairs completed four surveys which asked about their experience. Testing began with a 38 gene dementia panel. Participants with negative panel results or variants of uncertain significance (VUS) were reflexed to exome sequencing (ES). Twenty-nine participants (58%) reported that their primary motivation to join the study was for the benefit to their families. Fifty-two percent of participants initially planned to use their test results to make health and wellness changes, but, six months after disclosure, only 31% had done so. Six months after result disclosure, approximately 90% of participant pairs accurately recalled their genetic test results. Overall satisfaction with testing was high, and decision regret was negligible. This observational study describes the experiences of study participants undergoing genetic counseling and genetic testing for dementia and found that most participant pairs accurately recalled their results up to six months following disclosure while also maintaining high levels of satisfaction without decision regret. These findings suggest that, in the context of genetic counseling, genetic testing can be effectively used in this population.
The effect of Medicaid expansions for low-income children on Medicaid participation and private insurance coverage: evidence from the SIPP

Abstract We examine Medicaid enrollment and private coverage loss following expansions of Medicaid eligibility. We attempt to replicate Cutler and Gruber's [Q. J. Econ. 111 (1996) 391.] results using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), and find smaller rates of take-up and little evidence of crowding out. We find that some of the difference in results can be attributed to different samples and recall periods in the data sets used. Extending the previous literature, we find that take-up is slightly increased if a child's siblings are eligible and with time spent eligible. Focusing on children whose eligibility status changes during the sample, we estimate smaller take-up effects. We find little evidence of crowding out in any of our extensions.
Long-term performance of full-depth precast concrete (FDPC) deck panels

Abstract Full-depth precast concrete (FDPC) deck panels are becoming more popular recently as they can accelerate construction. However, there are still concerns about durability, proper connections, and long-term performance that have limited their widespread use in the U.S. Most studies on FDPC deck panels have been on their short-term structural performance and joint behavior; there is minimal published work addressing the long-term performance of these structures. A survey was developed and sent out to all state departments of transportation (DOTs) for the work described in this paper. The information gathered from this survey included: a list of bridges using FDPC deck panels (with details about projects), cost, observed performance, experience with panels, and types of joints used. The FDPC Deck Panel Database was developed based on the collected information from this survey and combined with information from the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) database. The performance of bridges in the database was evaluated based on the deck deterioration rate and estimated service life according to simple linear regression and a deep learning models provided by Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) InfoBridge. The result of this effort was identification of the performance of bridges with FDPC deck panels under different conditions. Joint type, traffic impact category (i.e., time construction impacts traffic), climate zone, wearing surface type, and traffic were found to impact the behavior of bridges with FDPC deck panels. Construction type (new construction versus rehabilitation) did not influence the behavior of these bridges.
Flow and heat transfer in the wake of a triangular arrangement of spheres

This research work seeks to investigate the influence of spacing and heat transfer on the wake behavior of a triangular arrangement of spheres. Four experimental configurations have been investigated at three Reynolds numbers, Re1 = 350, Re2 = 700, and Re3 = 1050. Two isothermal cases were investigated with spacing between the spheres of zero and one sphere diameter, and two cases were investigated with an applied heat flux at the same spacing conditions. The time resolved particle image velocimetry results revealed various flow phenomena including flow separations, von Karman vortex shedding, and Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities. The turbulent statistics reveal the effect of proximity and heat transfer on the time averaged values of the wake size, turbulent strengths, and Reynolds shear stress in the wake of each sphere, namely, the laminarization effects from the addition of heat and the suppression of the lead sphere wake from the proximity of the trailing spheres. These results are complemented by the application of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to the flow fields, which extracts the coherent structures from the flow. The modes that describe the coherent structures are extracted and described in detail, which provide further insight into effects of the experimental conditions on the temporal behavior of the flow. Many of the low order modes are found to be associated in pairs, corresponding to asymmetric structures or advection of a given structure downstream. The capability of POD to produce reduced order models of the flow is then utilized to facilitate vortex identification analysis. A turbulent kinetic energy based mode truncation criteria, which has been found to enhance vortex identification capability, is applied to select the POD modes and temporal coefficients to be used in the reduced order modeling. The reconstructed velocity fields are then analyzed with vortex identification algorithms to extract the vortex cores and boundaries. The combination of these approaches allows the study of the effect of proximity and heat transfer on the vortex characteristics, such as size, strength, and distribution.
Three-Component Regulatory System Controlling Virulence in Vibrio cholerae

