cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract LB-158: A human xenograft model for developing personalized targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer

Background: Effective treatment regimens for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are currently lacking. Molecular-targeted therapies, while promising, have been ineffective likely due to the heterogeneity and redundancy of molecular signaling pathways. Identification of predictors of response to defined targeted therapies is critical for the development of effective and personalized therapies. Methods: We have established a human PDAC tumor bank and have orthotopically implanted patient tumors into the pancreas of immunocompromised mice. Clinicopathologic data has been collected for each patient9s tumor. Tumors successfully propagated in mice are routinely screened for six genetic mutations commonly found in pancreatic cancer. Gene expression profiling and phospho-receptor tyrosine kinase (pRTK) arrays, cytokine arrays, and reverse phase protein arrays (RPPAs) are used to profile the activated signaling pathways in individual tumors. A unique genetic and molecular profile is then constructed for each human tumor. Ingenuity pathway analysis software (Ingenuity Systems, Inc., Redwood, CA) is being implemented to map the unique signaling network for each tumor using the genetic and molecular data. Results: To date 7 tumors have been analyzed, including 2 metastatic tumors and 5 primary adenocarcinomas. All tumors contained TP53 gene mutation, whereas 5 tumors exhibited mutated KRAS and 3 contained mutations in the SMAD4 gene. Analysis using pRTK arrays revealed universal activation of EGFR and variable activation of ErbB2/Her2, RON, Tie-2, FGF-R1 and 3, and Axl. The profile of pRTKs appeared stable upon tumor passage both in vivo and in culture. RPPAs revealed significant variation among tumors in activation for MAPK, AKT, SAPK, and p38. Additional cytokine/growth factor array analysis and gene expression profiling is currently underway. Conclusion: The establishment of an orthotopic human pancreatic cancer xenograft model allows for the systematic analysis of genetic and molecular characteristics of human tumors propagated within a relevant tumor microenvironment. This model affords the ability to assess tumor growth responses to targeted therapies currently in use for multiple malignancies and to correlate tumor response with genetic perturbations, changes in gene expression and activation of cell signaling networks. This model will be a significant step toward developing personalized targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-158.
Regeneration of an Iridium(III) Complex Active for Alkane Dehydrogenation Using Molecular Oxygen

(dmPhebox)Ir(OAc)2(OH2) (1a) has previously been found to promote stoichiometric alkane dehydrogenation, affording alkene, acetic acid, and the corresponding Ir hydride complex (dmPhebox)Ir(OAc)(H) (2a) in high yield. In this study, we describe the use of oxygen to quantitatively regenerate 1a from 2a and HOAc. Distinct reaction intermediates are observed during the conversion of 2a to 1a, depending upon the presence or absence of 1 equiv of acetic acid, highlighting potential mechanistic implications regarding alkane dehydrogenation catalysis and the use of oxygen as an oxidant in such systems.
Nanotechnology in Solar and Biofuels

The daunting energy challenges in the 21st century are a result of over-reliance on limited fossil fuels coupled with ever-increasing energy demand. Among the solutions is the development of technologies and infrastructures to help in the smooth transition to alternative and renewable energy sources. Nanotechnology, a combination of chemistry and engineering, is viewed as the new candidate for clean energy applications. It involves the manipulation of nanoscale structures to integrate them into larger material components and systems. In comparison to bulk materials, nanomaterials have high surface areas and are expected to exhibit higher activities. They also demonstrate better stability and durability and are more cost-effective with high recycling potential. This paper reviews selected recent advances in the development of nanotechnology in the emerging solar energy and biofuel fields. Special emphases are given to studies on photovoltaics (including Schottky junction solar cells, organic solar cells, q...
Laban for Student Actors: Probing Physical and Mental Limits

What moves a student of acting? Many undergraduate actors—and particularly those actors in their first or second year of study—experience movement in two distinct and problematically separate realm...
Meningococcemia: recognizing and reducing complications in pediatric patients

Meningococcemia is a true infectious emergency that requires tremendous skill and collaboration among health-care professionals to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. Complications and sequelae may effect virtually every body system with meningococcal disease. The critical care nurse plays a crucial role in preventing and recognizing complications to reduce serious consequences, including respiratory distress syndrome, myocarditis, cardiovascular collapse, coagulopathies, major skin loss, and limb amputations.
Urine CXCL10/IP-10 Fingers Ongoing Antibody-Mediated Kidney Graft Rejection

Location matters! The trafficking and positioning of cells within the innate and adaptive immune compartments are key features of the immune system that optimize the generation of responses to pathogens and to other inflammatory stimuli. This positioning is directed through the production of
Closed-Loop Hybrid Simulation for Injection Type of Line Selection Device in Neutral Un-Effectual Grounded System Based on Real-Time Digital Simulator

