cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variational data assimilation of microwave radiobrightness observations for land surface hydrology applications

Our ability to accurately describe large-scale variations in soil moisture is severely restricted by process uncertainty and the limited availability of appropriate soil moisture data. Remotely sensed microwave radiobrightness observations can cover large scales but have limited resolution and are only indirectly related to the hydrologic variables of interest. The authors describe a four-dimensional (4D) variational assimilation algorithm that makes best use of available information while accounting for both measurement and model uncertainty. The representer method used is more efficient than a Kalman filter because it avoids explicit propagation of state error covariances. In a synthetic example, which is based on a field experiment, the authors demonstrate estimation performance by examining data residuals. Such tests provide a convenient way to check the statistical assumptions of the approach and to assess its operational feasibility. Internally computed covariances show that the estimation error decreases with increasing soil moisture. An adjoint analysis reveals that trends in model errors in the soil moisture equation can be estimated from daily L-band brightness measurements, whereas model errors in the soil and canopy temperature equations cannot be adequately retrieved from daily data alone. Nonetheless, state estimates obtained from the assimilation algorithm improve significantly on prior model predictions derived without assimilation of radiobrightness data.
Reaction time as a predictor for change-of-direction speed in male soccer players

Background and Objectives: Measures of reaction time performance (RTP) to visual stimuli have been used as indicators of the speed of processing and also used to discriminate individuals with brain damage from controls. However, little is known about the relationship between RTP and change-of-direction speed, which is an important quality to performance in multi-direction sports. The Illinois agility test (IAT) and the 20-meter swerve-sprint test (20 m-SST) were designed to assess field sport change-of-direction speed and include linear sprint. This study examined the association between these two tests and their reliability with the RTP in football players. Methods: A total of 20 male soccer players (age: 24.04 ± 1.45 years; height: 175.75 ± 4.95 cm; body mass: 70.91 ± 8.90 kg), completed three tests. The 20 m-SST and IAT were evaluated using photoelectric cells timing gates while the software reaction was used to measure RTP in response to a visual stimulus. Pearson's correlations (P ≤ 0.05) was used to assess whether there are relationships between these variables. Results: The 20 m-SST was significantly and positively correlated with IAT while RTP was significantly correlated to IAT and 20 m-SST (P < 0.05). Interpretation and Conclusions: The significant relationships observed between IAT and RTP provides evidence to support the view that RTP can detect moderate performance changes in change-of-direction speed in football players. The results of this study indicate that RTP could be used as a valid assessment of change-of-direction speed as 20 m-SST and IAT in field sport athletes and particularly in soccer.
Infection of tendon sheaths, bursae, joints, and soft tissues by acid-fast bacilli other than tubercle bacilli.

Twelve cases are reported in which tendon sheaths, joints, bursae, or soft tissue were infected with unclassified species of mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The subchondral bone of the femur was involved in one, and the subcutaneous soft tissue alone in one case. The organism or organisms causing the infections are culturally different from Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. hominis or var. bovis. They are not Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium balnei , or Mycobacterium ulcerans. They are not virulent for guinea pigs in the usual sense. They would appear to belong to a large group of organisms some of which are recognized as pathogens in the lungs. In addition, they are usually insensitive to para-aminosalicylic acid, isonicotinic acid hydrazide, and streptomycin, even though the infection has not been previously treated with these agents. Pathologically, they produce granulomata that are quite similar microscopically to those of tuberculosis or brucellosis. Operative incisions, accidental puncture wounds or those resulting from injections, and small lacerating wounds may represent the mode of entry of the organisms. Pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis may be a factor in allowing the proper host-invader relationship to exist, or this factor may he coincidental with the intra-articular injections that rheumatoid patients often receive. Accurate diagnosis is dependent on close cooperation of surgeon, surgical pathologist, and microbiologist. Treatment is of necessity surgical, with reliance on adequate excision of diseased tissue. Antibacterials are not helpful in most instances because of insensitivity of the organisms to drugs.
Scalar Approximation to Describe Depolarized Light: Equation for Refraction when Impedance is Constant

Scalar wave equation is derived, which describes refraction due to propagation speed inhomogeneities in assumption of constant impedance Z. This Z-Helmholtz equation yields surprisingly good description of situations with depolarized light sources and unpolarized detectors.
Regulation of water and electrolyte metabolism during dehydration and rehydration in camels

vii GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 Dissertation Organization I Research Objectives 1 Background and Literature Review 1 Arginine Vasopressin 4 Thirst Mechanism 10 Renin 11 Angiotensins 14 Aldosterone 17 Dehydration and Its Pathogenesis 24 Dehydration and Rehydration in Camels and Other Animal Species 26 References 33 REGULATION OF WATER AND ELECTROLYTE METABOLISM DURING DEHYDRATION AND REHYDRATION IN CAMELS 39
Geographically Remote Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Patients with Intracranial Tumors