Studies of virulence and its regulation in Vibrio cholerae have classically been devoted to understanding the mechanism and consequences of toxin production by this human pathogen. The cholera toxin is a very well-studied molecule and is the virulence factor of primary importance for pathogenicity of V. cholerae. More recent work identified several other gene products required for full virulence and showed that expression of these genes, which include those encoding a pilus colonization factor and an accessory colonization factor, is under coordinate control with cholera toxin expression. A large percentage of the inoculum is therefore probably killed in the first host environment encountered, which likely accounts for the high doses of organisms required to infect and for the fact that achlorhydric people (those with decreased stomach acidity) are more sensitive to cholera infection. Virulence factors coordinately expressed with cholera toxin include the toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) and the accessory colonization factor (ACF). Several gene products are required for both TCP and ACF expression, and they are all regulated by the ToxR protein. Mutants were identified that expressed elevated alkaline phosphatase activity in the presence of ToxS but that did not simultaneously acquire ToxR activity. The output for ToxR activity in V. cholerae is virulence, but what is clear from investigations into this system so far is that along the way toward answering specific questions of virulence we are learning more about fundamental processes in molecular biology as well.
Uniaxial pressure dependence of the superconducting critical temperature in R Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 − δ high- T c oxides

We have obtained the three uniaxial-pressure derivatives of the critical temperature, ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$, for ${\mathrm{GdBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ from the hydrostatic pressure dependence measured on films of different crystalline orientations. The strain derivatives are found to be extremely anisotropic in the a-b plane, inducing a decrease (increase) of ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ when compressing across (along) the CuO chains. A comparison of the results in c-oriented R${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ films and superlattices for various R and substrates reveals a nonmonotonic relation between the critical temperature and pressure.
Topological holes in space-time

We consider the solution of Einstein’s field equations on a manifold with a topological hole in the 3-geometry. We find that such a hole is repelled by ordinary matter and behaves as if it had negative gravitational mass and positive inertial mass even though it has no actual energy content. Topological holes do not radiate or absorb energy if placed in a thermal bath of particles and radiation and are thus rather benign objects. They represent spaces which are null-geodesic incomplete and hence singular. However, they are not more singular than the white holes forced upon us by quantum gravity. Since topological holes interact only gravitationally, they are difficult to observe.
The Structure of Elliptical Galaxies

Recent imaging investigations highlight the structural diversity of elliptical galaxies. The distribution of light within the cores and envelopes shows a wide range in central and average system stellar densities at any galaxy luminosity. These variations appear to offer new information on galaxy formation mechanisms. Understanding the common structural properties of elliptical galaxies leads to interesting applications such as their use as metric distance indicators or as probes of tidal interactions in first-ranked galaxies.
Taking a Chance in the Classroom: The American Community Survey

10.1080/09332480.2013.772392-F0001 Image courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau Each year since 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau has surveyed about 3.5 million households with the American Community Survey...
Reduction of a POMDP to an MDP

A partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) is an appropriate mathematical modeling tool for dynamic stochastic systems where portions or all of the system states are not completely observable to the decision maker. In this respect, POMDPs generalize completely observable Markov decision processes (MDPs) by allowing infinitely many states to address partial observability. However, the resulting models suffer tremendously from computational intractability even for relatively small problems. Therefore, POMDPs are frequently approximated by solving variants of completely observable MDPs defined on a grid of finite states. This article summarizes the relationships between completely and partially observable MDPs and derives inequalities for the POMDP value function using the optimal value function of the grid-based MDPs. Keywords: MDP; POMDP; grid-based approximation; linear programming
The Effects of Recovery Time from Heat Stress on Circulating Bioenergetic Variables and Biomarkers of Leaky Gut

