cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative Intake of Macronutrients Impacts Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia

High caloric intake has been associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Total caloric intake is determined by the calories derived from macronutrients. The objective of the study was to investigate the association between percent of daily energy (calories) from macronutrients and incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Participants were a population-based prospective cohort of elderly persons who were followed over a median 3.7 years (interquartile range, 2.5-3.9) of follow-up. At baseline and every 15 months, participants (median age, 79.5 years) were evaluated using the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a neurological evaluation, and neuropsychological testing for a diagnosis of MCI, normal cognition, or dementia. Participants also completed a 128-item food-frequency questionnaire at baseline; total daily caloric and macronutrient intakes were calculated using an established database. The percent of total daily energy from protein (% protein), carbohydrate (% carbohydrate), and total fat (% fat) was computed. Among 937 subjects who were cognitively normal at baseline, 200 developed incident MCI or dementia. The risk of MCI or dementia (hazard ratio, [95% confidence interval]) was elevated in subjects with high % carbohydrate (upper quartile: 1.89 [1.17-3.06]; p for trend = 0.004), but was reduced in subjects with high % fat (upper quartile: 0.56 [0.34-0.91]; p for trend = 0.03), and high % protein (upper quartile 0.79 [0.52-1.20]; p for trend = 0.03) in the fully adjusted models. A dietary pattern with relatively high caloric intake from carbohydrates and low caloric intake from fat and proteins may increase the risk of MCI or dementia in elderly persons.
Effects of Forward Model Errors on EEG Source Localization

Subject-specific four-layer boundary element method (BEM) electrical forward head models for four participants, generated from magnetic resonance (MR) head images using NFT ( www.sccn.ucsd.edu/wiki/NFT ), were used to simulate electroencephalographic (EEG) scalp potentials at 256 recorded electrode positions produced by single current dipoles of a 3-D grid in brain space. Locations of these dipoles were then estimated using gradient descent within five template head models fit to the electrode positions. These were: a spherical model, three-layer and four-layer BEM head models based on the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) template head image, and these BEM models warped to the recorded electrode positions. Smallest localization errors (4.1-6.2 mm, medians) were obtained using the electrode-position warped four-layer BEM models, with largest localization errors (~20 mm) for most basal brain locations. When we increased the brain-to-skull conductivity ratio assumed in the template model scalp projections from the simulated value (25:1) to a higher value (80:1) used in earlier studies, the estimated dipole locations moved outwards (12.4 mm, median). We also investigated the effects of errors in co-registering the electrode positions, of reducing electrode counts, and of adding a fifth, isotropic white matter layer to one individual head model. Results show that when individual subject MR head images are not available to construct subject-specific head models, accurate EEG source localization should employ a four- or five-layer BEM template head model incorporating an accurate skull conductivity estimate and warped to 64 or more accurately 3-D measured and co-registered electrode positions.
Preventing transcriptional gene silencing by active DNA demethylation

DNA methylation is important for stable transcriptional gene silencing. DNA methyltransferases for de novo as well as maintenance methylation have been well characterized. However, enzymes responsible for active DNA demethylation have been elusive and several reported mechanisms of active demethylation have been controversial. There has been a critical need for genetic analysis in order to firmly establish an in vivo role for putative DNA demethylases. Mutations in the bifunctional DNA glycosylase/lyase ROS1 in Arabidopsis cause DNA hypermethylation and transcriptional silencing of specific genes. Recombinant ROS1 protein has DNA glycosylase/lyase activity on methylated but not unmethylated DNA substrates. Therefore, there is now strong genetic evidence supporting a base excision repair mechanism for active DNA demethylation. DNA demethylases may be critical factors for genome wide hypomethylation seen in cancers and possibly important for epigenetic reprogramming during somatic cell cloning and stem cell function.
DIRAC: a software-based wireless router system

Routers are expected to play an important role in the IP-based wireless data network. Although a substantial number of techniques have been proposed to improve wireless network performance under dynamic wireless channel conditions and host mobility, a system support framework is still missing. In this paper, we describe DIRAC, a software-based router system that is designed for wireless networks to facilitate the implementation and evaluation of various channel-adaptive and mobility-aware protocols. DIRAC adopts a distributed architecture that is composed of two parts: a Router Core (RC) shared by the wireless subnets, and a Router Agent (RA) at each access point/base station. RAs expose wireless link-layer information to the RC and enforce the control commands issued by the RC. This approach allows the router to make adaptive decisions based on link-layer information feedback. It also permits the router to enforce its policies (e.g., policing) more effectively through underlying link-layer mechanisms. As showcases, we implement under DIRAC the prototypes of three wireless network services: link-layer assisted fast handover, channel-adaptive scheduling, and link-layer enforced policing. Our implementation and experiments show that our distributed wireless router provides a flexible framework, which enables advanced network-layer wireless services that are adaptive to channel conditions and host mobility.
Update on melanocortin interventions for cachexia: Progress toward clinical application