Firstly this paper introduced the working principle of a typical injection type line selection device,then built the simulating platform for neutral un-effectual grounded system on real-time digital simulator(RTDS).On this basis,a closed-loop hybrid simulation platform was built for the injection type of line selection device in neutral un-effectual grounded system.Then the simulation results were compared with the fault record of manual grounding test,which demonstrates the platform is suitable for testing this kind of apparatus.
A computational modeling of rapid attitude formation during surveys about immigrants and immigration

Several theoretical models provide the basis for the interaction of the constructs of external social pressures during rapid attitude formation. Current modes of survey research have difficulty dealing with the complex non-linear dynamic effects such as social pressures on attitudinal formation. The interaction of the resultant constructs within the context of this study is due to the inherent confounding nature of the constructs themselves during the critical formative time for attitudes during questioning. During questioning and attitude formation, overlapping constructs link together psychologically. While the linkage between similar constructs is understandable, the lack of descriptive and computational causal models creates difficulty in identifying a mechanism of action. More importantly, the underlying confounding factors reduce the effective targeting of items during survey administration. The authors of this study seek to develop a causal and empirical computational model through a structural equation model and an underlying artificial neural network allowing for an argument outlining the psychological nature of the linkage between two interrelated constructs. Results suggest good model fit for both the structural equation model and the underlying artificial neural network. Results further illustrate that the artificial neural network acts as a sufficient means to model rapid attitudinal formation. We examine the role of social pressure in rapid attitude formation.We examine the use of Artificial Neural Networks to computationally model psychological process.This study supplies a potential computational mechanism of action for the effects of social pressure.
The elasticity of reality and British support for the war in Afghanistan

Building on recent efforts to bridge the elites/events dichotomy in the wartime opinion literature, we test the explanatory power of, and offer a theoretical extension to, the elasticity of reality hypothesis using the case of British support for the war in Afghanistan from 2001 through 2010. Marshaling an array of aggregate, individual-level and experimental survey data, as well as an original database of 2677 content-coded newspaper articles, we find evidence that the unshaken elite consensus behind the Afghan campaign failed to sustain strong support for war, even among the most politically engaged segments of the British public. However, we do find evidence that elites retained a measure of influence over citizens’ prospective attitudes about the war’s future conduct, even as they were unable to influence more general and retrospective assessments of Britain’s involvement in the conflict.In stark contrast to theories of elite opinion leadership, a cross-partisan elite consensus failed to maintain stro...
Endothelial dysfunction and coronary heart disease. Interaction of endothelium and thrombocytes

Aggregating thrombocytes release various mediators acting on endothelium and muscle cells of coronary arteries. In coronary arteries without endothelium, platelets induce potent vasoconstriction, whereas in segments with endothelium platelets induce relaxation. This endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by platelets is caused by the endothelial relaxation factor EDRF or nitric oxide (NO). NO inhibits not only smooth muscle cells of the vessels but also platelets themselves, an effect which is potentiated by prostacyclin. The physiologic importance of platelets-mediated contraction after removal of the vascular endothelium concerns the vascular phase of hemostasis. With the appearance of functional endothelial disorders, particularly in patients with cardiovascular risk factors, disturbances of coronary circulation can arise and finally cause ischemia. The finding that regenerated endothelial cells show functional defects especially towards the action of platelets (mainly the serotonin released from platelets) is important. In this functional disorder a dysfunction of Gi-protein of the endothelial 5HT1-serotonergic receptor plays a decisive role. Similar functional endothelial disorders can be shown after ischemia and reperfusion as well as in arteriosclerosis.
Capsid-CPSF6 Interaction Is Dispensable for HIV-1 Replication in Primary Cells but Is Selected during Virus Passage In Vivo

ABSTRACT Cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor subunit 6 (CPSF6), a host factor that interacts with the HIV-1 capsid (CA) protein, is implicated in diverse functions during the early part of the HIV-1 life cycle, including uncoating, nuclear entry, and integration targeting. Preservation of CA binding to CPSF6 in vivo suggests that this interaction is fine-tuned for efficient HIV-1 replication in physiologically relevant settings. Nevertheless, this possibility has not been formally examined. To assess the requirement for optimal CPSF6-CA binding during infection of primary cells and in vivo , we utilized a novel CA mutation, A77V, that significantly reduced CA binding to CPSF6. The A77V mutation rendered HIV-1 largely independent from TNPO3, NUP358, and NUP153 for infection and altered the integration site preference of HIV-1 without any discernible effects during the late steps of the virus life cycle. Surprisingly, the A77V mutant virus maintained the ability to replicate in monocyte-derived macrophages, primary CD4 + T cells, and humanized mice at a level comparable to that for the wild-type (WT) virus. Nonetheless, revertant viruses that restored the WT CA sequence and hence CA binding to CPSF6 emerged in three out of four A77V-infected animals. These results suggest that the optimal interaction of CA with CPSF6, though not absolutely essential for HIV-1 replication in physiologically relevant settings, confers a significant fitness advantage to the virus and thus is strictly conserved among naturally circulating HIV-1 strains. IMPORTANCE CPSF6 interacts with the HIV-1 capsid (CA) protein and has been implicated in nuclear entry and integration targeting. Preservation of CPSF6-CA binding across various HIV-1 strains suggested that the optimal interaction between CA and CPSF6 is critical during HIV-1 replication in vivo . Here, we identified a novel HIV-1 capsid mutant that reduces binding to CPSF6, is largely independent from the known cofactors for nuclear entry, and alters integration site preference. Despite these changes, virus carrying this mutation replicated in humanized mice at levels indistinguishable from those of the wild-type virus. However, in the majority of the animals, the mutant virus reverted back to the wild-type sequence, hence restoring the wild-type level of CA-CPSF6 interactions. These results suggest that optimal binding of CA to CPSF6 is not absolutely essential for HIV-1 replication in vivo but provides a fitness advantage that leads to the widespread usage of CPSF6 by HIV-1 in vivo .
CO2 and soil water potential as regulators of the growth and N fraction derived from fixation of a legume in tallgrass prairie communities