The metabolic consequences of heat stress (HS) are atypical (i.e. hyperinsulinemia) considering the animal's nutritional status and a compromised intestinal barrier may initiate the pathophysiologi...
Bilateral internal iliac artery ligation in cervical pregnancy: Conservation of reproductive function

Like other forms of ectopic gestation, cervical pregnancy is a serious complication with potentially life-threatening consequences. Excessive bleeding almost invariably follows an attempt to evacuate this rare ectopic pregnancy. In most reported cases, hysterectomy has been required to control the severe hemorrhage. This paper reports for the first time the successful conservative management of cervical pregnancy in two patients by bilateral internal iliac artery ligation alone. Early recognition of the cervical pregnancy and prompt internal iliac artery ligation are stressed.
Chlamydia trachomatis type III secretion proteins regulate transcription

The Scc4 protein (CT663) of the pathogenic bacterium Chlamydia has been described as a type III secretion (T3S) chaperone as well as an inhibitor of RNA polymerase. To examine if these roles are connected, we first investigated physical interactions between Chlamydia trachomatis Scc4 and the T3S chaperone Scc1 and a T3S substrate, CopN. In a yeast 3-hybrid assay, Scc4, Scc1, and CopN were all required to detect an interaction, which suggests that these proteins form a trimolecular complex. We also detected interactions between any two of these three T3S proteins in a pulldown assay using only recombinant proteins. We next determined whether these interactions affected the function of Scc4 as an inhibitor of RNA transcription. Using Escherichia coli as a heterologous in vivo system, we demonstrated that expression of C. trachomatis Scc4 led to a drastic decrease in transcript levels for multiple genes. However, coexpression of Scc4 with Scc1, CopN, or both alleviated Scc4-mediated inhibition of transcription. Scc4 expression also severely impaired E. coli growth, but this growth defect was reversed by coexpression of Scc4 with Scc1, CopN, or both, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of Scc4 on transcription and growth can be antagonized by interactions between Scc4, Scc1, and CopN. These findings suggest that the dual functions of Scc4 may serve as a bridge to link T3S and the regulation of gene expression in Chlamydia. IMPORTANCE This study investigates a novel mechanism for regulating gene expression in the pathogenic bacterium Chlamydia. The Chlamydia type III secretion (T3S) chaperone Scc4 has been shown to inhibit transcription by RNA polymerase. This study describes physical interactions between Scc4 and the T3S proteins Scc1 and CopN. Furthermore, Chlamydia Scc1 and CopN antagonized the inhibitory effects of Scc4 on transcription and growth in a heterologous Escherichia coli system. These results provide evidence that transcription in Chlamydia can be regulated by the T3S system through interactions between T3S proteins.
Pellino-1 and Pellino-3b in endotoxin tolerance and TLR signaling (INM9P.458)

Endotoxin tolerance (ET) reprograms Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-inducible responses in monocytes and macrophages by attenuating expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines without suppressing anti-inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial effectors. We previously demonstrated deficient LPS-mediated TLR4-driven activation of IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) 4 and IRAK1 as critical hallmarks of endotoxin tolerance. E3 ubiquitin ligases Pellino regulate TLR signaling pathways via modifications of IRAK kinases. We examined the impact of ET on Pellino-1/3b expression and utilized overexpression and gene ablation approaches to establish their functions in TLR2/4 signaling. LPS stimulation increased Pellino-1 mRNA and protein expression in control THP-1 cells and human monocytes. Endotoxin-tolerant cells showed attenuated expression of Pellino-1 but maintained increased levels of Pellino-3b proteins. Overexpression of Pellino-1 in 293/TLR4/MD2 and 293/TLR2 cells enhanced Pam3Cys- and LPS-mediated NF-κB activation and cytokine gene expression, while Pellino-1 ablation reduced these responses demonstrating Pellino-1 as a positive regulator of TLR4 signaling. Pellino-3b overexpression reduced, whereas Pellino-3b gene knockdown increased TLR2/4-driven NF-kB activation and expression of inflammatory cytokines, establishing it as a negative regulator. These data suggest non-redundant functions for Pellino-1 and Pellino-3b within the TLR4 signaling pathways and implicate their role in ET.
Drosophila Evolutionary Genetics