Cachexia is a devastating syndrome of body wasting that is associated with multiple common chronic diseases including cancer, chronic kidney disease, and chronic heart failure. These underlying diseases are associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and result in anorexia, increased resting energy expenditure, and loss of fat and lean body mass. Prior experiments have implicated the central melanocortin system in the hypothalamus with the propagation of these symptoms of cachexia. Pharmacologic blockade of this system using melanocortin antagonists causes attenuation of the signs of cachexia in laboratory models. Recent advances in our knowledge of this disease process have involved further elucidation of the pathophysiology of melanocortin activation and demonstration of the efficacy of melanocortin antagonists in new models of cachexia, including cardiac cachexia. In addition, small molecule antagonists of the melanocortin-4 receptor continue to be introduced, including ones with oral bioavailability. These developments generate optimism that melanocortin antagonism will be used to treat humans with disease-associated cachexia. However, to date, human application has remained elusive and it is unclear when we will know whether humans with cachexia would benefit from treatment with these compounds.
Aldehyde Concentrations in Ambient Air of Coastal Georgia, U.S.A.

Aldehydes are an airborne byproduct of many industrialprocesses, vehicle transportation, and emissions fromnumerous natural sources. To characterize aldehydeconcentrations in ambient air of the Savannah, Georgiaarea, air samples for 3 aldehydes (formaldehyde,acetaldehyde, and propionaldehyde) were collected atfive sites on a monthly basis over a 12-month periodfrom December of 1995 through November 1996. Four ofthe sites were in central Savannah and the fifth sitewas located in a rural area about 56 km south ofSavannah. During each 24-hr sampling episode, sampleswere collected in two 12-hr periods approximatingdaylight and nighttime hours, following U.S. EPAMethod TO-11. Formaldehyde concentrations ranged from0.17 to 6.80 μg m-3, acetaldehydeconcentrations ranged from 0.07 to7.60 μg m-3, and propionaldehyde levels rangedfrom 0.02 to 9.10 μg m-3. On average, thefour sites in Savannah had higher aldehydeconcentrations than the rural site (2.0 versus1.2 μg m-3 for formaldehyde, 2.3 versus1.7 μg m-3 for acetaldehyde, and 1.2 versus1.0 μg m-3 for propionaldehyde). The daytimeconcentrations for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde werehigher than the nighttime levels. The data from allthe sites were within published worldwide backgroundvalues for aldehydes.
Spacecraft Autonomy Challenges for Next-Generation Space Missions

In early 2011, NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) released a set of technology roadmaps with the aim of fostering the development of concepts and cross-cutting technologies addressing NASA’s needs for the 2011–2021 decade and beyond. In an attempt to engage the external technical community and enhance the development program in light of scarce resources, NASA reached out to the National Research Council (NRC) to review the program’s objectives and prioritize its list of technologies. In January 2012, the NRC released its report entitled “Restoring NASA's Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space.” While the NRC report provides a systematic and thorough ranking of the future technology needs for NASA, it does not discuss in detail the technical aspects of the prioritized technologies (which clearly lie beyond its scope). This chapter, building upon the NRC report and an earlier assessment of NASA’s needs in terms of guidance, navigation, and control technologies, aims at providing such technical details for a selected number of high-priority technologies in the autonomous systems area. Specifically, this chapter focuses on technology area TA04 “Robotics, Tele-Robotics, and Autonomous Systems” and discusses in some detail the technical aspects and challenges associated with three high-priority TA04 technologies: “Relative Guidance Algorithms,” “Extreme Terrain Mobility,” and “Small Body/Microgravity Mobility.” The result is a unified presentation of key autonomy challenges for next-generation space missions.
Continuous-time estimation for dynamic obstacle tracking

This paper reports on a system for dynamic obstacle tracking for autonomous vehicles. In this work, we seek to simultaneously estimate both the trajectory of the obstacle and the obstacle's shape. These two tasks are inherently coupled—given only noisy partial views, one cannot accurately estimate the trajectory of an obstacle if its shape is unknown, nor can one estimate its shape without knowing its trajectory. To address this challenge, we note that simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), where a robot must build a map of the environment while localizing itself within the map, presents similar challenges. By treating the obstacle's shape as a “map” in the obstacle's moving reference frame, we can formulate the obstacle tracking and shape estimation similarly to SLAM. Additionally, we use a continuous time estimation framework to incorporate sensor data that is collected at a fast rate (e.g., light detection and ranging (LIDAR)). Using these methods, we are able to obtain smooth trajectories and crisp point clouds for tracked obstacles. We test our proposed tracker on real-world data collected by our autonomous vehicle platform and demonstrate that it produces improved results when compared to a standard centroid-based extended Kalman filter (EKF) tracker.
Genetic Analysis of the Henry Mountains Bison Herd