CO2 enrichment may increase N input to ecosystems by increasing N2 fixation, but the fixation-CO2 response depends on factors such as soil water availability that are influenced by soil properties. We used the δ 15N natural abundance method to estimate the proportion of N in the legume Desmanthus illinoensis that was derived from N2 fixation following 2–8 years of growth along a subambient to elevated CO2 gradient. Desmanthus was grown in tallgrass prairie communities on each of three soils of differing texture. Only on a clay soil was it possible to calculate fixation (Nfix; g N m−2). The fraction of legume N derived from fixation (Ndfa) decreased by 20 % as CO2 increased from subambient to elevated concentrations. The negative effect of reduced Ndfa on Nfix was obscured by variation in Desmanthus production along the CO2 gradient that was positively linked to the ANPP-CO2 response of communities. Across soils, legume production was negatively correlated with soil water potential to 0.3 m depth (Ψsoil). Nfix in grasslands may depend primarily on Ψsoil as influenced by soil hydrological properties. CO2 enrichment may reduce Nfix during years in which the legume-CO2 and related ANPP-CO2 response is small by depressing Ndfa.
Spawn date explains variation in growth rate among families of hatchery reared Hood River steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss )

Body size at release for hatchery-reared steelhead is positively correlated with probability of survival to return as an adult. Although the relationship between body size and survival is well documented, little is known about what factors influence growth in the hatchery at the family level. We test if parent length, parent type (hatchery or natural), parent run date, or date of spawning correlate with among-family variation in offspring growth in the hatchery. Using Hood River winter steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), two experiments were performed over two brood years. No effect of father length, parental type, or parental run date was found on offspring length in either year. Mother length was positively correlated with offspring length during both brood years and egg size data suggest this result occurs because longer females have larger eggs (i.e., it is a maternal effect). Although run date of parents was not correlated with offspring size, the date of spawning was negatively correlated with offspring size in a year with a protracted spawning season. Families spawned later in the season were smaller than those spawned earlier even though all fish began feeding on the same date. The spawn date effect lasted surprisingly long, being correlated with offspring size one year after spawning. A possible explanation for the spawn date effect is that eggs from early-spawned families were reared in chilled water to slow development so all families would begin feeding on the same date (a common hatchery practice). Colder water could have reduced metabolic costs and provided a surplus of energy to be used for somatic growth. This study highlights a little-studied environmental effect that could have large effects on long-term growth rates for hatchery-reared O. mykiss.
TKI combination therapy: strategy to enhance dasatinib uptake by inhibiting Pgp‐ and BCRP‐mediated efflux

The overexpression of efflux transporters, especially P-glycoprotein (Pgp, MDR1, ABCB1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP, ABCG2), represents an important mechanism of multidrug resistance (MDR). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), a novel group of target-specific anticancer drugs, have recently been found to interact with Pgp and BCRP and to serve as both substrates and inhibitors. Considering their dual role, we anticipate that combination TKI therapy may represent a promising strategy to reverse efflux transporter mediated TKI resistance. Presently, investigations on these interactions are very limited. To fill the literature gap, dasatinib was used as the model drug and the effects of various TKIs on Pgp- and BCRP- mediated dasatinib efflux were evaluated. Cell uptake studies were performed using LLC-PK1 and MDCK-II cells along with their subclones that were transfected with human Pgp and BCRP, respectively. Among the 14 TKIs screened, nine TKIs greatly inhibited Pgp-mediated dasatinib efflux at 50 μm. Further concentration dependent studies showed that imatinib, nilotinib and pazopanib were potent Pgp inhibitors with IC50 values of 2.42, 6.11 and 8.06 μm, respectively. Additionally, 50 μm of five TKIs greatly increased dasatinib accumulation through BCRP inhibition. Concentration dependent studies revealed that imatinib, erlotinib, nilotinib, axitinib and pazopanib were potent BCRP inhibitors with IC50 values of 0.94, 2.23, 2.50, 6.89 and 10.4 μm, respectively. Our findings point to potential combinations of TKIs that could enhance intracellular concentrations of the targeted TKI, overcome MDR and improve TKI efficacy. Further in vivo studies are warranted to confirm the efflux transporter-mediated TKI–TKI interaction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nature as organic chemist