Research in Drosophila evolutionary genetics is narrowing the gap between phenotypic and genotypic studies because these species are excellent organisms for laboratory use. Drosophila studies have contributed greatly to advances in evolutionary studies at the interface of ecology and genetics. Keywords: ecology; speciation; chromosomes; transposable elements; natural selection
Tunneling while Pulling: The Dependence of Tunneling Current on End-to-End Distance in a Flexible Molecule

Most molecules access a broad range of conformations at room temperature. Since electron-tunneling interactions are exponentially sensitive to geometry changes, thermal fluctuations are expected to have a large influence on room-temperature tunneling currents and scanning tunneling microscope images. We explore the influence of conformational freedom on tunneling currents in a simple model for tunneling mediated by a single small molecule that bridges between a model tip and substrate. The tip and substrate are described as semi-infinite structures. The bridging molecule and the metals are all described with tight-binding Hamiltonians. The conformationally averaged tunneling matrix element, proportional to the tunneling currents, is computed from thermally accessible molecular conformations. We vary the sulfur-to-sulfur separation distance in −S−(CH2)8−S− (n-octanedithiol) and, at each of these separations, compute the family of thermally accessible conformers. The two sulfur atoms are constrained to posi...
COMPOSING TRADEOFF MODELS FOR MULTI-ATTRIBUTE SYSTEM-LEVEL DECISION MAKING

In this paper, we study the prospects for modeling a system by composing tradeoff models of its components. A tradeoff model is an abstract representation of a system in terms of a predictive relationship between its top-level attributes. Designers can use this to predict the attributes they would achieve if they implemented the system. Prior approaches to generating tradeoff information are incompatible with model composition due to their reliance on classical Pareto dominance. We show that by using a generalization of this, called parameterized Pareto dominance, designers can produce tradeoff models that they can compose validly. The focus of this paper is on analyzing the modeling approach mathematically. The main result is proof that, under mild assumptions about how component-level attributes relate to system-level attributes, the approach is mathematically sound from a decision-theoretic perspective. The paper also includes a demonstration of the approach on the design of a hydraulic log splitter system using hydraulic component tradeoff models based on data about commercially-available components.
Interpreting Paleo-Avulsion Dynamics from Multistory Sand Bodies

Abstract Channel avulsion plays a significant role in building alluvial stratigraphy, including fluvial sand bodies with through-going erosion surfaces, called multistory sand bodies (MSBs); consequently, MSB characteristics may be useful for interpreting paleo-avulsion dynamics from fluvial deposits. Here, using a combination of literature review, geometric modeling, and field observations, we explore the degree to which MSB characteristics may be useful for interpreting paleo-avulsion dynamics from ancient deposits. We use published interpretations of MSB origins to identify characteristics that are exclusively associated with avulsion-related MSBs and find that vertical story stacking, irregular MSB bounding surfaces, and floodplain deposits that correlate with individual stories are attributes uniquely associated with avulsion-origin MSBs. To evaluate how avulsion patterns may affect MSB properties, we use a 2D geometric model to build synthetic stratigraphy and compare characteristics for MSBs formed under different avulsion patterns at a range of model-aggradation rates. Avulsion patterns include random (equal probability of a channel relocating anywhere across the model domain), compensational (channels avulse to the lowest elevation in the model domain at each time step), and clustered (where channel relocation is restricted to a zone near a previously occupied location). Model results show that at moderate to high aggradation rates, MSBs formed under clustered avulsion patterns can be differentiated from those formed via random and compensational avulsion patterns. Specifically, MSBs formed by clustered avulsion patterns have many stories and commonly contain remnant floodplain deposits. We apply these insights to the well-exposed lower Williams Fork Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Piceance Basin, Colorado, USA) to demonstrate how they can be used in practice. Fifty-four percent of lower Williams Fork MSBs contain clear evidence for avulsion reoccupation, 32% have characteristics suggesting intra-channel-belt origins, and the remaining 20% have ambiguous evidence or insufficient exposure to permit confident process interpretations. Overall this study demonstrates that despite inherent challenges in eliciting information about avulsion dynamics from the stratigraphic record, some MSB characteristics can be interpreted as clear signals of paleo-avulsion processes.
An illustration of modeling moderating variables in cross‐national studies