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) related to intracranial tumors has most commonly been recognized as an operative complication related to local operative factors such as retraction or direct venous injury. CVST may also be caused by tumor-related factors such as local mass effect but rarely occurs geographically remote from the site of the tumor. We report 6 cases treated at our institution of intracranial supratentorial tumors associated with CVST. In each case, the CVST was remote from the surgical site. In 3 cases CVST was noted at the time of resection, and 3 cases occurred in a delayed fashion. Each case is discussed in detail, and the utility of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging in the early diagnosis of this complication is highlighted.
Determining the Relationship Between Physical Fitness, Gender, and Life Satisfaction:

Previous research has suggested a positive effect of physical activity on life satisfaction. Little research exists that has investigated the relationship between physical fitness and life satisfac...
Generating Dynamic Democratic Discussions: An Analysis of Teaching With U.S. Presidential Debates

ABSTRACTResearchers have found that when young people participate in discussions of controversial political issues, they often become more politically engaged and informed (Hess, 2009). Nonetheless, some educators avoid fostering such discussions because they can become heated and distract from academic learning (Hess, 2002). Presidential elections, including the highly publicized debates, provide substantial material for discussions of major national and international issues, but no published research has examined how educators can leverage these events to generate productive civic learning experiences. In this article, we analyze data collected in seven high school classrooms during the 2012 presidential election to examine the challenges and opportunities associated with generating substantive, dynamic discussions of presidential debates. Our findings indicate that students enjoyed learning about candidates' different perspectives and that certain strategies were especially helpful for fostering substa...
A complete history of the establishment of Japanese sika deer on the Delmarva Peninsula: 100 years post-introduction

While many non-native species immediately express their negative qualities which encourage their management (even attempted eradication), some have long lag periods before the population begins to grow out of control. Sika deer have been problematic in many places where they were introduced as novelties or games species through hybridization or aggressive interactions with native deer. In attempt to better manage these species we need to know their native ecosystem. We provide evidence through summarized literature of the manner in which sika deer arrived on Delmarva from Yakushima Island in Japan via a multi-generational stopover in the United Kingdom. We also add morphological and genetic support that confirm the origins and help describe the path of introduction of sika deer to Maryland. We also summarize the growth and change in population size(s) over the last 100 years. This historic understanding is an essential part of coping with the persistent growth of a large, aggressive herbivore that is currently being managed as a game species. We summarize the possible impacts of sika deer including the displacement of native white-tailed deer. The management of this species needs to be carefully observed as they continue to spread throughout the critical saltmarsh of the Delmarva Peninsula.
Design a new PWM switching technique in multilevel converters

Designing inverter using the traditional Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM) technique would require adding filter elements to minimize the output voltage signal distortion. A novel algorithm called Clipped Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (CSPWM) is introduced to reduce the THD and eliminate the high order harmonic frequencies. This technique proposed using an isolation transformer to further block the DC component and improve the total harmonic THD. The proposed technique is discussed. The simulation indicated some peculiar characteristics of the proposed inverter. The analysis is successfully carried out using PSIM software
Assessing the System Value of Optimal Load Shifting

We analyze a competitive electricity market, where consumers exhibit optimal load shifting behavior to maximize utility and producers/suppliers maximize their profit under supply capacity constraints. The associated computationally tractable formulation can be used to inform market design or policy analysis in the context of increasing availability of the smart grid technologies that enable optimal load shifting. Through analytic and numeric assessment of the model, we assess the equilibrium value of optimal electricity load shifting, including how the value changes as more electricity consumers adopt associated technologies. For our illustrative numerical case, derived from the current trends scenario of the ERCOT long term system assessment, the average energy arbitrage value per ERCOT customer of optimal load shifting technologies is estimated to be $3 for the 2031 scenario year. We assess the sensitivity of this result to the flexibility of load, along with its relationship to the deployment of renewables. The model presented can also be a starting point for designing system operation infrastructure that communicates with the devices that schedule loads in response to price signals.
Marriage of Clifford Algebra and Finsler Geometry: A Lineage for Unification?

The teleparallel Finsler connections on Riemannian metrics are more compatible with algebraic structure than the usual metric-compatible connections. Tangent and cotangent Clifford algebras come together with Finslerian teleparallelism to give rise to a Kaluza—Klein structure endowed with a canonical connection. The implications of this convergence for unification are explored.
Controlled Release of Nitric Oxide from Liposomes

We report the ability to readily tune NO release from N-diazeniumdiolate-encapsulated liposomal structures by altering the NO donor molecule structure and/or phospholipid composition (independently or in combination). While encapsulating more stable NO donors expectedly enhanced the NO release (up to 48 h) from the liposomes, the phospholipid headgroup surface area proved equally useful in controlling NO-release kinetics by influencing the proton uptake and concomitant N-diazeniumdiolate NO donor breakdown (to NO). The potential therapeutic utility of the NO-releasing liposomes was further assessed in biological/proteinaceous fluids. The NO-release kinetics were similar in buffer and serum.
Traveling waves in a spatially-distributed Wilson-Cowan model of cortex: From fronts to pulses

