cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discovering Patterns for Fact Checking in Knowledge Graphs

This article presents a new framework that incorporates graph patterns to support fact checking in knowledge graphs. Our method discovers discriminant graph patterns to construct classifiers for fact prediction. First, we propose a class of graph fact checking rules (GFCs). A GFC incorporates graph patterns that best distinguish true and false facts of generalized fact statements. We provide statistical measures to characterize useful patterns that are both discriminant and diversified. Second, we show that it is feasible to discover GFCs in large graphs with optimality guarantees. We develop an algorithm that performs localized search to generate a stream of graph patterns, and dynamically assemble the best GFCs from multiple GFC sets, where each set ensures quality scores within certain ranges. The algorithm guarantees a (1/2−ϵ) approximation when it (early) terminates. We also develop a space-efficient alternative that dynamically spawns prioritized patterns with best marginal gains to the verified GFCs. It guarantees a (1−1/e) approximation. Both strategies guarantee a bounded time cost independent of the size of the underlying graph. Third, to support fact checking, we develop two classifiers, which make use of top-ranked GFCs as predictive rules or instance-level features of the pattern matches induced by GFCs, respectively. Using real-world data, we experimentally verify the efficiency and the effectiveness of GFC-based techniques for fact checking in knowledge graphs and verify its application in knowledge exploration and news prediction.
Association Between Parental Medical Claims for Opioid Prescriptions and Risk of Suicide Attempt by Their Children.

Importance The rate of youth suicide has increased over the past 15 years in the United States as has the rate of death due to opioid overdose in adults of parental age. Objective To explore the possible connection between parental use of prescription opioids and the increasing rate of youth suicide. Design, Setting, and Participants A pharmacoepidemiologic study was conducted from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2016, linking medical claims for parental opioid prescriptions with medical claims for suicide attempts by their children. The study used MarketScan medical claims data covering more than 150 million privately insured people in the United States. The study included 121 306 propensity score–matched 30- to 50-year-old parents who used opioids and parents who did not use opioids and their 10- to 19-year-old children (148 395 children of parents who did not use opioids and 184 142 children of parents who used opioids). Propensity score matching was used to identify relevant control families based on demographic features and concomitant use of psychotropic medication. Exposures Opioid use in a parent was defined as having prescription fills covering more than 365 days of an opioid between 2010 and 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures Suicide attempt rate in the children of parents who used opioids and those who did not use opioids. Results A total of 148 395 children (75 575 sons and 72 820 daughters; mean [SD] age, 11.5 [1.6] years at the start of follow-up) had parents who did not use opioids and 184 142 children (94 502 sons and 89 640 daughters; mean [SD] age, 11.8 [1.8] years at the start of follow-up) with parents who did use opioids. There were 100 899 children aged 10 to 14 years and 47 496 children aged 15 to 19 years with parents who did not use opioids and 96 975 children aged 10 to 14 years and 87 163 children aged 15 to 19 years with parents who did use opioids. Of the children with parents who did not use opioids, 212 (0.14%) attempted suicide; of the children with parents who did use opioids, 678 (0.37%) attempted suicide. Parental use of opioids was associated with a doubling of the risk of a suicide attempt by their offspring (odds ratio [OR], 1.99; 95% CI, 1.71-2.33). The association remained significant after adjusting for child age and sex (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.58-2.17), addition of child and parental depression and diagnoses of substance use disorder (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.24-1.72), and addition of parental history of suicide attempt (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.23-1.71). Geographical variation in opioid use did not change the association (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.71-2.34). Conclusions and Relevance Children of parents who use prescription opioids are at increased risk for suicide attempts, which could be a contributing factor to the time trend in adolescent suicidality. The care of families with a parent who uses opioids should include mental health screening of their children.
Correction to: Seasonal fever for 11 years! A presentation of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to marginal zone lymphoma

Correction to: memo 2019 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-019-0487-4 The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The spelling of the last author’s name is “Prerna Mewawalla”. The original article has been …
Professionalism in Global Health

This chapter suggests a definition of professionalism in global health, addresses the problem of unprofessionalism and its typical determinants and consequences, as well as suggests strategies to enhance professionalism in global health. As global health efforts increase, there is a concomitant need to promote professionalism in global health.
Isomeric Tuning Yields Bright and Targetable Red Ca2+ Indicators

Targeting small-molecule fluorescent indicators using genetically encoded protein tags yields new hybrid sensors for biological imaging. Optimization of such systems requires redesign of the synthetic indicator to allow cell-specific targeting without compromising the photophysical properties or cellular performance of the small-molecule probe. We developed a bright and sensitive Ca2+ indicator by systematically exploring the relative configuration of dye and chelator, which can be targeted using the HaloTag self-labeling tag system. Our "isomeric tuning" approach is generalizable, yielding a far-red targetable indicator to visualize Ca2+ fluxes in the primary cilium.
Inter-relations Between Additive Shape Invariant Superpotentials