By the time I entered Harvard College in the fall of 1962, I knew, or thought I knew, that I wanted to become a scientist. In fact, I had very little idea what that actually meant, nor did I even know what branch of science to choose. My interest in chemistry was quickly kindled, however, by Prof Leonard K Nash’s introductory course in general chemistry. I was not only smitten by the subject itself but also I was inspired by Prof Nash’s informative and entertaining lectures, and his warm and scintillating personality. Indeed for many years thereafter, Prof Nash continued to be a source of encouragement and advice on both science and the art of teaching.
A dress rehearsal for a presidential campaign: FDR's embodied “run” for the 1928 governorship

Franklin D. Roosevelt knew that the only way he could convince voters that he was physically fit to resume political office after contracting polio was based on his ability to appear to be cured of infantile paralysis. For Roosevelt, this meant standing and walking. He achieved his goal through a rhetorical strategy that was both verbal and visual. His run for the New York Governorship in 1928 can be productively read through the lens of disability. Thus, I detail Roosevelt as extensive travel and its inclusion in his addresses, his physical presence, the use of metaphors that implied bodily abilities, his recovery from polio, sarcasm against accusations of poor health, and attacks on religious bigotry and prejudices in general, inclusive of those disabled. Roosevelt would repeat and even replicate several features of his gubernatorial campaign when he ran for the presidency in 1932.
Impact of Monovalent Counter-ions on the Conformation of Flexible Polyelectrolytes Having Different Molecular Architectures

The crystal structure and phase transformations of iron sulfide nanomaterials have interesting properties that can be utilized in solar cells, biological and other applications. Iron (III) complexes piperidine (1) and tetrahydroquinoline (2) dithiocarbamate have been synthesized and subsequently utilized as single source precursors for the preparation of iron sulfide nanoparticles by solvothermal and pyrolysis methods. The powder X-ray diffraction (p-XRD) studies gave crystalline information of the iron sulfide nanoparticles which were dependent on the reaction conditions. Only the greigite phase (Fe3S4) was obtained when the solvothermal method was used during the synthesis. The pyrolysis method gave a mixture of pyrite (FeS2) and pyrrhotite phases when complex (1) was used while complex (2) gave pure pyrrhotite. Well interconnected microstructures and nanoflakes-like structures were obtained by scanning electron microscopy imaging. Furthermore, magnetic properties of the as-synthesized nanoparticles displayed ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic behaviour, typical of greigite and pyrrhotite nanoparticles respectively. A direct band gap of 2.70 eV was obtained according to optical absorption studies.
The Spectrum of Columnar Cell Lesions

Columnar cell lesions encompass a group of epithelial proliferations that arise within dilated acini in terminal duct lobular units. Columnar cell lesions have undergone different classifications and have been referred to by a variety of other names in the earlier literature. The current World Health Organization (WHO) classification includes the non-atypical columnar cell lesions—columnar cell change and columnar cell hyperplasia, and atypical forms—columnar cell change and columnar cell hyperplasia with cytologic atypia, which are collectively referred to as flat epithelial atypia. Columnar cell lesions are frequently the targeted lesions in stereotactic biopsies performed for mammographic calcifications. With the increased use of screening imaging and advances in mammography, these lesions are commonly encountered in the core biopsy setting. Most studies addressing the clinical significance of columnar cell lesions have focused on the immediate concern of whether or not to excise these lesions, particularly flat epithelial atypia, when diagnosed in a core biopsy sample. This chapter will review the relevant clinical and histopathologic features of columnar cell lesions, the microscopic differential diagnoses, and management of columnar cell lesions diagnosed in a core biopsy.
From Database to Web Browser: The Solutions to Data Access

The ability to access corporate data from the Web is the powerful engine of E-commerce. There are several underlying reasons of the importance of data access solutions. Evolved from static hypertext retrieval and CGI applications, database access solutions are more advanced and specialized, which can be categorized into three types. Microsoft's Universal Data Access is a platform, application, and tools initiative that defines and delivers both standards and technologies providing access to information across the enterprise. Universal Data Access provides high-performance access to a variety of data and information sources on multiple platforms and an easy-to-use-programming interface that works with practically any tool or language. OLE DB and ADO are two basic building blocks of UDA. When choosing appropriate solutions to data access, there are four main criteria used in the decision-making process: technical feasibility, operational feasibility, economic feasibility, and legal feasibility. Database-to-...
Self-dual approximations to fully convex impulsive systems

Fully convex optimal control problems contain a Lagrangian that is jointly convex in the state and velocity variables. Problems of this kind have been widely investigated by Rockafellar and collaborators if the Lagrangian is coercive and without state constraints. A lack of coercivity implies the dual has nontrivial state constraints, and vice versa (that is, they are dual concepts in convex analysis). We consider a framework using Goebel's self-dualizing technique that approximates both the primal and dual problem simultaneously and maintains the duality relationship. Previous results are applicable to the approximations, and we investigate the limiting behavior as the approximations approach the original problem. A specific example is worked out in detail.
Gene Therapy for Tolerance to Factor VIII Induced with B Cells and Bone Marrow Transduced with FVIII Domains.