Wild American plains bison (Bison bison) populations virtually disappeared in the late 1800s, with some remnant animals retained in what would become Yellowstone National Park and on private ranches. Some of these private bison were intentionally crossbred with cattle for commercial purposes. This forced hybridization resulted in both mitochondrial and nuclear introgression of cattle genes into some of the extant bison genome. As the private populations grew, excess animals, along with their history of cattle genetics, provided founders for newly established public bison populations. Of the US public bison herds, only those in Yellowstone and Wind Cave National Parks (YNP and WCNP) appear to be free of detectable levels of cattle introgression. However, a small free-ranging population (~350 animals) exists on public land, along with domestic cattle, in the Henry Mountains (HM) of southern Utah. This isolated bison herd originated from a founder group translocated from YNP in the 1940s. Using genetic samples from 129 individuals, we examined the genetic status of the HM population and found no evidence of mitochondrial or nuclear introgression of cattle genes. This new information confirms it is highly unlikely for free-living bison to crossbreed with cattle, and this disease-free HM bison herd is valuable for the long-term conservation of the species. This bison herd is a subpopulation of the YNP/WCNP/HM metapopulation, within which it can contribute significantly to national efforts to restore the American plains bison to more of its native range.
The Vernon Walters Pilot Scholarship Program: A Proposal to Change How the Us Intelligence Community Recruits Near-Native Speakers of Critical Languages

In response to the national need for speakers of critical languages,such as those spoken in the Middle East and Asia, I propose that the Intelligence Community start a pilot program, through the office of the Director of National Intelligence, to change how it recruits and hires these speakers. the paper describes the current process, proposes a pilot, and outlines a vision of what a more comprehensive approach could look like. The pilot involves creating a relationship with Congressional representatives and local governmental representatives as well as selected Community Colleges. The advantages of these relationships could be better relationships with local immigrant communities and risk mitigation in the hiring process. This paper was awarded one of the ODNI Galileo prizes in 2005 and it has been reviewed before publication by the Central Intelligence Agency.
Spatio-temporal dynamics of land cover and land surface temperature in Ganges-Brahmaputra delta: A comparative analysis between India and Bangladesh

Abstract Land use and land cover (LULC) change in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta (GBD) poses significant challenges towards future environmental sustainability of the region and requires regional scale monitoring of key bio-physical variables and changes in their inter-relationship over space and time. Focusing on the southern part of the lower GBD region along the international border of India and Bangladesh, this study examined the spatio-temporal variability of LULC change and its relationship with Land Surface Temperature (LST). Furthermore, LULC-LST relationships were compared between Indian and Bangladesh part and its trend in and around big cities (with more than 1 million population) and towns (with more than 100,000 population) was investigated. Results showed that LST changes were predominantly driven by LULC changes on both sides of the border. Urban growth is the dominant form of LULC change, and the rate of land change was faster in 2005–2010 time period than 1989–2005. Over the period of 21 years, mean January LST decreased by approximately 1.83 °C in Indian part and 1.85 °C in the Bangladesh part. Areas that changed from to rural from agricultural experienced decrease in mean LST, whereas those areas that changed to urban from either agriculture or rural, experienced increase in mean LST. The relationship between LULC and LST are same on both sides of the Indo-Bangladesh border. In bigger cities like Kolkata (in India) and Khulna (in Bangladesh), there is a high spatial variability in relationship between LULC and LST compared to large towns. The LULC-LST relationship in large towns in India was influenced by proximity to Kolkata and coastal areas, whereas in Bangladesh no such influence was evident. The results and the data produced in this study are crucial for monitoring LULC changes, for developing spatial decision support system, and thus will be helpful to address the current challenges of land management in the GBD region. Changes in the LULC and LST are important indicators of GBD's environmental health and access its vulnerability and thus the present findings serve as baseline information for future studies seeking to examine the impact of differential policies on the LULC change in the region.
Glucose kinetics in interstitial fluid can be predicted by compartmental modeling

The purposes of this study were to define in sheep a compartmental model for glucose kinetics in the basal condition and to test the hypothesis that interstitial fluid obtained by sampling thoracic duct lymph (TDL) represents one or more peripheral compartments of the glucose model. A bolus of [6,6-(2)H]glucose was injected in nine animals, followed by frequent sampling of blood and TDL. Linear kinetic modeling has been applied to plasma data, indicating that a three-compartment model adequately describes glucose kinetics. Both catenary and mammillary models were identified, and their predictions for the tracer behavior in nonaccessible pools were evaluated. In all experiments, regardless of the model structure, predictions in the compartment most rapidly exchanging with blood (pool 2) well matched the measured tracer-to-tracee ratio in TDL. Furthermore, modeling analysis showed that 90-95% of the tracer in TDL comes from this pool. This supported the physiological identification of a peripheral pool of glucose kinetics as extracellular fluid represented by TDL measurements.
Continuous fractional component Monte Carlo simulations of high-density adsorption in metal–organic frameworks

