cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liver Fibrosis: Current Approaches and Future Directions for Diagnosis and Treatment

Liver fibrosis, known as cirrhosis in advanced stages, is a dynamic process in which aberrant extracellular matrix accumulates in the liver parenchyma in response to chronic injury. Recent data has shown that liver fibrosis, even in advanced stages, may regress with the cessation of liver injury. In the past two decades, there has been remarkable progress in the understanding of hepatic fibrosis and the identification of therapeutic targets. Here, we review the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, current therapeutic options, and future research directions for the management of cirrhosis. We discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in hepatic fibrogenesis, the role of liver matrix stiffening in disease diagnosis and pathogenesis, and the association between liver fibrosis and tumorigenesis.
Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation Effects on In Vitro Maturation, Fertilization, and Early Embryonic Development in Pigs

The objective of this study was to determine the reduction of polyspermic penetration, and increase of mitochondrial activity, in early pig embryonic development by supplementing different concentrations of coenzyme Q10 during oocyte maturation. Oocytes (n = 1,100) were supplemented during the last 24 h of maturation with 0 (control), 10, 50, or 100 μM of coenzyme Q10. After in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryos were evaluated for fertilization kinetics (penetration, polyspermic penetration, male pronuclear formation), and subsequent embryonic development and mitochondrial activity. Supplementation of 100 μM coenzyme Q10 was detrimental to the oocytes, as they had significantly lower (p < 0.05) fertilization kinetic and early embryonic development rates to the other treatment groups. There were no differences in fertilization kinetic and early embryonic development rates between the 0, 10 and 50 μM coenzyme Q10 treatment groups. Oocytes, matured in medium supplemented with 50 μM coenzyme Q10, ultimately developed into embryos with a significantly greater (p < 0.05) presence of intact mitochondrial membranes (observed at both 48 and 144 h post-IVF) compared to oocytes not supplemented with coenzyme Q10. In summary, supplementation of 100 μM coenzyme Q10 during oocyte maturation is detrimental, yet supplementation of 50 μM coenzyme Q10 leads to a higher occurrence of intact mitochondrial membranes in the in vitro produced pig embryos.
The human body burden of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in residents’ human milk from Guangdong Province, China

Human milk samples were collected from 179 mothers in 2017 and 2018 in six counties of Guangdong province, China. Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were determined to evaluate the human body burden of dioxin-like compounds on the general population of South China. Samples were analyzed using high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry in six pools, according to the subjects' resident county. The mean ∑PCDD/Fs and ∑DL-PCBs concentrations in human milk samples were 323.10 pg g-1 lipid and 2166.58 pg g-1 lipid, respectively, and the corresponding WHO toxicity equivalent (TEQ) values calculated with Toxic Equivalent Factors (TEFs) established by the WHO in 2005 (TEFWHO 2005) were 6.96 and 2.13 pg g-1 lipid. The concentrations of samples collected in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, were higher than those taken in the other five investigation regions. The levels of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in human milk and the estimated daily intake doses of breast-fed infants were still high when compared with some non-exposure areas in mainland China. TEQ levels of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in the present study have been compared to data obtained from a reported national study conducted in 2011. The mean TEQ (calculated with TEFWHO 2005) of ∑(DL-PCBs + PCDD/Fs) (8.4-9.0 pg g-1 lipid in 2011 vs. 9.09 pg g-1 lipid in 2018) seemed to be relatively stable during the period 2011-2018. These findings and continuing the surveillance of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in human milk will be helpful in furthering our understanding of human exposure to dioxin-like compounds in the general population.
Effect of formation protocol: Cells containing Si-Graphite composite electrodes

Abstract The effect of formation protocol was determined in tests using small pouch cells containing silicon-graphite/Li(Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2)O2 chemistry. The time for the formation protocol was either 13.2 or 186 h for the tested cells. It is demonstrated that the “fast” formation protocol produces cells with similar performance characteristics to that of the “slow” protocol. In addition, the solid-electrolyte interface layers from both formation protocols are stable and function analogously, albeit with different chemistry. The fast formation protocol may thus provide a more economical route to cell fabrication.
Clustering Analysis of Brain Protein Expression Levels in Trisomic and Control Mice