Abstract Wave propagation in excitable media has been studied in various biological, chemical, and physical systems. Waves are among the most common evoked and spontaneous organized activity seen in cortical networks. In this paper, we study traveling fronts and pulses in a spatially-extended version of the Wilson–Cowan equations, a neural firing rate model of sensory cortex having two population types: Excitatory and inhibitory. We are primarily interested in the case when the local or space-clamped dynamics has three fixed points: (1) a stable down state; (2) a saddle point with stable manifold that acts as a threshold for firing; (3) an up state having stability that depends on the time scale of the inhibition. In the case when the up state is stable, we look for wave fronts, which transition the media from a down to up state, and when the up state is unstable, we are interested in pulses, a transient increase in firing that returns to the down state. We explore the behavior of these waves as the time and space scales of the inhibitory population vary. Some interesting findings include bistability between a traveling front and pulse, fronts that join the down state to an oscillation or spatiotemporal pattern, and pulses which go through an oscillatory instability.
Browse by White-Tailed Deer Decreases Cover and Growth of the Invasive Shrub, Lonicera Maackii

Abstract While arthropod herbivory on invasive plant species is generally low, herbivory by generalist mammals is often high. We tested whether exclusion of white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, increased the cover and growth of Lonicera maackii, an invasive shrub, in forested natural areas in Ohio, U.S.A. We found leaf frequency of L. maackii in two height ranges, 0.5–1 m and 1–1.5 m, was significantly greater where deer had been excluded for 4 y. Furthermore, the basal area growth of these shrubs over 5 y tended to be higher, and the final basal area of small shrubs was significantly higher, in exclosures. These findings, along with direct evidence of deer browse from the literature, indicate deer browse on this invasive shrub is sufficient to affect its architecture and growth, and potentially mitigate its negative effect on native plants.
Detection of copy number aberrations in cholangiocarcinoma using shallow whole genome sequencing of plasma DNA.

293Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a deadly cancer with ~20% five year survival. Obtaining tissue to confirm diagnosis of CCA is often challenging. This also limits the use of tumor genotyp...
A Changing Landscape of Gout: Comorbidity Matters.

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis, with an increasing prevalence in many parts of the world1,2. Fewer studies have estimated the incidence of gout and its global trends. The Second and Third National Studies of Morbidity in General Practice in the United Kingdom estimated the respective gout incidence of 1.0 and 1.4 per 1000 person-years in the periods 1971–1975 and 1981–19823 while database-based research estimated an incidence of 1.19–1.80 per 1000 person-years in the period 1990–19994 and from 1.36–1.77 per 1000 person-years in the period 1997–20121. Data from the Rochester Epidemiology project estimated an age- and sex-adjusted incidence of gout of 45 per 100,000 people in the period 1977–1978 and 62 per 100,000 people in 1995–19965. In this issue of The Journal , Elfishawi, et al also used data from the Rochester Epidemiology project to compare the incidence of gout between periods 1989–1992 and 2009–20106. The incidence more than doubled, from 66.6 to 136.7 per 100,000 people. This study used the same cohort in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA, and the same system of medical recording (for case identification) as the previous study by Arromdee, et al 5. They collectively provide serial measurements of gout incidence covering over 3 decades … Address correspondence to Dr. C.F. Kuo, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fu-Hsing St., Taoyuan, Taiwan 333; or Academic Rheumatology, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital, Nottingham, UK NG51PB. E-mail: zandis{at}gmail.com; zandis{at}adm.cgmh.org.tw
Comparing Faculty and Student Perception of Academic Performance, Classroom Behavior, and Social Interactions in Learning Communities

Learning community participation is often linked with effective student communication, belonging, persistence, increased retention rates, and higher GPA. However, learning communities can also fost...
Finding root causes of floating point error

Floating-point arithmetic plays a central role in science, engineering, and finance by enabling developers to approximate real arithmetic. To address numerical issues in large floating-point applications, developers must identify root causes, which is difficult because floating-point errors are generally non-local, non-compositional, and non-uniform. This paper presents Herbgrind, a tool to help developers identify and address root causes in numerical code written in low-level languages like C/C++ and Fortran. Herbgrind dynamically tracks dependencies between operations and program outputs to avoid false positives and abstracts erroneous computations to simplified program fragments whose improvement can reduce output error. We perform several case studies applying Herbgrind to large, expert-crafted numerical programs and show that it scales to applications spanning hundreds of thousands of lines, correctly handling the low-level details of modern floating point hardware and mathematical libraries and tracking error across function boundaries and through the heap.
Multiple Literacy Tutoring Experiences across a Teacher Preparation Program: How Can Practice in Hybrid Spaces Challenge the “Practice Makes Practice” Dilemma?