The continuous fractional component Monte Carlo method, which was designed to overcome difficulties with insertions and deletions of molecules, is modified to include configurational bias Monte Carlo methods and is further extended to binary systems. The modified method is shown to correctly predict adsorption of Ar in silicalite, Xe and Kr in HKUST-1, and enantiomers in a homochiral metal–organic framework. The modified method is also found to be approximately an order of magnitude more efficient in inserting and deleting molecules than traditional configurational bias grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations in dense systems.
Hybrid Turbulence Model Simulations of Partially Stalled Airfoil Flow

The modified NACA 643-618 airfoil of the Aeromot 200S Super Ximango motorglider was chosen for wing section simulations at Re=300,000 and α=15 deg. A coarse-grid direct numerical simulation was carried out to obtain detailed reference data. A laminar separation bubble close to the leading edge causes transition to turbulence of the suction-side boundary layer. The turbulent boundary layer separates near midchord. The considerable computational expense of this simulation provided the motivation for hybrid simulations based on the k-ω model and a one-equation renormalization group model. An extension to the turbulence models that “seeds” synthetic turbulence velocity fluctuations in the parts of the flowfield where the grid resolution changes is proposed but was found to have little effect on the mean flow. When the model contribution was too low, the turbulent boundary layer on the airfoil suction surface separated too early. By increasing the model contribution, a reasonable agreement with the reference ...
Proliferative Activity in Placentas With Hydropic Change and Hydatidiform Mole as Detected by Ki-67 and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Immunostaining

Complete hydatidiform moles (CHM) and partial hydatidiform moles (PHM) represent different clinicopathologic entities. To obtain prognostic and therapeutic information about both entities, it is important that pathologic classification be as accurate as possible. The distinction of molar pregnancy and an abortus with hydropic changes (AHC) can sometimes be very difficult, The acquisition of 2 antibodies against nuclear antigens expressed in cycling cells, Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), allow the study of trophoblastic proliferation in CHM, PHM, and AHC. The purpose of this study is to determine whether immunocytochemical stains can help in the distinction between those entities. All materials were obtained by curettage from 95 patients with hydropic villi evident on microscopic examination. The 95 cases included 33 cases of CHM, 42 cases of PHM, and 20 cases of AHC. In the case of the Ki-67 staining, the mean was much lower in the AHC group (8. 7%) than in the PHM group (65.3%) or in the CHM group (84.6%). In the case of PCNA staining, the mean differences among the 3 groups (AHC, 23.1%; PHM, 80%; and CHM, 89.2%) were all statistically significant. On the basis of the means and the Gaussian results, it appears that the Ki-67 distribution gives a better separation among the 3 groups. In conclusion, proliferative activity is an additional useful parameter for evaluation of molar pregnancies and hydropic changes, with Ki-67 staining allowing better separation than PCNA staining does.
Understanding the Fundamental Connection Between Electronic Correlation and Decoherence

We introduce a theory that exposes the fundamental and previously overlooked connection between the correlation among electrons and the degree of quantum coherence of electronic states in matter. For arbitrary states, the effects only decouple when the electronic dynamics induced by the nuclear bath is pure-dephasing in nature such that [HS,HSB] = 0, where HS is the electronic Hamiltonian and HSB is the electron–nuclear coupling. We quantitatively illustrate this connection via exact simulations of a Hubbard–Holstein molecule using the Hierarchical Equations of Motion that show that increasing the degree of electronic interactions can enhance or suppress the rate of electronic coherence loss.
Analysis of death causes of heart failure patients received cardiac resynchronization therapy

Objective:To explore the causes of death in patients with heart failure who have received cardiac resynchronization therapy(CRT).Methods:Fifty-three patients with NYHA class Ⅲ or Ⅳ heart failure who had failed to respond to standard pharmacologic therapy were treated by CRT.The routine medicine was applied after the operation.The follow-up lasted from 1 to 80 months,and the outcome was observed.Results:Seven patients died during the follow-up,5 of whom were cardiac death and 2 non-cardiac death.Cardiac death was mainly induced by deterioration of heart function and cardiac arrhythmia.Deterioration of heart function was related to primary heart disease and occurrence of atrial fibrillation.Conclusions:Causes of death in patients with CRT are varied and cardiac death is associated with the primary heart disease and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation.
Mineralocorticoids and Hypertension

The focus is on two substances of primary significance in the etiology of treatable hypertension—DOC and aldosterone. Summarized is the evidence for the control of these mineralocorticoids by the pituitary and the renin-angiotensin system. The differences in the response patterns of DOC and aldosterone provide important bases for the diagnosis and treatment of a number of clinical hypertensive syndromes.
Prospectives In Cleft Lip And Palate Repair

A recent focus on fetal surgery has raised the possibility of fetal cleft lip and palate repairs. Because of the fetus's marked plasticity, fetal repairs may have results that more closely approximate normality. Furthermore, the impact on cost management could be dramatic with a decreased need for extensive postoperative care, orthodontia, and speech therapy. This article considers the future prospects of intrauterine cleft lip repair as the next generation of surgical advances.
Evacuation of Hospitals and Other Health-Care Organizations