Abstract Tolerance induction for hemophilia inhibitor formation has recently been achieved by gene therapy using B cells transduced with a fusion protein of C2 and A2 domains of factor VIII with an IgG heavy chain. We have shown that inhibitor titers can be reduced over 90% by this approach in both naive and highly immunized FVIII knockout mice (FVIII−/−). This process requires the presence of CD25+ regulatory cells for induction, and is stable for at least three months (Lei, T-C. and Scott, D.W. 2005. Induction of tolerance to fVIII inhibitors by gene therapy with immunodominant A2 and C2 domains presented by B-cells as Ig fusion proteins. Blood, 105: 4865–4870). Herein, we wished to establish whether retroviral transduction and integration of the fusion Ig was necessary for tolerance. In addition, we also tested whether transduction of bone marrow could lead to long-term tolerance. B cells (resting and LPS blasts) from FVIII sufficient C57Bl/6 and FVIII−/− mice were pulsed with FVIII and injected into naive FVIII−/− recipients that were subsequently challenged with therapeutic doses of FVIII in an immunogenic protocol. We reasoned that C57Bl/6 mice were FVIII sufficient and could display FVIII processed epitopes within their MHC class II. Moreover, pulsing with FVIII should lead to presentation of processed epitopes transiently in class II MHC. We found that specific tolerance to FVIII was only induced with B cells transduced with a combination of A2-IgG and C2-IgG, indicating that transient expression of FVIII epitopes and presentation by B cells is not sufficient for tolerance induction. Download : Download high-res image (119KB) Download : Download full-size image In further studies, we examined whether tolerance could be induced by bone marrow transplantation of C2-Ig and A2-Ig transduced hematopoietic stem cells under a non-myeloablative regimen with busulfan in immunized FVIII−/− mice. This protocol could lead to long-term tolerance if pluripotential stem cells were transduced and engrafted. Our results indicate that tolerance to FVIII domains could be achieved even though the level of expression of GFP positive cells in peripheral blood of busulfan-treated mice was less than 1% (compared to >50% positive cells in lethally irradiated recipients of similarly transduced bone marrow cells). These results have implications for long-term therapy of inhibitor formation in hemophilia A. (Supported by NIH grants HL061883, AI035622 and a Lab Grant from the National Hemophilia Foundation.)
Evaluation of Order Fulfillment Options in Retail Supply Chains

Retailers face a major operational challenge in fulfilling online orders while managing their traditional store-based distribution processes. In this context, the following order fulfillment options available to retailers are considered: store-facing distribution centers (DCs), dedicated order fulfillment facilities (DTC), retail stores, and direct-fill by vendors. A framework for the online order fulfillment process is developed to evaluate these options using operational and financial measures collected from a large U.S. retailer. The study presents managerial insights regarding each fulfillment option and identifies operational and cost thresholds where a particular fulfillment option would be preferred. The results show that due to better order fulfillment efficiency, distribution facilities (DC and DTC) out-perform fulfillment from stores and vendors. However, retailers can leverage their network of stores to overcome the shortfall in store-based fulfillment costs by focusing on the order delivery process. The analysis presented in this article is useful for practice as it helps retailers identify options that best suit their order fulfillment strategy.
Promoting Democratic Engagement during College: Looking beyond Service-Learning.

AbstractPreparing students to be engaged participants in our democratic society has long been an important college outcome. Over the past few decades, postsecondary institutions have primarily attempted to improve civic outcomes by integrating service activities into their curricula. While research on the effects of service-learning are plentiful, research on how other educationally beneficial activities influence democratic outcomes is scarce. In this study, we find that service-learning may not be the only means for promoting democratic outcomes because other high impact practices, most prominently learning communities, have greater or equivalent relationship to two dimensions of democratic engagement.
Separating the Bruce and Trivers-Willard effects in theory and in human data