Purpose – This paper seeks to explore how moderation can and should be modeled in cross‐national/cultural contexts. A multi‐national study of consumer involvement is utilized to demonstrate proper methods for modeling the different types of moderation.Design/methodology/approach – Using data from a consumer survey regarding wine purchasing preferences conducted in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, the paper demonstrates how to identify moderators of form and of strength. A form moderator is modeled using multiplicative interactions while a strength moderator is modeled using multi‐group analyses in structural equation modeling (SEM). Differences in consumers across the three countries are examined from the results.Findings – This study suggests that search behavior is positively influenced by involvement in New Zealand and the USA but not in Australia. It also shows that perceived risk of occasion decreases involvement in all three countries, while partial support for the positive effects of importance ...
On transient creep bounds and approximate solutions for the torsion of thin strips

Abstract Integral equations are derived which govern transient primary and secondary creep in thin rectangular strips subject to torsion. Formal similarity between these equations and others arising in previous work are exploited to obtain bounds, monotonicity and convexity of the stress profile as well as uniform approximations.
Major intrinsic polypeptide (MIP26K) of the lens membrane: covalent change in an internal sequence during human senile cataractogenesis.

Abstract Polyclonal antisera to three synthetic peptides of bovine MIP26K have been used in combination with Western blot analysis to probe for changes of the MIP26K molecule during human senile cataractogenesis. Anti-MIP26K229–237 binds well to the 26K component from cataractous lens membranes, but binds poorly to the same component from normal lens. In contrast, antisera to two other sequences of MIP26K (anti-MIP26K252–259 and anti-MIP26K256–263) bind approximately equally well to the 26K component from either cataractous or normal lens. Together, these results demonstrate that during human cataract development there is a selective covalent change in a region of the MIP26K molecule that may have profound effects upon the ability of this molecule to facilitate intercellular communication between lens fiber cells.
Heat Maps: A Technique for Classifying and Analyzing Drinking Behavior

Heat maps are presented here as an innovative technique for evaluating longitudinal drinking outcomes. The Life Transitions Study followed alcohol dependent individuals for 2.5 years during 2004–2009 in a Midwestern city (N = 364). The TimeLine FollowBack obtained drinking information. Heat map results were compared with those obtained using growth mixture modeling. Heat map classes differed significantly on baseline clinical and demographic indicators. Data were gathered with support from NIAAA R01AA014442.
Atypical hypocomplementemic vasculitis syndrome in a child

We report a patient who developed recurrent urticaria and angioedema at age 2 years, severe hypocomplementemic glomerulonephritis at 11 years, and end-stage renal disease at 14 years. His disease resembled the hypocomplementemic vasculitis syndrome but was atypical in its early age of presentation, severe hypocomplementemia, and progression to end-stage renal disease. Serum Clq levels were extremely low, and C4, C2, C3, and C5 levels were significantly reduced. Serum C1 inhibitor (CIINH) levels were slightly low, presumably from consumption. Circulating CIINH-Clr-Cls complexes were evidenced by reduced ratios of functional to antigenic CIINH and antigenic Clr to Cls. Family members had normal functional and antigenic levels of all complement components studied. The patient's serum, erythrocytes, platelets, and mononuclear cells did not activate complement when mixed with normal target serum. Absence of a circulating complement activator and the low serum C3 and C5 levels suggested the presence of a solid-phase complement activator, possibly related to renal or systemic vascular endothelium. As in patients with homozygous deficiencies of classical pathway components, a severe, prolonged, acquired Clq deficiency may have predisposed this patient to the development of glomerulonephritis.