This chapter discusses the elements of health-care evacuation decision-making. Several considerations can be anticipated to help the facility leadership better prepare and determine evacuation strategies. These strategies, if incorporated into an evacuation plan in advance of disaster, will facilitate the response team with guidance for varying possibilities of disaster impacts. Anticipating these determinants will, ideally, translate into more time being applied to implementing the strategy.
Frozen section evaluation of margins in radical prostatectomy specimens: a contemporary study and literature review

The utility of routine frozen section (FS) analysis for margin evaluation during radical prostatectomy (RP) remains controversial. A retrospective search was conducted to identify RPs evaluated by FS over a 5-year period. The potential of FS to discriminate between benign and malignant tissue and to predict final margins was evaluated. During the study period, 71 (12.3%) of 575 cases underwent FS evaluation of margins, generating 192 individual FSs. There were 8 FSs diagnosed as atypical/indeterminate because of significant freezing, crushing, and/or thermal artifacts; 11 as positive for carcinoma; and 173 as benign. Two FSs classified as benign were diagnosed as positive for carcinoma on subsequent permanent section. Frozen sections' sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma were 85%, 100%, 100%, 99%, and 99%, respectively. Overall RP final margin predictive accuracy was 81%. Positive FS was significantly associated with perineural invasion on biopsy and extraprostatic extension and higher stage disease on RP, but not with the overall final margin status. The high FS accuracy supports its use to guide the extent of surgery. However, FS cannot be used to predict the overall final margin status. Recognition of the histological artifacts inherent to the FS procedure is important to ensure appropriate utilization.
Intellect versus affect: finding leverage in an old debate

We often claim to know about what is good or bad, right or wrong. But how do we know such things? Both historically and today, answers to this question have most commonly been rationalist or sentimentalist in nature. Rationalists and sentimentalists clash over whether intellect or affect is the foundation of our evaluative knowledge. This paper is about the form that this dispute takes among those who agree that evaluative knowledge depends on perceptual-like evaluative experiences (perceptualism). Rationalist proponents of perceptualism invoke intellectual experiences (intellectual perceptualism), while sentimentalist proponents invoke affective experiences (sentimental perceptualism). The goal of this paper is to offer a fresh strategy for adjudicating between intellectual and sentimental perceptualism. I argue that the perceptualist’s hand will be forced either in the direction of intellectual or sentimental perceptualism once she decides between two views about the modal status of our basic evaluative knowledge. I close with an argument that the more plausible of the two options (given the assumption of perceptualism) is the one which fits best with sentimental perceptualism. The argument, then, is that perceptualists ought to be sentimentalists.
Coherent Beam Combining of Fiber Amplifiers

Beam combining of laser arrays has become increasing viable over the past decade as the community has developed a better understanding of the requirements imposed by beam combining. Coherent beam combining (CBC) enables scaling the brightness by large amounts, in principle by as much as the number of elements.
mTOR Signaling Is Required for the Survival and Proliferation of Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells

Abstract Abstract 4787 The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates protein synthesis, gene transcription, cell growth and cell proliferation. Previous studies have demonstrated that abnormalities in the Pten-mTOR pathway may contribute to the development of leukemia and lead to premature exhaustion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These findings suggest a role for mTOR in the regulation of HSC self-renewal and cell transformation. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of mTOR signaling in the survival and proliferation of HSCs and hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). Immunofluorescent staining with antibodies against phosphorylated mTOR and S6 kinase revealed that Thrombopoietin (Tpo) activates mTOR in cultured mouse bone marrow (BM) lineage negative cells, suggesting that Tpo may promote the survival and proliferation of HSCs/HPCs via activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. Further studies revealed that treatment with an mTOR specific small molecule inhibitor (Ku-69734) significantly suppressed the colony-forming ability of HPCs as evidenced by a dose-dependent decrease in the production of CFU-GM, BFU-E and CFU-GEMM. We also examined the clonogenic function of HSCs using cobblestone-area forming cell (CAFC) assays and found that Ku-69734 treatment markedly reduced the number of CAFCs in long-term BM culture. Moreover, immunophenotyping and flow cytometric analyses showed that inhibition of mTOR induced apoptosis primarily in HSCs and to a lesser degree in HPCs, indicating that mTOR inhibition may suppress the clonogenic function of HSCs and HPCs via the induction of apoptosis. Together, these data demonstrate that mTOR signaling is required for the survival and proliferation of HSCs and HPCs. Given that many mTOR inhibitors are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of cancers, our findings provide the rationale to further evaluate the potential toxicity of mTOR inhibitors in HSCs/HPCs in vivo. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Fully Printed Stretchable Thin-Film Transistors and Integrated Logic Circuits