In this paper, we describe a clustering analysis on 77 distinct brain protein expression levels of trisomic and control mice. Hierarchical clustering based on Euclidean distance results in clusters that partially coincide with experimental treatment groups of mice, as shown in dendrogram results. Normalization results in decreased within- and between-cluster sum of squares and a decreased ratio of between- to within-cluster sum of squares. The optimal number of clusters ranges from 1 to 4 clusters as determined by the gap statistic method or direct methods of the silhouette width or the elbow of total within-cluster sum of squares. Principal components analysis shows separation of clustered groups generated by k-means clustering. When clustered groups are plotted against the first two principal components, more distinct clusters are generated after z-score normalization of protein expression levels, compared to non-normalized results.
Abstract 3563: Exosomal transfer of tumor-associated macrophage derived miR-6068 promote ovarian cancer progression

Ovarian cancer, especially high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), is the deadliest gynecological cancer with 50-70% 5-year mortality rates. Every year more than 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer and 15,000 deaths are anticipated within the United States only. Recent clinical and experimental evidence indicates that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the most abundant cells in the tumor microenvironment, play a significant role in tumor growth and progression by contributing to angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, leading to poor clinical outcomes and significantly shorter patient survival in HGSOC. More than 50% of cells in the peritoneal tumor microenvironment and malign ascites consist of TAMs in ovarian cancer (OC) patients. Especially, M2 macrophages have been shown to support tumor proliferation and promote tumor progression, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. But the mechanisms of these oncogenic effects are still not clear. The goal of our study to investigate the role of TAM-derived exosomes, which are 30-100nm microvesicles released from cells and are key factors in communication between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. To this end, we evaluated differentially expressed miRNAs in high-grade ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR3, OVCAR 432 and OVCAR5) after treatment with exosomes-derived from TAMs (M2 phenotype) using the Affymetrix Gene Chip miRNA 4.0 microarrays. We identified several miRNAs, including miR-6068 that we validated by qPCR and found it to be significantly upregulated in both HGSOC cells and their exosomes. We demonstrated that transfection of HGSOC cells with miR-6068 significantly increased proliferation, migration and invasion capacities of the cells in vitro, suggesting that this miR-6068 act as an oncogenic miR (oncomiR). Using in silico prediction algorithms we found that miR-6068 has binding sites on the 3’-untranslated region (3’-UTR) of PTPN4 gene encoding a phosphatase and demonstrated that it miR-6068 suppresses PTPN4 expression by Western blot and qPCR. Inhibition of PTPN4 by siRNA significantly induced cell proliferation in OC cells, suggesting that PTPN4 acts as a tumor suppressor. In conclusion, our results suggest that miR-6068 has an oncogenic role in ovarian cancer progression by targeting PTPN4 and may be a novel effective therapeutic target for ovarian cancer. Citation Format: Seyda Baydogan, Jianting Sheng, Nermin Kahraman, Pinar Kanlikilicer, Hamada Ahmed Mokhlis, Sayra Dilmac, Stephen T. C. Wong, Bulent Ozpolat. Exosomal transfer of tumor-associated macrophage derived miR-6068 promote ovarian cancer progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3563.
The Mexican Financial Crisis Of 1994–95: An Asymmetric Information Analysis

One of the major economic events in the 1990s has been the Mexican financial crisis in 1994–95. An important puzzle is how a country like Mexico, which had seemed to be pursuing reasonable policies, can shift dramatically from a path of reasonable growth before a financial crisis to a sharp decline in economic activity after a crisis occurs that is very damaging to both the economy and social fabric of the country.
Succinyl-DOTOPA: An effective triradical dopant for low-temperature dynamic nuclear polarization with high solubility in aqueous solvent mixtures at neutral pH.