OBJECTIVES Theories of reproductive suppression predict that natural selection would conserve mechanisms that abort the gestation of offspring otherwise unlikely to thrive in prevailing environments. Research reports evidence among humans of at least two such mechanisms-the Trivers-Willard and Bruce Effects. No literature, however, compares the mechanisms nor estimates their relative contribution to observed characteristics of human birth cohorts. We describe similarities and differences between the Trivers-Willard and Bruce Effects and explore high quality historical data from Sweden to determine which mechanism better describes temporal variation in the ratio of males to females in birth cohorts. METHODS We measure Trivers-Willard exposures with the death rate among women of reproductive age. We measure Bruce exposures with the death rate among children. We use time-series regression methods to estimate the relative contribution of the Trivers-Willard and Bruce Effects to temporal variation in historical Swedish secondary sex ratio data. RESULTS We find that the Bruce Effect appears to be a better predictor of the secondary sex ratio than does the Trivers-Willard Effect. CONCLUSIONS Attempts to identify mechanisms by which reproductive suppression affects fetal loss and characteristics of human birth cohorts should consider the Bruce Effect as an alternative to the Trivers-Willard Effect.
Auf das Unerwartete vorbereitet sein – Reaktion auf einen Katastrophenfall am Beispiel des Taifun Haiyan in den Philippinen

Humanitare Hilfe bedeutet auch, sich auf Situationen vorzubereiten, die wenig vorhersehbar sind, um den betroffenen Menschen schnell, professionell und effektiv helfen zu konnen. Seit 2010 hat Plan International, eine eigentlich auf nachhaltige Entwicklungszusammenarbeit insbesondere fur Kinder ausgerichtete Organisation, in 166 Krisenfallen reagiert und 165 Mio. Menschen unterstutzt. Ein Team von 140 humanitaren Experten steht weltweit in den 71 Plan-Landern bereit, um im Katastrophenfall eingesetzt zu werden. Klare Strategien und Ablaufplane sollen hochst mogliche Effektivitat von der Einwerbung der Spenden, der Lobby- und Offentlichkeitsarbeit uber die Umsetzung der Projekte bis zu einer anschliesenden Evaluierung gewahrleisten. Im Zentrum steht das Wohl der Kinder, die in humanitaren Katastrophensituationen besonders gefahrdet sind. Neben akuter Nothilfe fokussiert sich die Arbeit von Plan auf Bildung fur Kinder und deren Schutz. Zudem geht es darum, die Kinder und ihre Familien auf mogliche kunftige Krisenfalle vorzubereiten und sie darin zu starken. In enger Zusammenarbeit mit den Menschen vor Ort gelingt es, Nothilfe wieder in langfristige Entwicklungszusammenarbeit umzuwandeln.
High Performance Tin-coated Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanofiber Array Anode for Lithium-ion Batteries

This study reports a high-performance tin (Sn)-coated vertically aligned carbon nanofiber array anode for lithium-ion batteries. The array electrodes have been prepared by coaxial sputter-coating of tin (Sn) shells on vertically aligned carbon nanofiber (VACNF) cores. The robust brush-like highly conductive VACNFs effectively connect high-capacity Sn shells for lithium-ion storage. A high specific capacity of 815 mAh g-1 of Sn was obtained at C/20 rate, reaching toward the maximum value of Sn. However, the electrode shows poor cycling performance with conventional LiPF6 based organic electrolyte. The addition of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) improve the performance significantly and the Sn-coated VACNFs anode shows stable cycling performance. The Sn-coated VACNF array anodes exhibit outstanding capacity retention in the half-cell tests with electrolyte containing 10 wt.% FEC and could deliver a reversible capacity of 480 mAh g-1 after 50 cycles at C/3 rate.
Specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, and resistivity of an U 0.85 La 0.15 Al 2 alloy

The compound U${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$ exhibits ferromagnetic spin fluctuations at low temperatures. When 15 at.% La is substituted for U in U${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$, we find the low-temperature magnetic susceptibility increases by more than a factor of 2. We have also measured specific heat on this sample at low temperatures. We find that the electronic density of states has increased by 60% and the spin-fluctuation contribution has increased by a factor of 2. We conclude from these measurements that the Stoner enhancement factor has increased by \ensuremath{\sim}30% and the spin-fluctuation temperature has increased by \ensuremath{\sim}50% as compared with U${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$. In addition, we have measured the electrical resistivity of ${\mathrm{U}}_{0.85}$${\mathrm{La}}_{0.15}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$. We find the residual resistivity to be approximately an order of magnitude larger than that of U${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$. We attribute this effect to the breaking of U---U bonds by the La atoms.
The Intrauterine Device

The intrauterine device (IUD) may be an ideal contraceptive method for adolescents. Adolescents have high rates of unintended pregnancy and rapid repeat pregnancy and are less successful than older women in the use of short-acting methods such as oral contraceptives. The IUD holds promise for reducing unintended pregnancy in adolescents given the single act of motivation required to initiate and maintain use, top tier effectiveness, low complication rates, favorable side effect profile, and high continuation rates. Although evidence specific to adolescents and IUD use is limited, existing data are reassuring that adolescents experience few complications and enjoy similar high satisfaction rates as older women. A number of ongoing studies will yield additional guidance in the use of IUDs in adolescents.
ARPA’S Prospective of Defense Conversion Opportunities for the Wireless Industry