Abstract All known additive shape invariant superpotentials in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics belong to one of two categories: superpotentials that do not explicitly depend on ħ, and their ħ-dependent extensions. The former group themselves into two disjoint classes, depending on whether the corresponding Schrodinger equation can be reduced to a hypergeometric equation (type-I) or a confluent hypergeometric equation (type-II). All the superpotentials within each class are connected via point canonical transformations. Previous work [19] showed that type-I superpotentials produce type-II via limiting procedures. In this paper we develop a method to generate a type I superpotential from type II, thus providing a pathway to interconnect all known additive shape invariant superpotentials.
Fetal mortality in breech deliveries.

Abstract The fetal risk in breech presentations is more than with vertex, even in expert hands. The maternal risk is not increased, and mortality can be explained by associated conditions not concerned with the position of the fetus. Slight increase in maternal morbidity is largely the result of a higher incidence of severe perineal injuries which can usually be prevented by episiotomy. The very high gross fetal death rate is to a great extent due to the inclusion of very premature infants who would have little chance of survival with any position, of those having severe malformations, and of those who are already dead on admission. We are unable to find an increased risk for viable prematures when presenting by breech. Stillbirth and neonatal mortality for term babies is for 1933 to 1937 6.5 per cent, for 1942 to 1946, 3.5 per cent. There is a definitely added risk to breech babies from prolapsed cord which occurs about six times as frequently as in vertex positions. Birth weight is an important factor in fetal death for breech babies. Babies of medium size have the best chance of survival when delivered vaginally. Although it is thought by some authors to be associated with a definitely higher death rate, we were able to show very little, if any, higher mortality for frank breech. Increased length of labor is not a factor of importance in a higher death rate. Babies of elderly primiparas with breech presentation have a high mortality rate if delivered vaginally. Prophylactic version as a method of reducing breech mortality, we believe, deserves more universal consideration. Elderly primiparas, cases with pelvic contraction, even though of mild degree, primiparas with large babies, and cases with various combinations of these conditions deserve careful consideration of delivery by cesarean section. Better care of prematures should help reduce mortality among those developed sufficiently to survive extrauterine life.
Nocturnal Cough and Snore Detection in Noisy Environments Using Smartphone-Microphones

The reporting on nocturnal sounds like cough and snore is not only relevant to follow the progress of respiratory diseases of patients but also to assess the quality of sleep of subjects. In this study, we discuss an audio analysis approach to count individual cough events and the duration of snore sounds in presence of air-conditioner noise through recordings of a smartphone and computationally efficient classifiers. A new audio data set of cough and snore sounds was acquired from 26 subjects. Energy threshold-based segmentation was applied to identify cough or snore events in the original low noise dataset. A k-nearest neighbor classifier was trained to merge cough phases belonging to the same cough event, to derive the proper ground-truth labeling. The original audio signal was augmented by the superposition of air-conditioner noise, with a signal-to-noise ratio of -40dB to 40dB, to enrich the training set of the binary classifier. Nine out of 40 mel-frequency cepstral coefficients in combination with the logarithm of energy from an entire cough or snore event were computed. Various classifiers, such as k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), rule-based classifier, decision tree, random forest, naive Bayes, and support vector machine were benchmarked against each other. The k-NN classifier with k=1 resulted in the highest F_ 1 scores of.85 and.88 in the binary classification task using generalized and personalized models, respectively, considering noise augmented samples. These results underline the potential of smartphones to objectively report on patient symptoms through audio recordings at night.
Zeeman spin-splitting in the (010) β-Ga2O3 two-dimensional electron gas

Through magnetotransport measurements and analysis of the observed Shubnikov de-Haas oscillations in (010) (AlxGa1-x)2O3/Ga2O3 heterostructures, spin-splitting of the Landau levels in the (010) Ga2O3 two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) has been studied. Analysis indicates that the spin-splitting results from the Zeeman effect. By fitting both the first and second harmonics of the oscillations as a function of magnetic field, we determine the magnitude of the Zeeman splitting to be 0.4 ħωc, with a corresponding effective g-factor of 2.7, for the magnetic field perpendicular to the 2DEG.Through magnetotransport measurements and analysis of the observed Shubnikov de-Haas oscillations in (010) (AlxGa1-x)2O3/Ga2O3 heterostructures, spin-splitting of the Landau levels in the (010) Ga2O3 two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) has been studied. Analysis indicates that the spin-splitting results from the Zeeman effect. By fitting both the first and second harmonics of the oscillations as a function of magnetic field, we determine the magnitude of the Zeeman splitting to be 0.4 ħωc, with a corresponding effective g-factor of 2.7, for the magnetic field perpendicular to the 2DEG.
Progress and Prospects in Transition-Metal Dichalcogenide Research Beyond 2D