ABSTRACTThe current qualitative study addresses the growing concern in preservice teacher (PT) education that simply increasing the amount of field experiences in teacher preparation programs may just reinforce the status quo in teaching. The focus in this report is on how a series of literacy tutorials, designed as hybrid spaces for learning, provide opportunities for PTs to experience practices that are not highly present or visible in elementary classrooms as a result of pressures to standardize the literacy curriculum. Although literacy tutorials are fairly common in teacher preparation programs, multiple literacy tutorials coordinated across a preparation program are rare. In this research project the authors focused on the learning of PTs across multiple tutorial experiences and the ways in which these tutorial experiences, as hybrid spaces, created opportunities for PTs to experience powerful teaching in ways that may not be present in traditional classrooms and in traditional practicum experiences...
Dependence of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-mediated Oxazaphosphorine Resistance on Soluble Thiols: Importance of Thiol Interactions with the Secondary Metabolite Acrolein

Acrolein is a highly reactive and cytotoxic by-product released during activation of oxazaphosphorine (OAP) anticancer alkylating agents. Previously, we demonstrated that transfected human aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH, EC 1.2.1.3) isozymes (class 1 or 3) protect V79/SD1 cells from mafosfamide (MAF) cytotoxicity, but protection from 4-hydroperoxy-cyclophosphamide (4-hpCPA) was weaker. Acrolein, an ALDH inhibitor, may be detoxified by conjugation with the nucleophilic thiol 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (MESNA), which is released from MAF but not from 4-hpCPA. We examined the effect of acrolein or acrolein/thiol conjugates on ALDH activity in vitro. We found that both ALDH isozymes were inhibited by acrolein, with IC50 values of 35 and 144 microM for ALDH-1 or ALDH-3, respectively. Both isozymes were partially protected by NAD+ cofactor, being at least five-fold more sensitive to acrolein if added before cofactor. In contrast, thiol conjugates of acrolein did not inhibit ALDH-3 activity, but were substrates only for ALDH-1. Further, acrolein was shown to be oxidized by ALDH-3, but not by ALDH-1. The effect of acrolein on ALDH-mediated resistance to OAP agents in intact cells was also examined. In control cells (without ALDH expression), acrolein and 4-hpCPA rapidly depleted intracellular GSH levels, whereas the effect of MAF was much less. Depletion of GSH by preincubation of V79/SD1 cells with a low concentration of acrolein (2 microM) before MAF exposure caused a two-fold reduction in ALDH-mediated resistance. Conversely, protection from 4-hpCPA cytotoxicity was enhanced by the addition of thiols (GSH, 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate, or N-acetylcysteine) during the drug exposure. These results suggest 1) that thiol content is an important determinant of the OAP resistance conferred by ALDH isoenzymes; and 2) a new mechanism whereby thiol modulation could increase the therapeutic index of OAP chemotherapy.
Regulation of acid secretion: receptors, antagonists, and interactions

The secretion of gastric acid is a property preserved in all species higher in the phylogenetic tree than the hagfish. The advantages to the species offered by gastric acid are improved digestion, sterilization of gastric contents before transport into the small intestine and elimination of certain pathogenic microorganisms such as salmonella. However, to individuals suffering from acid-peptic disease, gastric acid is an essential permissive factor for ulcer formation. In some patients, acid hypersecretion is a primary factor. Inhibition of acid secretion is the major modality for therapeutic intervention in these disorders.
Acculturation and food insecurity among Puerto Ricans living in Boston

Abstract Objective To examine the associations among acculturation, food environment, and food insecurity among Puerto Ricans in Boston. Methods The researchers used data from the second wave of the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. The sample included 719 Puerto Rican adults in Boston. The researchers used logistic regression to examine the associations between psychological and language acculturation and food insecurity. Results Individuals with medium psychological acculturation were more likely to be food insecure than were those with low or high psychological acculturation (P = .01). The association between language acculturation and food insecurity differed by distance of residence from primary shopping location (P = .02). Conclusions and Implications This study extends the understanding of acculturation and food insecurity by investigating the impact of psychological and language acculturation. The findings highlight biculturalism, indicated by medium psychological acculturation, as a risk factor for food insecurity. People with low language acculturation who live far from food shopping locations had the highest prevalence of food insecurity.
Role of the Blood-Brain Barrier in Central Nervous System Insulin Resistance.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) mediates the communication between the periphery and the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, CNS insulin resistance has been elucidated to play a role in neurodegenerative disease. This has stimulated a wealth of information on the molecular impact of insulin in the brain, particularly in the improvement of cognition. Since the BBB regulates the transport of insulin into the brain and thus, helps to regulate CNS levels, alterations in the BBB response to insulin could impact CNS insulin resistance. In this review, we summarize the effect of insulin on some of the cell types that make up the BBB, including endothelial cells, neurons, astrocytes, and pericytes. We broadly discuss how these changes in specific cell types could ultimately impact the BBB. We also summarize how insulin can regulate levels of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, including amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau within each cell type. Finally, we suggest interventional approaches to overcome detrimental effects on the BBB in regards to changes in insulin transport.
Intracellular Pathways of Copper Trafficking in Yeast and Humans