The plan for the panel session was for me to give an overview from the ARPA prospective of where we see the opportunities in wireless communications, and some of the things that have been happening in defense conversion and in the ARPA managed technology reinvestment project, which is the main technical thrust of defense conversion. Then we will turn it over to the panel members to make their own pitches, somewhere around a 5 minute time frame, about their views on opportunities and challenges in defense conversion for wireless communications. By-the-way, if you do have some good ideas on defense conversion, we are still collecting topics, so I encourage you to try and contact me if there is some wild and crazy idea you have in the course of this panel session.
Chapter 11 – BRANCHING PROCESSES

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on branching processes. There are numerous examples of Markov branching processes that arise naturally in various scientific disciplines. An electron multiplier is a device that amplifies a weak current of electrons. A series of plates are set up in the path of electrons emitted by a source. Each electron, as it strikes the first plate, generates a random number of new electrons, which in turn strikes the next plate and produces more electrons. In a neutron chain reaction, a nucleus is split by a chance collision with a neutron. The resulting fission yields a random number of new neutrons. Each of these secondary neutrons may hit some other nucleus producing a random number of additional neutrons. Each individual gene has a chance to give birth to k offspring, k = 1, 2, …, which are genes of the same kind. However, any individual has a chance to transform into a different type or mutant gene. This gene may become the first in a sequence of generations of a particular mutant gene. The chapter discusses the chances of survival of the mutant gene within the population of the original genes.
An Enhanced Target Price Setting Approach to Improve the Reliability

The target prices issued by analysts have often been suspected by the market participants and most of them actually have been found unachievable. In practice, there are a series of quantitative and qualitative factors can influence the reliability of target price. Among these factors, the imperfect target price setting methods have significant adverse impacts. Therefore, this study offers a comprehensive overview of the relevant research works on target price setting techniques, and then presents an enhanced setting approach in order to produce more reliable target price. In particular, it emphasizes the importance of applying a combination of valuation models at the same time and provides effective solutions to common but unsolved question about how to combine a range of value estimates. The partial least square regression approach (PLSRA) and Bayesian triangulation approach (BTA) are preferred than the simple weighted average method to combine various value estimates. The case-by-case adjustments have also been emphasized and recommended. Besides, this study distinguishes the value estimate with target price, it designs a new testing technique to measure the reliability of value estimates based on their accuracy and explanatory power. It also improves the existing methods to test target prices by classifying target prices into five explicit recommendation groups and then measure their reliability respectively.
Membrane-less and Non-Evaporative Desalination of Hypersaline Brines by Temperature Swing Solvent Extraction

Hypersaline brines are of growing environmental importance but are technologically under-served by today’s desalination methods. Temperature swing solvent extraction (TSSE) is a radically different desalination technology that is membrane-less and not based on evaporative phase change. TSSE utilizes low-temperature heat and a low-polarity solvent with temperature-dependent water solubility for the selective extraction of water over salt from saline feeds. This study demonstrates TSSE desalination of high-salinity brines simulated by NaCl solutions with three amine solvents: diisopropylamine (DIPA), N-ethylcyclohexylamine (ECHA), and N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA). We show that TSSE can desalinate brines with salinities as high as ≈234000 ppm total dissolved solids (i.e., 4.0 M NaCl) and achieve salt removals up to 98.4%. Among the solvents, DIPA exhibited the highest water extraction efficiency whereas ECHA and DMCHA produced water with the lowest salt content and solvent residue content, respectivel...
Development and Implementation of an Interdisciplinary Intensive Primary Care Clinic for High-Need High-Cost Patients in a Safety Net Hospital.

In 2010, payment for some of Hennepin County Medical Center's highest need patients changed from fee for service to a per capita formula. This financial stress led the institution to employ a popul...
Integrative Analysis to Identify Race-Associated Metabolite Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Compared to European-Americans (EAs), the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is higher in African-Americans (AAs) and is associated with more advanced tumor stage at diagnosis and lower survival rates. The increasing burden makes discovery of novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers distinguishing HCC from underlying cirrhosis a significant focus. In this study, we analyzed tissue and serum samples from 40 HCC cases and 25 patients with liver cirrhosis to identify candidate biomarkers that distinguish HCC from cirrhotic patients in a race specific manner. Through integrative analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic data, we investigated candidate metabolite biomarkers that are specific to AAs and EAs. The results from this demonstrate the utility of integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic data to prioritize clinically and biologically relevant metabolite biomarkers that can increase understanding of molecular mechanisms driving HCC in different racial groups.
Estimating the Effects of a Hurricane on Carbon Storage in Mangrove Wetlands in Southwest Florida.