This review discusses recent advances and future research priorities in the transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) field. While the community has witnessed tremendous advances through research conducted on two-dimensional (2D) TMD crystals, it is vital to seek new research opportunities beyond developed areas. To this end, in this review we focus principally on articulating areas of need in the preparation and analysis of TMD crystals encompassing dimensionalities and morphologies beyond 2D. Ultimately, the development of new synthetic methods to control key structural features of low-dimensional TMD crystals (e.g., dimensionality, morphology, and phase) will afford access to a broader range of breakthrough properties for this intriguing material class. We begin with a brief overview of the evolution of 2D TMD research, discussing both the synthetic methods that have enabled the preparation of these materials and the manifold properties they possess. We focus the bulk of our review on discussion of recent advances associated with 1D TMD crystals, which are often referred to as TMD nanoribbons, and include a discussion of recent efforts in 0D systems. We discuss synthetic strategies that have been developed to prepare such beyond 2D crystals and highlight their unique physical and chemical properties. After reviewing the host of analytical tools available for characterization of TMD materials, we identify future analytical instrumentation needs. We conclude with a discussion of the prospects of beyond 2D TMD crystals in optoelectronics, catalysis, and quantum information science.
Social Projection of Transient Drive States

The authors hypothesized that people’s predictions of how other people feel in emotionally arousing situations are often based on people’s predictions of how they themselves would feel in those situations. Indeed, most participants in Study 1 reported predicting hungry hikers’ feelings by mentally trading places with them, imagining what their own feelings would be in the hikers’ situation. Because people’s predictions of their own feelings tend to be biased in the direction of their current drive states, we hypothesized that mentally trading places would lead to social projection of transient drive states. In Study 2, participants’ predictions of whether thirst or hunger would be more bothersome to hikers lost without food or water were biased in the direction of participants’ own exercise-induced thirst. Furthermore, participants’ predictions of how they would feel in the hikers’ situation statistically mediated the effect of exercise on their predictions of the hikers’ feelings.
Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the cranial vault with Trousseau syndrome: a case report.

Background It is extremely rare for primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas to occur singly in the cranial vault. One case diagnosed as primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is reported, initially misdiagnosed as metastatic skull tumor, complicated with Trousseau syndrome. Case description The patient was a 60-year-old Japanese woman with no particular previous medical history. In a head computed tomography examination for vertigo, bone destructive skull tumor covering the right frontal, parietal, and temporal bones was incidentally discovered. As positron emission tomography indicated an abnormal accumulation in the large intestine and multiple cerebral infarctions suspicious of Trousseau syndrome were observed on magnetic resonance images, a metastatic skull tumor due to colorectal cancer was first considered. However, various tumor markers were negative, and colonoscopic biopsy indicated no colorectal abnormality. After pathological examination of the resected tumor, it was diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The tumor affected muscles and skin but did not develop in the brain or the dura mater. As further general examination revealed no other abnormalities, we considered that it was primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the cranial vault associated with Trousseau syndrome. Treatment with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone and high-dose methotrexate reduced the residual lesion; coagulation abnormalities, which are frequently associated with Trousseau syndrome, also improved. Conclusions Skull tumors can result from a variety of malignancies, and their diagnosis may be complicated with Trousseau syndrome. However, even in cases of a single lesion in the cranial vault without invasion of the central nervous system, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Obesity and adiposity have opposing genetic impacts on human blood traits

Obesity, hyperlipidemia, and truncal adiposity concordantly elevate cardiovascular disease risks, but have unknown genetic effects on blood trait variation. Using Mendelian randomization, we define unexpectedly opposing roles for generalized obesity and truncal adiposity on blood traits. Elevated genetically determined body mass index (BMI) and lipid levels decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, explaining consistent with clinical observations associating obesity and anemia. However, lipid-related effects were confined to erythroid traits, whereas BMI affected multiple blood lineages, indicating broad effects on hematopoiesis. BMI-related effects were unexpectedly opposed by truncal adipose distribution, which increased hemoglobin and blood cell counts across lineages. Conditional analyses indicated genes, pathways, and cell types responsible for these effects, including Leptin Receptor and other blood cell-extrinsic factors in adipocytes and endothelium, which regulate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell biology. Our findings identify novel roles for obesity and adipose distribution on hematopoiesis and show that genetically determined adiposity plays a previously underappreciated role in determining blood cell formation and function.
Flow Cytometric Characterization of Macrophages: Fluorescent Substrates as Markers of Activation and Differentiation