In the bakers yeast S. cerevisiae, there at least four intracellular targets requiring copper ions- 1) Ccc2p and Fet3p in the secretory pathway (homologues to Menkes/Wilson proteins and ceruloplasmin); 2) cytochrome oxidase in the mitochondria; 3) copper transcription factors in the nucleus; and 4) Cu/Zn Superoxide dismutase (SOD1) in the cytosol. We have discovered a small soluble copper carrier that specifically delivers copper ions to the secretory pathway. This 8.2 kDa factor known as Atxlp, exhibits striking homology to the MERp mercury carrier of bacteria and contains a single MTCXXC metal binding site also found in the Menkes/Wilson family of copper transporting ATPases. Our studies show that Atxlp is cytosolic and facilitates the delivery of copper ions from the cell surface copper transporter to Ccc2p and Fet3p in the secretory pathway; furthermore, it is not involved in the delivery of copper ions to the mitochondria, the nucleus or cytosolic SOD1, implicating specific signals directing Atx 1p to the secretory pathway. Homologues to Atx 1p have been found in invertebrates, plants and humans, and the human gene is abundantly expressed in all tissues. In addition to Atx 1p, we have recently uncovered an additional metal trafficking protein that appears to specifically deliver copper ions to SOD1. Mutants in the corresponding gene (lys 7) are defective for SOD1 activity, and are unable to incorporate copper into SOD1, while there is no obvious impairment in copper delivery to cytochrome oxidase or Fet3p. The encoded 27 kDa protein contains a single MHCXXC consensus copper binding sequence and close homologues have been identified in a wide array of eukaryotic species including humans.
The Eulerian distribution on involutions is indeed γ-positive

Abstract Let I n and J n denote the set of involutions and fixed-point free involutions of { 1 , … , n } , respectively, and let des ( π ) denote the number of descents of the permutation π. We prove a conjecture of Guo and Zeng which states that I n ( t ) : = ∑ π ∈ I n t des ( π ) is γ-positive for n ≥ 1 and J 2 n ( t ) : = ∑ π ∈ J 2 n t des ( π ) is γ-positive for n ≥ 9 . We also prove that the number of ( 3412 , 3421 ) -avoiding permutations with m double descents and k descents is equal to the number of separable permutations with m double descents and k descents.
Characteristics and outcomes of patients with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy in the intensive care unit

The objective of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of adult patients with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy in the intensive care unit (ICU). This was a retrospective single-center study comparing the outcomes of patients with solid tumors who received chemotherapy in the ICU with a matched cohort of ICU patients (by age, sex, and tumor type) who did not receive chemotherapy. Conditional logistic regression and shared frailty Cox regression were used to assess short-term (ICU and hospital) mortality and death by 12-month post-hospital discharge, respectively. Seventy-three patients with solid tumors who received chemotherapy in the ICU were successfully matched. The most common solid tumors included thoracic (30%), genitourinary (26%), and breast (16%). The ICU, hospital, and 12-month (post discharge) mortality rates of patients who recieved chomtherapy in the ICU were 23%, 36%, and 43%, respectively. When compared to the matched cohort of patients who did not receive chemotherapy, patients who received chemotherapy had a significantly longer length of stay in the ICU (median 7 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001) and hospital (median 15 vs. 11 days, p = 0.011) but similar short-term ICU and hospital mortality rates (23% vs. 18% and 36% vs. 38%, respectively). Patients who received chemotherapy in the ICU were at a lower risk of death by 12 months (HR 0.31, p < 0.001) compared to the matched cohort on multivariable analysis. Patients with solid tumors who received chemotherapy had increased ICU and hospital length of stay compared to patients who did not. Although short-term mortality did not differ, patients who received chemotherapy in the ICU had improved long-term survival. Our data can inform critical care triage decisions to include patients who are to receive chemotherapy in the ICU.
Investigation of Balanced Feedstocks of Lipids and Proteins To Synthesize Highly Effective Rejuvenators for Oxidized Asphalt

This paper examines the merits of coliquefying high-protein algae with high-lipid swine manure to form a bio-oil containing a high concentration of nitrogen-containing fused aromatics to intercalat...
Social Validity Perceptions of the Self-Regulation Empowerment Program (SREP): A Qualitative Investigation

The overall purpose of the current paper was to examine the social validity perceptions of middle school students and school personnel (i.e., school psychologist, counselors, assistant principal) r...
Extracting the Dimensionless Operating Parameters of an Optically-Injected Semiconductor Laser