This paper reports intrinsically stretchable thin-film transistors (TFTs) and integrated logic circuits directly printed on elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates. The printed devices utilize carbon nanotubes and a type of hybrid gate dielectric comprising PDMS and barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanoparticles. The BaTiO3/PDMS composite simultaneously provides high dielectric constant, superior stretchability, low leakage, as well as good printability and compatibility with the elastomeric substrate. Both TFTs and logic circuits can be stretched beyond 50% strain along either channel length or channel width directions for thousands of cycles while showing no significant degradation in electrical performance. This work may offer an entry into more sophisticated stretchable electronic systems with monolithically integrated sensors, actuators, and displays, fabricated by scalable and low-cost methods for real life applications.
Expanding Visions of How People Learn: The Centrality of Identity Repertoires

This special issue of the Journal of the Learning Sciences addresses an important set of issues emerging in the learning sciences, namely, what it means for novices to develop disciplinary identiti...
Colorblind Impacts: Individual, Interactional, and Societal

One of the primary justifications of the colorblind mentality is that racial categorization inevitably leads to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. Further, racial categorization is commonly presumed to produce interracial conflict and stigmatization of minorities. Chapter 7 examines the consequences of racial colorblindness within the realms of basic person perception, interracial interactions, and society at large. Consistently, racial colorblindness has been found to create negative consequences for racial minorities compared to color-conscious alternatives. This chapter elucidates some of the factors underlying this harmful impact by examining relevant social-scientific research.
Ruthenium Complexes are pH-Activated Metallo Prodrugs (pHAMPs) with Light-Triggered Selective Toxicity Toward Cancer Cells

Metallo prodrugs that take advantage of the inherent acidity surrounding cancer cells have yet to be developed. We report a new class of pH-activated metallo prodrugs (pHAMPs) that are activated by light- and pH-triggered ligand dissociation. These ruthenium complexes take advantage of a key characteristic of cancer cells and hypoxic solid tumors (acidity) that can be exploited to lessen the side effects of chemotherapy. Five ruthenium complexes of the type [(N,N)2Ru(PL)]2+ were synthesized, fully characterized, and tested for cytotoxicity in cell culture (1A: N,N = 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) and PL, the photolabile ligand, = 6,6'-dihydroxybipyridine (6,6'-dhbp); 2A: N,N = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and PL = 6,6'-dhbp; 3A: N,N = 2,3-dihydro-[1,4]dioxino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline (dop) and PL = 6,6'-dhbp; 4A: N,N = bipy and PL = 4,4'-dimethyl-6,6'-dihydroxybipyridine (dmdhbp); 5A: N,N = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and PL = 4,4'-dihydroxybipyridine (4,4'-dhbp). The thermodynamic acidity of these complexes was measured in terms of two pKa values for conversion from the acidic form (XA) to the basic form (XB) by removal of two protons. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data is discussed for 2A, 2B, 3A, 4B, and 5A. All complexes except 5A showed measurable photodissociation with blue light (λ = 450 nm). For complexes 1A-4A and their deprotonated analogues (1B-4B), the protonated form (at pH 5) consistently gave faster rates of photodissociation and larger quantum yields for the photoproduct, [(N,N)2Ru(H2O)2]2+. This shows that low pH can lead to greater rates of photodissociation. Cytotoxicity studies with 1A-5A showed that complex 3A is the most cytotoxic complex of this series with IC50 values as low as 4 μM (with blue light) versus two breast cancer cell lines. Complex 3A is also selectively cytotoxic, with sevenfold higher toxicity toward cancerous versus normal breast cells. Phototoxicity indices with 3A were as high as 120, which shows that dark toxicity is avoided. The key difference between complex 3A and the other complexes tested appears to be higher uptake of the complex as measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and a more hydrophobic complex as compared to 1A, which may enhance uptake. These complexes demonstrate proof of concept for dual activation by both low pH and blue light, thus establishing that a pHAMP approach can be used for selective targeting of cancer cells.
Long-term outcomes after autogenous versus synthetic lower extremity bypass in patients on hemodialysis

Background Hemodialysis dependence confers unique physiologic conditions. Prior reports of outcomes after infrainguinal open bypass operations in patients on hemodialysis have been based on relatively small sample institutional series. In this study, we evaluate long-term outcomes after open bypass operations in a large contemporary population-based cohort of hemodialysis patients. We studied all hemodialysis patients who underwent infrainguinal open operation using autogenous versus prosthetic conduits in the United States Renal Data System between January 2007 and December 2011. Methods Univariate methods (χ2, analysis of variance) were used to compare the characteristics of the patient and type of bypass. Kaplan-Meier, univariate and multivariate logistic, and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate 30-day postoperative outcomes as well as patency, limb salvage, and mortality in the long term. Results There were 9,739 (autogenous: 59%, prosthetic: 49%) infrainguinal open bypass operations performed in this cohort. Of these, 4,717 (48%) were femoral-popliteal, 3,321 (34%) were femoral-tibial, and 1,701 (18%) were popliteal-tibial bypasses. Bypass operations were performed most commonly for critical limb ischemia (72%). Primary patency was 18% for both types of conduits at 5 years (P = .16). Comparing autogenous versus prosthetic conduits, primary-assisted patency was 23% vs 20% at 5 years (P = .98), while secondary patency was 30% for both conduits at 5 years (P = .05). Limb salvage was 35% vs 41% at 5 years (P Conclusion This large study evaluated the long-term outcomes of open bypass operations in patients on hemodialysis. The data confirm the long-term benefits of autogenous conduits compared with prosthetic conduits in this high-risk population of patients, especially for the treatment of distal lesions. Individual patient life expectancy, availability of adequate autogenous conduit options, indication for operation, level of disease, as well as potential need for future options for additional access for dialysis should be taken into consideration when deciding to construct an open bypass in a hemodialysis patient.
Variation in fish mercury concentrations in streams of the Adirondack region, New York: a simplified screening approach using chemical metrics.