Biochemical criteria have been used to characterize blood monocytes as well as resident and elicited macrophages. While biochemical assays determined on cell lysates or cell free supernatants provide important information, similar studies carried out at the single cell level could assess both activity and heterogeneity. If several assays could be carried out simultaneously, the relationship between different markers on the same cell could be studied.
Symbiotic Star UV Emission and Theoretical Models

Observations of symbiotic stars in the far UV have provided important information on the nature of these objects. The canonical spectrum of a symbiotic star, e.g. RW Hya, Z And, AG Peg, is dominated by strong allowed and semi forbidden lines of a variety of at least twice ionized elements. Weaker emission from neutral and singly ionized species is also present. The Mg II doublet is usually very strong and may be associated with the M giant primary. A continuum may or may not be present in the 1200 – 2000 A range but is generally present in the range 2000 – 3200 A range, the latter arising from free-free and bound-free emission in the same nebula that is responsible for the UV line emission (CI Cyg, RW Hya, RX Pup). The suspected hot subdwarf continuum is seen in some cases in the range 1200 – 2000 A (RW Hya, AG Peg, SY Mus). High resolution observations of lines are important because they yield information on densities, temperatures and sizes of the line emitting region(s); in general, however, such observations are difficult and time-consuming to obtain with “IUE”. Densities are found to range from a low of ∼ 106 cm−3 in R Aqr and V1016 Cya through typical values of 108 – 109 cm−3 in RW Hya to a high of ∼ 1011 cm−3 in Z And. Sizes range from ∼ 1011 in the resonance line emitting region in Z And to ∼ 1014 – 1015 cm in the more extended regions of R Aqr and V1016 Cyg. Temperatures are generally 20, 000 K. High resolution profiles generally show single component nebular emission (RW Hya, SY Mus, AG Peg, V1016 Cyg). Complex profiles showing multiple velocity structure present in rings and/or streamers have been detected in RX Pup. Continua, which very often are flat, are harder to interpret but it seems that line blanketed models of B, A and F-type stars generally fail. A combination of different sources of continua seems ro be required: nebular emission (particularly for λ 2000 A); hot subdwarf continuum; and/or continuum arising in an accretion disk. The presence of an accretion disk is difficult to demonstrate and to this date the best candidate for accretion to a main sequence star remains CI Cyg. A number of equations have been derived by the author that can yield the accretion parameters from the observable quantities. Boundary layer temperatures ∼105 K and accretion rates ∼ > 10−5 M⊙s/yr are required for accreting main sequence companions. To this date, though, most of the symbiotics may only require the presence of a ∼ 105 K hot subdwarf.
Developing Critical Loads of Nitrate and Sulfate Deposition to Watersheds of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA

Long-term impacts of acidic deposition on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) include elevated inputs of sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium; the depletion of available nutrient cations from soil; and acidification of high-elevation streams. Critical loads and target loads (CLs/TLs) are useful tools to help guide future air quality management. We evaluated past and potential future effects of nitrate and sulfate deposition for 12 watersheds in the GRSM, USA, using the hydrochemical model, photosynthesis evapotranspiration biogeochemical (PnET-BGC). Two of the streams studied were listed by the state of Tennessee as impaired due to low stream pH. We reconstructed historical meteorological, atmospheric deposition, and land disturbance data for study watersheds for the period 1850 to present for model hindcasts. As future emissions are expected to decline, the model was run under a range of future scenarios from 2008 to 2200 of decreases in sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium and combinations of sulfate and nitrate deposition to estimate CLs and TLs of how watersheds might respond to emission control strategies. Model simulations of stream chemistry generally agreed with long-term (>10 years) observations. Model hindcasts indicate that watersheds in the GRSM are inherently sensitive to acidic deposition. Simulated mean projected stream ANC of 71 μeq/L (range 32 to 107 μeq/L) prior to industrial development (~1850) decreases in response to historical acidic deposition to 33 μeq/L (−13 to 88 μeq/L) in 2007. Future model projections show that decreases in sulfate deposition result in smaller increases in stream ANC compared with equivalent decreases in nitrate deposition; simultaneous controls on nitrate and sulfate deposition are more effective in ANC increases than individual control of nitrate or sulfate. Although there are no current programs in the USA to control ammonia emissions, model simulations suggest that decreases in ammonium deposition could also help mitigate acidification to a greater extent than equivalent controls on nitrate deposition.
Enzymes of glucose catabolism in hydra. I. Relative activities of enzymes and absence of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase.