An optically-injected semiconductor laser is characterized with no prior knowledge of the physical design parameters. Employing the two Hopf bifurcation points at zero-detuning and Hopf-Saddle-Node point, its operating parameters are extracted.
Sirtuins play critical and diverse roles in acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an extremely common medical affliction affecting both adult and pediatric patients resulting from hypoxic, nephrotoxic, and septic insults affecting approximately 20% of all hospital patients and up to 50% of patients in the intensive care unit. There are currently no therapeutics for patients who suffer AKI. Much recent work has focused on designing and implementing therapeutics for AKI. This review focuses on a family of enzymes known as sirtuins that play critical roles in regulating many cellular and biological functions. There are 7 mammalian sirtuins (SIRT1-7) that play roles in regulating the acylation of a wide variety of pathways. Furthermore, all but one of the mammalian sirtuins have been shown to play critical roles in mediating AKI based on preclinical studies. These diverse enzymes show exciting potential for therapeutic manipulation. This review will focus on the specific roles of each of the investigated sirtuins and the potential for manipulation of the various sirtuins and their effector pathways in mediating kidney injury.
Temperature-dependent effects of house fly proto-Y chromosomes on gene expression

Code, commands, and data to perform analyses of house fly RNA-seq data. House fly has a stable polygenic sex determination system. The male determining factor (Mdmd) is commonly found on the Y chromosome (Y^M) or the third chromosome (III^M). These proto-Y chromosomes are clinally distributed, with Y^M found most commonly in northern latitudes and III^M most commonly found at southern latitudes, hinting at possible genotype-by-temperature interactions that maintain the polymorphism. If this distribution is maintained by temperature-dependent selection pressures, we expect the fitness of III^M and Y^M flies to vary across developmental temperatures. These temperature-dependent effects could be driven by differential gene expression in III^M and Y^M males at different temperatures. Here, we performed RNA-seq experiments to study how genotype-by-temperature interactions affect gene expression in male houseflies carrying different proto-Y chromosomes. We raised a Y^M strain known as IsoCS and a III^M strain known as CSrab at 18°C and 29°C for two generations. We dissected 5 heads and 15-20 pairs of testes for each of three replicates of each genotype-by-temperature combination. We carried out RNA-seq on these tissues. Data are available from NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus accession GSE136188.
Ameliorating hydroxychloroquine induced retinal toxicity through cerium oxide nanoparticle treatments.

The present study investigated the potential protective effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNP) on human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells damaged by hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Toxicity...
A Natural Disasters Index

Natural disasters, such as tornadoes, floods, and wildfire pose risks to life and property, requiring the intervention of insurance corporations. One of the most visible consequences of changing climate is an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. The relative strengths of these disasters are far beyond the habitual seasonal maxima, often resulting in subsequent increases in property losses. Thus, insurance policies should be modified to endure increasingly volatile catastrophic weather events. We propose a Natural Disasters Index (NDI) for the property losses caused by natural disasters in the United States based on the “Storm Data” published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The proposed NDI is an attempt to construct a financial instrument for hedging the intrinsic risk. The NDI is intended to forecast the degree of future risk that could forewarn the insurers and corporations allowing them to transfer insurance risk to capital market investors. This index could also be modified to other regions and countries.
Academic genealogy as an indicator of interdisciplinarity: A preliminary examination of sociology doctoral dissertations

This project aims to explore the interdisciplinarity heritage of the field of Sociology by utilizing academic genealogy networks based on doctoral dissertation data from ProQuest database. With the advisor name provided by each dissertation, the discipline of each advisor was identified by matching back to ProQuest database. The Subject Categories assigned to advisor dissertations were approximated as the advisor discipline. Results provide an indication of the major areas interacting with Sociology. Disciplines such as business administration, health science and economics show increasing trends in the percentage of sociology advisors getting degrees from them, while the decreasing trends can be found in history and literature.
Financial Innovaton and Russian Government Debt Before 1918

In this paper I describe debt instruments issued by the Russian Imperial Government. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Russian government was the largest borrower in the world. Russian government bonds were traded in all major financial centers, including London, Paris, Amsterdam, and New York. Russia was integrated into the world financial system. In 1913 foreign investors held 49.7% of Russian government debt. Innovative financial instruments were developed to attract foreign and domestic investors.
Phase II trial of HyperCVAD and Dasatinib in patients with relapsed Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia or blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia

Dasatinib is a second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, with activity in imatinib resistant Ph-positive ALL.We have treated 34 patients with relapsed Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) (n519) or lymphoid blast phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML-LB) (n515) with the combination of dasatinib and the hyper CVAD regimen. Prior regimens included hyper CVAD plus imatinib(n511, 4 had transplant in first CR), other combination chemotherapy (n512), monotherapy with kinase inhibitors other than dasatinib (n59), and investigational agents (n52). Pretreatment ABL mutations were noted in 10 patients. The overall response rate was 91%, with 24 patients (71%) achieving complete response(CR), and 7(21%) CR with incomplete platelet recovery (CRp). Two patients died during induction and one had progressive disease. Twenty-six patients (84%) achieved complete cytogenetic remission after one cycle of therapy. Overall, 13 patients (42%) achieved complete molecular response, and 11 patients (35%) had major molecular response (BCR-ABL/ABL<0.1%). Nine patients proceeded to allogeneic transplantation.Grades 3 and 4 toxicities included hemorrhage, pleural and pericardial effusions and infections. The median follow-up for patients with CML-LB is 37.5 months (range, 7–70 months) with a 3-year overall survival of 70%;68% remained in CR at 3 years. For ALL patients, the median follow-up is 52 months (range, 45–59 months)with a 3-year survival of 26%; 30% remain in CR at 3 years. The combination of Hyper CVAD regimen with dasatinib is effective in patients with relapsed Ph-positive ALL and CML-LB.
Sexism and Ruralism