Tropical and subtropical mangrove swamps, under normal conditions, can sequester large amounts of carbon in their soils but as coastal wetlands, they are prone to hurricane disturbances. This study adds to the understanding of carbon storage capabilities of mangrove wetlands and explores how these capacities might change within the scope of a changing storm climate. In September 2017, Naples Bay, FL, USA (28°5′ N, 81°47′ W) encountered a direct hit from hurricane Irma, a Saffir–Simpson category 3 storm. By comparing carbon storage, forest community structure, and aboveground productivity collected in 2013 and in 2019, we estimated the effects of hurricane Irma on mangrove functions. Aboveground biomass increased during the study period at a rate of approximately 0.72 kg m−2 yr−1, significantly less than the average found in undisturbed mangrove forests. Soil carbon storage decreased at all study sites. On average, 2.7 kg-C m−2 was lost in the top 20 cm between sample collections. Carbon loss in belowground pools could point to a feedback of mangrove swamps on climate change as they lose their ability to store carbon and increase net atmospheric carbon. Nevertheless, mangrove swamps remain resilient to tropical storms in the long term and can recover their carbon storage capacity in the years following a storm.
SPANS OF POLYMER CHAINS

The span of an N-segment chain in a given direction, e, is defined as the maximum distance between parallel planes normal to e which contain segments of the chain. We present a simple derivation of Daniel's result for the span of a random chain. We have generalized this simple derivation and have calculated: (1) 〈Xring〉, the average span of an N-segment random polymer ring; (2) 〈Xsurf.〉, the average span in the direction normal to the solution surface of an N-segment chain which is attached at one end to the surface; (3) In addition, we have obtained the exact solution of a problem treated by Hollingsworth, the calculation of 〈RHoll.〉, the average distance between the first segment and the most distant segment in an N-segment polymer chain. The results are: 〈Xring〉=(πN/6)1/2≅0.724N1/2〈Xsurf〉=2ln 2(πN/6)1/2≅1.003N1/2〈XHoll.〉=12π(πN/6)1/2≅1.137N1/2. For reference purposes we note that the average span calculated by Daniels for an N-segment polymer chain is 〈X〉 = 2(2N/3π)1/2 ≅ 0.921N1/2 and the root-mean-square end-to-end distance is 〈rN2)1/2 = N1/2. The spans of each chain configuration in the directions defined by the principal components of the square radius of gyration of the chain have been determined. The relative values of the average squares of the spans in the directions of the largest, intermediate, and smallest components of the square radius of gyration are found to be 6.7:2.2:1 in the case of the unrestricted polymer chain model. For the same model, Solc and Stockmayer obtained the following set of relative values of the ordered principal components of the square radius of gyration, 11.7:2.7:1. We have determined that the apparent difference between these two sets of relative average dimensions arises from a different segment density distribution in the different principal directions.
Experiencing Art: In the Brain of the Beholder

Table of Contents Chapter 1: Overture Act I: The Art of Seeing Chapter 2: The Eye as Canvas, the Brain as Beholder Chapter 3. The Illusion of Form Chapter 4: Making a Scene Act II: The Art of Knowing Chapter 5. How Do You Know? Chapter 6: Remembrance of Past Things Chapter 7: You Are Cultured Act III: The Art of Feeling Chapter 8: Arousing Emotions Chapter 9: Body Language Chapter 10: I Know How You Feel Chapter 11: Coda
Linear Mathematical Programming

Mathematical programming is concerned with the extremization of a function f defined over an n-dimensional design space R n and bounded by a set S in the design space. The set S may be defined by equality or inequality constraints, and these constraints may assume linear or nonlinear form. The function f together with the set S in the domain of f is called a mathematical program or a mathematical programming problem. This terminology is in common usage in the context of problems which arise in planning and scheduling which are generally studied under operations research; the branch of mathematics concerned with the decision making process. Mathematical programming problems may be classified into several different categories depending on the nature and form of the design variables, constraint functions, and the objective function. However, only two of these categories are of interest to us, namely the linear and the nonlinear programming (commonly designated as LP and NLP, respectively).
Teaching freshmen VB.NET: anticipated and unexpected issues: panel discussion

Teaching computer programming to beginners has always been an experience filled with challenges and rewards, but the advent of the new Microsoft .NET Framework has brought new issues and opportunities to the classroom. Many colleges offer Visual Basic as a beginning programming course, and this presentation provides a view of the special problems and concerns that have arisen as a result of the complete re-write of VB in the .NET environment. Just as most of us were getting comfortable teaching Version 6.0, the whole world changed.
The comprehensive treatment team in rehabilitation.

Abstract Rehabilitation has prospered in the last several years, but that prosperity is threatened by competition, manpower shortages, continuing preoccupation with costs, and government deliberations about funding changes. The comprehensive treatment team has been the foundation of rehabilitation, but its appropriateness has to be looked at in light of current conditions in health care. Evidence of its effectiveness has been meager. This article is an examination of the origins of the team, its current functioning, and its research on effectiveness. Several alternatives to the current delivery system are suggested, although economic forces may overtake atempts to establish effectiveness by research.