Abstract The presence, relative specific activities, and properties of some enzymes of glucose catabolism in hydra were investigated. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was quite active in hydra whereas, in contrast to most animals, no 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity was detected. There was no inhibitor of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase present in hydra tissue because the isolated enzyme or the enzyme from rat liver was not inhibited when incubated with homogenate of hydra. The 6-phosphogluconate produced by hydra glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was shown to be degraded enzymatically by a phosphatase to gluconate and inorganic phosphate. The phosphatase fraction was partially purified and some of its properties examined. The possible significance of the unusual distribution in hydroids of hexose monophosphate pathway enzymes is discussed.
Tough decisions: phasing out a popular option to maintain overall service viability

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the University of Mississippi Libraries' experience in implementing a printing cost-recovery service, unexpectedly finding itself managing a large number of cash transactions, and ultimately – many years later – eliminating the cash payment option. Design/methodology/approach – An analysis of print logs was completed along with a study of the various costs (hardware/software, personnel, consumables, and transaction fees) in order to examine the total operating costs of the system. Findings – Personnel costs related to cash transactions were the greatest expense related to operating the system. Increasing cash-handling costs were driving up the overall operating costs of the public print system. After the cash payment option was eliminated, overall print volume decreased, but the corresponding decrease in operating expenses meant that the library had new opportunities for expanding the and enhancing the service. Originality/value – This case study could be...
How Effective is Micro Harm Reduction in Reducing Macro Harm

MacCoun (1996) distinguishes between micro and macro harm reduction and notes that reducing micro harm (harm per unit of use) may or may not reduce macro (aggregate) harm depending on its effect on use. We present a simple model that relates micro and macro harm through five parameters: price, quantity, elasticity of demand, elasticity of supply, and the social cost of drug use. Parameterizing the relationship for the US cocaine market in 1992 suggests that about 75% of the apparent benefit of reducing micro harm experienced by users would be offset by increases in use. This suggests that reducing micro harm experienced by users has merit but that reducing the costs drugs impose on non-users may merit greater attention, since reducing those costs carries no risk of being offset by increases in use. Acknowledgments This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. SBR-9357936. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Leucine and ω-3 fatty acids act synergistically through mTOR to activate translation initiation in young and aged C2C12 myotubes (820.18)

Skeletal muscle is a major site of metabolic activity. For skeletal muscle to function at optimal levels, activation of processes that regulate muscle development, growth, and metabolism is require...
Anti‐Inflammatory Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids are the first line medication used in the treatment of afflictions ranging from the moderate skin rash to severe acute inflammatory disorders. They exert their activity through binding to the glucocorticoid receptor, a ligand-dependent transcription factor, and result in either activation or repression of a large set of glucocorticoid responsive genes. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a cytoplasmic protein of complex structure that is associated with various heat shock proteins (e.g., hsp 90). The desired immunosuppressive effect is apparently due largely to the downregulation of a variety of proinflammatory factors, whereas adverse reactions such as corticoid-induced diabetes and osteoporosis could be connected to the inappropriate activation of genes involved in the control of metabolic processes. The discovery of selective receptor modulators, which maintain beneficial therapeutic activity together with a diminished risk of side effects, focuses on ligands that lead to repression rather than activation of genes targeted by the glucocorticoid receptor. Current drug-screening programs have yielded a number of molecules including steroidal as well as nonsteroidal compounds, which preferentially induce receptor-mediated repression. Keywords: antiglucocorticoids; anti-inflammatory steroids; glucocorticoids; glucocorticoid receptor modulators
Evidence for a ligation step in the DNA replication of the autonomous parvovirus minute virus of mice.

Abstract Newly replicated DNA of the autonomous parvovirus minute virus of mice was pulse-labeled with 32PO4 during the time of maximal viral DNA replication in highly synchronized A9 cells. The subsequent processing of viral DNA-protein complexes was monitored during a chase period with no label. Several distinct classes of duplex replicative-form and progeny single-stranded DNA molecules were characterized and found to accumulate at different times during infection. Analysis of the terminal structures associated with these various forms provided new insights into the mechanism by which viral DNA replicates and, in particular, suggested that interstrand ligation occurs during this process.
The General Education vs. Careerism Debate: Developing a Hospitality Education Perspective

(1991). The General Education vs. Careerism Debate: Developing a Hospitality Education Perspective. Hospitality & Tourism Educator: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 65-68.
Fortification of corn masa flour with folic acid in the United States: an overview of the evidence

Corn masa flour, used to make products such as corn tortillas, is a staple food for Hispanic populations residing in the United States, particularly among Mexican Americans and Central Americans. Research has indicated that Hispanic women in the United States continue to be at a higher risk of having a neural tube defect–affected pregnancy than women of other races/ethnicities, even after the introduction of folic acid fortification of cereal grain products labeled as “enriched.” Corn masa flour has, therefore, been suggested as a potential food vehicle for folic acid in the United States. This paper explores the potential impact that folic acid fortification of corn masa flour could have on the Hispanic population in the United States.
Satisfiability and the art of computer programming