This study investigated inequalities among social workers practicing in Community Mental Health Centers. Differences in salary were studied between males and females, and between those in rural and urban settings. The findings report patterns of inequality in both focus areas.
Evidence that large granular lymphocytes from B-CLL patients with hypogammaglobulinemia down-regulate B-cell immunoglobulin synthesis.

B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients frequently suffer from moderate to severe hypogammaglobulinemia. This complication is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in this disorder. There is recent evidence that natural killer (NK) cells modulate B-cell immunoglobin (Ig) synthesis/secretion. The authors therefore evaluated the circulating NK cells from B-CLL patients on their ability to regulate mitogen-induced B-cell Ig synthesis. Blood, NK cells (CD16+, CD3-) from three B-CLL patients with hypogammaglobulinemia were able to clearly down-regulate the pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced-B-cell Ig secretion. In contrast, CD16+, CD3- cells from age-sex-matched controls or B-CLL patients with normal Ig were either nonregulatory or enhanced mitogen-induced B-cell Ig secretion. An alternative explanation for hypogammaglobulinemia in B-CLL patients is the immunomodulation of B- cell Ig production/secretion by CD16+, CD3- blood cells.
Wall Street Research

The following article is based on the Paul Healy’s keynote address at the 2014 Applied Finance Conference held at St. John’s University Manhattan, NY campus on May 16th, 2014. His address summarized a decade long research program examining the workings of both the sell and buy sides of financial analysis. This stream of research includes numerous papers with Boris Groysberg and other co-authors, and culminated with their book Wall Street Research: Past, Present, and Future (2013). The Applied Finance Conference was jointly sponsored by the Financial Management Association, the Journal of Applied Finance, and St. John’s University.
Cloning and analysis of cDNA clones for rat kidney alpha-spectrin.

Abstract We have isolated a 3922-base pair (bp) cDNA clone for rat nonerythroid alpha-spectrin from a rat kidney lambda gt11 cDNA library. Sequence analysis revealed that this cDNA contains an open reading frame of 3090 bp encoding for the C-terminal 1030 amino acid sequence of rat kidney alpha-spectrin. The 3'-untranslated region (including a 38-bp poly(A+) tail) contains an 832-bp sequence. A single mRNA of about 8 kilobase pairs was detected in rat liver, kidney, brain, heart, intestine, lung, testis, stomach, spleen, and muscle with varying abundances, which is consistent with and further confirms the presence of spectrins in nonerythroid tissues as demonstrated previously by immunoblot analysis. Southern blot analysis suggested that there is a single gene for nonerythroid alpha-spectrin. The derived amino acid sequence contains sequence from the spectrin 106-residue internal repeat 12 to the C terminus of rat kidney alpha-spectrin. Sequence comparison with human and chicken nonerythroid alpha-spectrin showed that nonerythroid alpha-spectrin is well conserved during evolution. The rat kidney alpha-spectrin sequence, when compared to rat brain alpha-spectrin, contains an extra 76-amino-acid sequence at the C terminus. Sequence comparison of all the internal repeats available revealed that the internal repeat 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 has highest sequence similarity with internal repeat 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, respectively. Therefore, internal repeats 3-8 and 12-17 are most likely derived from an ancestral gene through gene duplication, suggesting that the spectrin gene is derived from a half-spectrin gene by gene duplication and divergence during evolution.
From Her Own Point of View: Rediscovering Rose Wilder Lane, Literary Journalist

Abstract This article discusses the fifty-year writing career and works of Rose Wilder Lane (1886–1968). To date, most scholarship about Lane has focused on Lane's relationship to her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Wilder's more famous books. This article argues that Lane's work deserves its own examination, that her contribution to literary journalism should be recognized, and that her story illustrates a need in scholarship to look for alternate sources of literary journalism. It documents Lane's journalistic career from its beginnings “On the Margins” with the San Francisco Bulletin in 1915 until its end with a masterpiece of literary journalism from Saigon in 1965. Lane's work shines because she committed absolutely to a point of view in telling both her fiction and nonfiction stories. That point of view varied, but as her fiction career passed behind her, it was increasingly her own, as she gave voice to “American” values of individualism and freedom from government interference.
Using Polar-orbiting Environmental Satellite data to specify the radiation environment up to 1200 km altitude