Abstract Simple screening approaches for the neurotoxicant methylmercury (MeHg) in aquatic ecosystems may be helpful in risk assessments of natural resources. We explored the development of such an approach in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, USA, a region with high levels of MeHg bioaccumulation. Thirty-six perennial streams broadly representative of 1st and 2nd order streams in the region were sampled during summer low flow and analyzed for several solutes and for Hg concentrations in fish. Several landscape and chemical metrics that are typically strongly related to MeHg concentrations in aquatic biota were explored for strength of association with fish Hg concentrations. Data analyses were based on site mean length-normalized and standardized Hg concentrations (assumed to be dominantly MeHg) in whole juvenile and adult Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis, Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus, Blacknose Dace Rhinichthys atratulus, and Central Mudminnow Umbra limi, as well as on multi-species z-scores. Surprisingly, none of the landscape metrics was related significantly to regional variation in fish Hg concentrations or to z-scores across the study streams. In contrast, several chemical metrics including dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, sulfate concentrations (SO42−), pH, ultra-violet absorbance (UV254), and specific ultra-violet absorbance were significantly related to regional variation in fish Hg concentrations. A cluster analysis based on DOC, SO42−, and pH identified three distinct groups of streams: (1) high DOC, acidic streams, (2) moderate DOC, slightly acidic streams, and (3) low DOC circum-neutral streams with relatively high SO42−. Preliminary analysis indicated no significant difference in fish Hg z-scores between the moderate and high DOC groups, so these were combined for further analysis. The resulting two groups showed strong differences (p 6.9 mg/L, SO42− 0.31 cm−1 were tested as thresholds to identify Adirondack stream sites likely to have higher fish Hg concentrations. By applying a combined threshold of exceedance for either pH or UV254, sites with fish Hg concentrations that exceeded a wildlife guideline of 100 ng/g were correctly identified about 75% of the time among the 36 study streams. An estimate of Hg risk applied to a data set of 391 streams based on DOC concentrations showed that about 28% were likely to pose high risk to wildlife; most of these streams were located in the western Adirondacks.
Hippocampal neurons and glia in epileptic EL mice

Reactive changes in hippocampal astrocytes are frequently encountered in association with temporal lobe epilepsy in humans and with drug or kindling-induced seizures in animal models. These reactive changes generally involve increases in astrocyte size and number and often occur together with neuronal loss and synaptic rearrangements. In addition to producing astrocytic changes, seizure activity can also produce reactive changes in microglia, the resident macrophages of brain. In this study, we examined the effects of recurrent seizure activity on hippocampal neurons and glia in the epileptic EL mouse, a natural model of human multifactorial idiopathic epilepsy and complex partial seizures. Timm staining was used to evaluate infrapyramidal mossy fiber organization and the optical dissector method was used to count Nissl-stained neurons in hippocampus of adult (about one year of age) EL mice and nonepileptic C57BL/6J (B6) and DDY mice. Immunostaining forglial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and Iba1, an actin cross-linking molecule restricted to macrophages and microglia, was used to evaluate astrocytes and microglia, respectively. The EL mice experienced about 25–30 complex partial seizures with secondary generalization during routine weekly cage changing. No significant differences were found among the mouse strains for Timm staining scores or for neuronal counts in the CA1 and CA3 pyramidal fields or in the hilus. However, the number of GFAP-positive astrocytes was significantly elevated in the stratum radiatum and hilus of EL mice, while microglia appeared hyper-ramified and were more intensely stained in EL mice than in the B6 or DDY mice in the hilus, parietal cortex, and pyriform cortex. The results indicate that recurrent seizure activity in EL mice is associated with abnormalities in hippocampal astrocytes and brain microglia, but is not associated with obvious neuronal loss or mossy fiber synaptic rearrangements. The EL mouse can be a useful model for evaluating neuron-glia interactions related to idiopathic epilepsy.
Safety in stigmatizing? Instrumental stigma beliefs and protective sexual behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa

How are people's expression of HIV stigma beliefs connected to their own personal decisions concerning safe sexual practices? Does this relationship vary across countries and by the national context in which people reside? To answer these questions, we develop and test individual, contextual, and cross-level interactional hypotheses of the impact of instrumental HIV stigma attitudes on several measures of protective sexual behavior. Using Demographic and Health Survey data from 467,656 unpartnered individuals across 34 sub-Saharan African countries, we first find that counterintuitively, conservative HIV stigma attitudes are associated with lower likelihoods of participating in all types of protective sexual behaviors. Second, this negative relationship is most pronounced in the Southern and Eastern regions of Africa, where HIV prevalence is highest. Together, these findings suggest that stigma beliefs can shape private behaviors in counterintuitive yet important ways that have profound implications for current epidemiological and public health approaches to slowing the spread of HIV.
INDUSTRY AND PRACTICE: A Challenge to Database Researchers

In a recent gathering of information systems academics and professionals there was yet another discussion of, â€œWhat is information systems,â€ and â€œWhat are appropriate areas of research in this field.â€ After a heated debate I am happy to report that we once again confirmed the obvious, that is capturing, storing and managing data and generating information from data still forms the core of our profession. Database systems ranging from special purpose personal databases to large organizational databases that support transaction processing systems as well as other critical functions are pervasive in the day-to-day operations of our organizations. It is precisely this level of dependence that results in a low rate of innovation and/or adoption of new technology in the user community. The factors that kept COBOL as the leading programming language used in business systems decades beyond what was predicted by many people, are now affecting the database field in a very similar fashion. This level of caution and slow adaptation to change is not necessarily a bad thing. We just need to recognize this and understand what our roles as academicians and practitioners engaged in database research in this environment.
Nitrogen Carryover from Swine Manure

Swine manure or commercial fertilizer had been fall applied for the prior year(s) crop. Late spring soil nitrate tests and crop yield for the current year were collected to determine the value of nitrogen carryover.
The effect of dietary soybean isoflavones on the rate and efficiency of growth and carcass muscle content in pigs and rats

The in vitro biological properties of soy isoflavones suggest that they may negatively impact muscle growth in vivo. Three experiments were conducted to determine the impact of dietary soybean isoflavones on body and muscle growth in pigs and rats. In experiment one, pigs were self fed a basal diet containing 0 or 1585 ppm supplemental isoflavones from 6 to 30 kg body weight. The isoflavones source consisted of an extract of soybeans that contained the isoflavones genistein, daidzein, and glycitein in relative proportions and physical forms similar to that present in soybeans. Isoflavones increased (P < .08) daily body weight gain (579 vs 595) and carcass muscle content (12.48 vs 12.87 kg). Increased muscle growth was observed in predominantly red-flbered muscles. In experiment two, pigs were fed diets that contained supplemental genistein concentrations of 0, 200,400, 600 and 800 ppm from 5 to 28 kg body weight. Serum genistein increased linearly (P < .01) from .55 to 3.44 |iM as dietary genistein levels increased independent of stage of growth. Feed intake and body growth rate were decreased by dietary genistein during initial stages of growth, but were increased at later stages of growth in response to increasing dietary genistein. The combined weights of four red and four white muscles at 27 kg body weight, were not altered by dietary genistein concentration. In experiment three, gravid rats were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 431, 862 or 1724 ppm isoflavones supplied by a soy extract similar to experiment one. Growth of male offspring was not altered by maternal dietary isoflavones but growth and efficiency of feed utilization of female offspring increased (P < .04) with increasing
Dynamic Fracture of Nominally Brittle Materials

Current understanding of dynamic fracture mechanisms and the methods of modeling are reviewed critically. Experimental methods used in dynamic fracture investigations and key experimental observations are reviewed. This is followed by a critical review of the dynamic fracture models. Mechanistic and phenomenological models as well as discrete and continuum models and their ability to reproduce experimental results are discussed.
Pain Management in Chronic Prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis pain can be a debilitating condition and it is often represent a challenge to health care providers to diagnose and treat. It usually needs a multidisciplinary approach for effective management.
The CAD Framework Initiative

No description of CAD Frameworks would be complete without a discussion of the standardization work being promoted by the CAD Framework Initiative (CFI). This grassroots organization has not only demonstrated beyond doubt the deep belief in standards which is shared by CAD users and vendors in both the Systems and IC markets, but it also has demonstrated remarkable progress in the first three years of its life: both in the production of standards specifications, and in the creation of live demonstrations of interoperability between frameworks and tools at the Design Automation Conferences of 1990 and 1991. Increasingly strong financial support augers well for the continued success of CFI.
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in the Critical Care Unit

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but life-threatening condition characterized by uncontrolled inflammation. The management of HLH is challenging, in part, due to the multiple etiologies of the disease, the variations in presentations, and the rapidity of the progression of the disease. Due to the severity of their disease, these patients often require significant critical care support. HLH can be due to familial (genetic) causes or can be secondary to triggers such as infections, autoimmune disorders, and malignancy. Underlying conditions such as sepsis or malignancy could pose as major confounders while applying universal diagnostic criteria and therefore could lead to delay in diagnosis. This chapter focuses on the characteristics of the disease, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, treatment, and intensive care management of pediatric patients with HLH.