The speaker will describe his adventures during the past eight months when he has been intensively studying as many aspects of SAT solvers as possible, in the course of preparing about 100 pages of new material for Volume 4B of The Art of Computer Programming.
Should spontaneous and medically indicated preterm births be separated for studying aetiology

An increasing proportion of preterm births result from medical interventions, and the practice of aggregating all preterm births vs. splitting into spontaneous and medically indicated preterm births is inconsistent. While mechanistic and clinical arguments can be offered for either approach, we empirically evaluated the predictiveness of a range of risk factors for preterm birth in the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition Study. Most influences were shared across the two subsets - African-American ethnicity, advancing age, delivery at a university medical centre, prior preterm birth and smoking. Medically indicated preterm births appeared to be associated with intensity of medical care, higher in the university medical centre and lower for the poorest women. Body mass index was positively associated with medically indicated preterm birth and inversely with spontaneous preterm birth. Given the complexity of the aetiological pathways, both aggregation and disaggregation are well justified and should be included in studies of the causes of preterm birth.
Abstract 2267: Sulforaphane depresses proliferation and induces cell death in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells, GBM stem cell-like spheroids, and tumor xenografts through modulation of multiple cell signaling pathways

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) comprises the largest group of brain tumors which are drug resistant and respond very poorly to the current therapies. In this study, we used sulforaphane (SFN), a multi-targeting agent with cancer preventive and anti-cancer activities and showed that it targets GBM established cell lines, early primary cultures, and CD133+ GBM stem cells as well as in GBM stem-like spheroids. SFN at 5-50 μM triggered significant inhibition of cell survival and induced apoptotic cell death in GBM cells and CD133+ stem cells isolated from four GBM cell lines. SFN induced apoptosis in U87MG cells was associated with caspase-7 activation. Moreover, SFN triggered formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and when the cells were pre-treated with 10 mM N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), ROS production and cell survival in cells treated with 5-10 μM were similar to the control untreated U87MG cells, revealing that SFN-triggered cell death is ROS-dependent. Moreover, SFN-generated ROS in U87MG cells were formed at the Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain (MRC) level. SFN also increased expression of the TRAIL receptor DR5 in GBM cells, U87MG and SF767 cells by 24 h post-exposure. Moreover, as revealed by comet assay, SFN increased single- and double-strand DNA breaks in GBM. Compared to untreated control cells, a significantly higher amount of γ-H2AX foci and as consequence higher number of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) breaks were observed in the SFN-treated sample. In vivo studies, using NOD/SCID mice revealed that SFN administration via oral gavage at 100 mg/kg for 3 cycles significantly decreases the growth of ectopic xenografts established from the early passage primary cultures of GBM10. Our results show that SFN robustly inhibits growth of GBM cells in vitro and in vivo and induces cell death in established cell cultures, early passage primary cultures, as well as it is effective in eliminating GBM cancer stem cells, which play a major role in drug resistance and disease recurrence. These results suggest that use of SFN alone or in combination with other agents, may potentially improve survival of brain tumor patients. Citation Format: Khadijeh Bijangi-Vishehsaraei, Mohammad R. Saadatzadeh, Haiyan Wang, Malgorzata M. Kamocka, Wenjing Cai, Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol, Stacey L. Halum, Karen E. Pollok, Jann N. Sarkaria, Ahmad R. Safa. Sulforaphane depresses proliferation and induces cell death in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells, GBM stem cell-like spheroids, and tumor xenografts through modulation of multiple cell signaling pathways. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2267. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2267
On soliton amplification

A modified Korteweg–de Vries equation that permits wave amplification or damping is considered. A ’’terminal similariry’’ solution is identified for large times in amplified systems. This asymptotic result is confirmed by a series of numerical computations.
Land treatment of an aged oily sludge-organic loss and change in soil characteristics

Abstract Land treatment of an aged oily sludge was investigated to determine the loss of organic constituents. The oily sludge was applied to field plots of a moderately permeable silt loam soil. The plots consisted of four replicates each of natural controls, rototilled controls and several application rates. Sludge was applied at three different timers over a two-year period and at seven sludge application rates that ranged from 0.09 to 5.25% oil and grease by weight in the soil zone of incorporation. Application of the sludge increased the pH, temperature and volatile matter of the soil. The half-life of the total oil and grease ranged from about 260 to about 400 days. Naphthalenes, alkanes and specific aromatics were rapidly lost from the soil. The half-life of these compounds generally was less than 30 days. Not all of the applied organics were lost. A refractory component of about 20–25% of the applied oil and grease accumulated in the soil. Based on laboratory earthworm studies, the residual organics did not appear to have a permanent adverse impact to the soil biota.
The synthesis and degradation of RNA containing polyriboadenylate during sea urchin embryogeny