Data from the Deal dosimeter payload on the Rapid Pathfinder satellite provide daily maps of the radiation environment on a sphere at 1200 km altitude. Through the use of magnetic coordinates, these dosimeter maps can be projected down to lower altitudes, providing valuable information for satellite anomaly resolution for vehicles in low Earth orbit (LEO). Unfortunately, the Deal data are not widely available, and the mission has a limited lifetime. As an alternative, we present a method to estimate the Deal daily maps using belt index data from NOAA's Polar-orbiting Environmental Satellite (POES) vehicles. The method addresses only trapped radiation but could readily be supplemented with POES's own measurements of solar particle radiation reaching LEO.
Unusual band structure and exotic electrical conduction for electrons in incommensurate lattice potentials

Abstract Electrons in crystals with incommensurate periodic potentials are shown to exhibit a band structure with many very narrow bands separated by narrow band gaps. This makes such systems ideal candidates for observing such exotic electrical conduction phenomena in d.c. fields as Zener tunneling and Stark oscillations. Estimates are made of the conditions under which such phenomena should be observable experimentally.
Resolvable Covering Arrays

Two powerful recursive constructions of covering arrays of strengths three and four use difference covering arrays (DCAs). However, what is required in these constructions is not the algebraic structure of differences in a group, but rather that the DCAs produce covering arrays that are resolvable. Both constructions are strengthened by using resolvable covering arrays in place of DCAs. Many new difference covering arrays are found by computational methods, and resolvable covering arrays that do not arise from DCAs are produced. Improvements for bounds on covering array numbers are shown to be substantial.
Use of a commercially available reagent for the selective detection of homocysteine in plasma.

A procedure for the detection of homocysteine (Hcy) in blood plasma is described. A commercially available chromogen is added to the plasma sample. The plasma solution turns from yellow to blue upon heating for 4 min when a detectable threshold level of Hcy is present. Chromatographic separations and immunogenic materials are not needed. The protocol takes ∼30 min.
The Possibility of Theomusicology: William Bradbury’s Esther, the Beautiful Queen

Abstract African-American scholar, theologian, and musician Jon Michael Spencer issued his initial publications on his theory of theomusicology in 1986. As an alternative to more traditional musicologies, Spencer specifies theomusicology as a theoretical model of theologically, biblically, and spiritually-informed historical and analytical studies in music, of particular appropriateness to African-American music making. Theomusicology redirects the analytical and critical objectivity of musicologies to facilitate concentration on iterations of ethical, religious, and mythological beliefs, regardless of their medium, location, and cultural function. It seeks ways to describe the synthesis of the sacred and profane—the meshing of seeming opposites. This article explores the application of theomusicology to African-American performances of a popular large-scale vocal work entitled, Esther, the Beautiful Queen, written in 1856 by U.S. composer William Bradbury.
Glucagon for the relief of esophageal food impaction does it really work

We sought to evaluate our experience with glucagon used in the emergency department setting to relieve esophageal food impaction (EFI). We reviewed the records of patients with food impaction who received glucagon between January 1998 and May 2003 and recorded patient demographics, medical history, symptoms following glucagon administration, and endoscopic findings. There were 92 episodes of food impaction in 85 patients. Thirty-three percent of the episodes resulted in resolution of symptoms following a dose of glucagon. Sixty-seven percent had symptoms of food impaction after glucagon and underwent upper endoscopy in the emergency room. Only previous solid food dysphagia was positively associated with response to glucagon. Patients who received glucagon plus a benzodiazepine were more likely to have resolution of the EFI. In our experience, glucagon appears to relieve food impaction in one third of patients treated. This result is comparable to previously published data examining glucagon and placebo. The lack of advantage over placebo questions the practice of glucagon administration for EFI.
Application Of Luminescent Devices To Electronically Controlled Optical Image Processors

This paper discusses, for the first time, the application of luminescent rebroadcasting devices to image processing. The devices are described and shown to be capable of parallel analog addition and multiplication. Equations are provided for space-variant spatial filtering. An optical system that uses luminescent devices is proposed for implementing such spatial filters.
Studies on coordination compoundsformation constants of some metal salts of hydroxyquinones

Summary Formation constants of various metal derivatives of four hydroxynaphthoquinones, two hydroxyanthraquinones, and three hydroxy-γ-pyrones have been measured in 75 vol% dioxane. The acidity of those of the above compounds which form 5-membered hydrogen chelate rings is greater than that of those which form similar 6-membered rings. The shifts of the hydroxy and carbonyl frequencies in the infrared spectra of these compounds are influenced by too many factors to be useful in distinguishing between the 5-and 6-membered rings.
Dimensionality of Sex-Role Behavior: Factor Stability of the Male-Female Relations—Female Form

The initial validation study of the 1980 Male-Female Relations questionnaire of Spence, Helmreich, and Sawin provided evidence for the instrument's construct validity, discriminant/convergent validity, and reliability with undergraduate students. In the current study the factorial structure of the Male-Female Relations—Female Form was replicated on a sample of 273 women who typified a community sample of women. Social interaction and male preference factors in the current study were congruent with those in the earlier Spence, et al. study. Results indicate that the two factors are stable and appropriate for use with a community sample of women.