Abstract The synthesis and degradation of polyriboadenylate [poly (A)] was studied during sea urchin embryogenesis in an effort to learn more about the role of poly (A) in the cell and its relationship to embryogeny. Midcleavage, midblastula, and midgastrula embryos were labeled with 3H-adenosine, and the kinetics of incorporation followed for 4 hr in both the entire cell and the cytoplasmic fraction. Cleaving embryos show linear incorporation of isotope. At the other stages isotope incorporation follows saturation kinetics indicative of turnover. RNA that contains poly (A) was shown to exhibit a type of incorporation kinetics similar to nonadenylylated RNA, although somewhat more of the RNA that contains poly (A) is exported to the cytoplasm than is the nonadenylylated portion. A considerable amount of the RNA that contains poly (A) is degraded in the nucleus without export to the cytoplasm. The poly (A) was isolated from the newly synthesized RNA that contains poly (A), and its size showed a broad range from about 80 to 200 nucleotides at all stages and for all labeling times. It is concluded that polyadenylylation is very active throughout embryogenesis, but that the stability of polyadenylylated molecules may be different in nucleus and cytoplasm, and from one developmental stage to another.
Benign Outcome of Pulmonary Hypertension in Neonates With a Restrictive Patent Foramen Ovale Versus Result for Neonates With an Unrestrictive Patent Foramen Ovale

Premature closure or restriction of foramen ovale (FO) is a rare but known entity. FO diameter 120 cm/s, diameter 5 mmHg have all being used by various authors to describe this entity. Some neonates with restrictive FO have been noted to have severe pulmonary hypertension with no clinical signs or symptoms and with spontaneous resolution without any intervention. Seven consecutive neonates were indentified in the database between 01/01/2003 and 06/30/2010 with diagnosis of restrictive PFO (diameter <2 mm) with structurally normal heart and their initial and follow-up echocardiogram as well as hospital medical records were reviewed. As a control, seven neonates with diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension and respiratory distress syndrome or meconium aspiration syndrome were randomly selected. Eighty-six percent of the patients in the control group were symptomatic and required treatment as compared to 14% in the restrictive FO group (p = 0.03). Further, the fall in the peak instantaneous pulmonary artery pressure on follow-up echocardiogram was greater in the restrictive FO group compared with the non-restrictive group (p = 0.03). Patients with pulmonary hypertension and a restrictive FO with no other associated congenital heart disease and/or lung pathology behave differently when compared to neonates with non-restrictive FO and pulmonary hypertension with associated lung disease. They seldom manifest symptoms requiring intervention and tend to show a faster drop in their pulmonary artery pressure toward the normal.
Communication strategy of transboundary air pollution findings in a US-Mexico Border XXI program project.

From 1996 to 1997, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) conducted an air quality study known as the Lower Rio Grande Valley Transboundary Air Pollution Project (TAPP). The study was a US–Mexico Border XXI program project and was developed in response to local community requests on a need for more air quality measurements and concerns about the health impact of local air pollutants; this included concerns about emissions from border-dependent industries in Mexico, known as maquiladoras. The TAPP was a follow-up study to environmental monitoring done by EPA in this area in 1993 and incorporated scientific and community participation in development, review of results, and public presentation of findings. In spite of this, critical remarks were leveled by community activists against the study's preliminary “good news” findings regarding local air quality and the influence of transboundary air pollution. To resolve these criticisms and to refine the findings to address these concerns, analyses included comparisons of daily and near real-time measurements to TNRCC effects screening levels and data from other studies along with wind sector analyses. Reassessment of the data suggested that although regional source emissions occurred and outliers of elevated pollutant levels were found, movement of air pollution across the border did not appear to cause noticeable deterioration of air quality. In spite of limitations stated to the community, the TAPP was presented as establishing a benchmark to assess current and future transboundary air quality in the Valley. The study has application in Border XXI Program or other air quality studies where transboundary transport is a concern since it involved interagency coordination, public involvement, and communication of scientifically sound results for local environmental protection efforts.
Superlinear electron transport and noise in quantum wires

We have employed a Monte Carlo technique for the simulation of electron transport and noise (diffusion) in GaAs rectangular quasi‐one‐dimensional quantum wire structures at low temperatures. It is demonstrated that with the heating of electron gas the efficiency of acoustic phonon scattering decreases and the mobility increases. The increase of electron mobility appears as a superlinear region on velocity‐field dependence. It is shown that electron noise increases in the superlinear region. The transition from superlinear transport to the regime close to electron streaming with a further increase of electric fields is reflected on the diffusivity‐frequency dependence by the appearance of a separate peak at the streaming frequency. The electron streaming regime which takes place at higher fields causes the collapse of the diffusion coefficient (noise spectral density) to the streaming frequency.
Groundwater control of closed-basin lake levels under steady-state conditions

Abstract Groundwater exerts both local and regional controls on closed-basin lake-level changes. Locally, the equifer surrounding a lake can modify how lake-level changes result from a shift in surficial water balance. “Lake pumping” is defined as the net steady-state removal of lake water via surficial processes, namely evaporation minus direct precipitation and minus any input from overland runoff that reaches the lake. A simple analytic groundwater model of a circular lake next to an infinitely long river shows that the sensitivity of the lake level to a change in lake pumping is proportional to the distance from the lake to the river. Further, lakes with large surface areas are more sensitive than small lakes to a shift in lake pumping. Regionally, lake levels change from a shift in the surrounding water-table elevation. A review of a simple analytic groundwater model of a water table between two infinitely long canals demonstrates that a shift in groundwater recharge changes the water-table elevation most near the middle of the interfluve. Three types of lake-level sensitivities (two local, one regional) are defined as the partial derivative of lake level with respect to: (1) lake size (radius); (2) lake pumping rate; and (3) regional groundwater recharge. All three sensitivities may be further categorized as “positional sensitivities” because their values are a function of the lake's position in the watershed. Specifically, lakes far from rivers are more susceptible to lake-level change than are lakes close to rivers. Both simple models further demonstrate that lake-level sensitivity to the above factors is inversely proportional to the permeability of the surficial aquifer. When compared to a system of a more realistic geometric arrangement of lakes and rivers, the simple models underestimate lake-level change in response to both local and regional factors. Knowledge of the sensitivities of lakes can be important in identifying those lakes on the modern landscape that are susceptible to lake-level change, and in interpreting the causes of past lake-level changes as revealed by geologic investigations.
Finite Element Analysis of the Dynamics of Flexible Disk Rotor Systems

The trend towards higher speeds and lighter weight rotor designs, particularly in gas turbine applications, has brought about the need to consider the flexibility of the total shaft-disk-blade system in the calculation of system frequencies and whirl modes. It has been traditional to assume that blades and disks are rigid, although recent work has been aimed at evaluating the assumption of rigid disks. These works have used Laplace transform and Liapunov methods and have been limited to simple geometries. This paper describes the development of a special shaft finite element which incorporates analytical solutions for disk dynamics and approximations of blade effects. It is shown that the addition of disk and blade dynamics does not increase the size of system matrix and that this approach can consider multiple disks. Because of the versatility of the finite element approach, complex configurations and boundary conditions can be considered.Copyright © 1982 by ASME
Patient characteristics associated with the use of mechanical restraints

Study objective:To compare the characteristics of restrained patients with those of unrestrained patients by assessing a number of medical, behavioral, and cognitive variables including a disruptive-behavior inventory. Design:Case-control study. Setting:A 719-bed university-affiliated teaching hospital. Patients:The 80 cases were patients identified by the nursing staff as having had a restraint applied within the last 24 hours prior to entry in the study. The 80 unrestrained controls were selected from the rooms adjacent to the cases’ in order to match for proximity to the nursing station and nurse staffing. Measurements and main results:Demographic data, data on diagnoses and treatments, results of the Folstein Mini-Mental State (MMS) test and an eight-item disruptive-behavior inventory, and outcome information were obtained for each patient using a standardized procedure. Three important patient characteristics were significantly associated with restraint use in a multiple logistic regression model: disruptive behaviors, nursing assessment of risk of falling, and cognitive impairment. Cases were older than controls, but age was not an independent characteristic associated with restraint use when controlling for cognitive impairment, risk of falling, and disruptive behaviors. Conclusions:Restraint use was more likely in patients with disruptive behaviors, at risk of falling, and with cognitive impairment. Attention to these factors and alternative strategies for dealing with them may reduce the use of physical restraints.
Bose-Einstein condensation in variable dimensionality

We introduce dimensional perturbation techniques to Bose-Einstein condensation of inhomogeneous alkali-metal gases. The perturbation parameter is $\ensuremath{\delta}=1/\ensuremath{\kappa},$ where $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ depends on the effective dimensionality of the condensate and on the angular momentum quantum number. We derive a simple approximation that is more accurate and flexible than the $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}\ensuremath{\infty}$ Thomas-Fermi ground-state approximation of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. The approximation presented here is well suited for calculating properties of states in three dimensions and in low-effective dimensionality, such as vortex states in a highly anisotropic trap.