Abstract We report the synthesis of the nitroxide-based triradical compound succinyl-DOTOPA and the characterization of its performance as a dopant for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) experiments in frozen solutions at low temperatures. Compared with previously described DOTOPA derivatives, succinyl-DOTOPA has substantially greater solubility in glycerol/water mixtures with pH > 4 and therefore has wider applicability. Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) measurements at 9.39 T and 25 K, with magic-angle spinning at 7.00 kHz, show that build-up times of DNP-enhanced, cross-polarized 13C ssNMR signals are shorter and that signal amplitudes are larger for glycerol/water solutions of L-proline containing succinyl-DOTOPA than for solutions containing the biradical AMUPol, with electron spin concentrations of 15 mM or 30 mM, resulting in greater net sensitivity gains from DNP. In similar measurements at 90 K, AMUPol yields greater net sensitivity, apparently due to its longer electron spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times. One- and two-dimensional 13C ssNMR measurements at 25 K on the complex of the 27-residue peptide M13 with the calcium-sensing protein calmodulin, in glycerol/water with 10 mM succinyl-DOTOPA, demonstrate the utility of this compound in DNP-enhanced ssNMR studies of biomolecular systems.
USING CALLING ACTIVITY TO PREDICT CALLING ACTIVITY: A CASE STUDY WITH THE ENDANGERED HOUSTON TOAD (BUFO [ANAXYRUS] HOUSTONENSIS)

Understanding anuran calling activity patterns is important for maximizing efficiency and value of call survey data collection and analyses. Previous studies have primarily focused on identifying and quantifying abiotic variables that influence anuran calling activity, and investigating relationships between calling activity and population estimates. In this study we investigated the use of a predictor pond approach to guide call survey effort. In this approach, calling activity at a subset of breeding sites (e.g., ponds) is used as a predictor of calling activity at additional breeding sites, with the goal being to minimize sampling effort while simultaneously maximizing sampling efficiency. We explored the efficiency of this approach using call survey data collected on the endangered Houston Toad (Bufo [Anaxyrus] houstonensis) at 15 known breeding ponds over 9 survey years. We found that if calling activity at 3 predictor ponds was used to decide if additional call surveys would occur at the remaining 12 ponds, we would have hypothetically correctly assumed calling activity was not occurring at non-predictor ponds on 92.1% of survey nights, and we would have hypothetically detected 93.9% of the total number of detected individuals over the 9 survey years. We found the predictor pond approach performed well in our case study, and believe it could be a valuable tool for many anuran monitoring programs.
Race and Gender Disparities in Access to Parathyroidectomy: A Need to Change Processes for Diagnosis and Referral to Surgeons

Hyperparathyroidism substantially impairs quality of life, and effective treatment depends on timely referral to surgeons. We hypothesized that there would be race and gender disparities in the time from initial diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism to treatment with parathyroidectomy. We reviewed administrative data on 2289 patients with hypercalcemia (calcium > 10.5 mg/dL) and abnormal parathyroid hormone levels who were seen at a tertiary referral center from 2011 to 2016. We used two-phase parametric hazard modeling to identify predictors of time from index abnormal calcium until parathyroidectomy. The median age of our cohort was 63 years, and 1685 (74%) were women. Of the total patients, 1301 (57%) were Caucasian, and 946 (41%) were African-American. Only 490 (21%) patients underwent parathyroidectomy. Among patients undergoing surgery, time from index high calcium to surgical treatment was longest for African-American men, who waited a median of 13.6 months (interquartile range IQR 2–28), compared with 2.9 months (IQR 1–8) for Caucasian males (p < 0.05). African-American women waited a median of 6.7 months (IQR 2–16) versus 3.5 months (IQR 2–14) for Caucasian women (p < 0.05). At 1 year after the index abnormal calcium, only 6% of black men underwent surgery compared with 20% of white males (p < 0.05). Similarly, 13% of black women underwent surgery versus 20% of white women (p < 0.05). These differences remained significant after adjusting for age, calcium levels, insurance, and comorbidities. African-Americans face substantial delays in access to parathyroidectomy after diagnosis with hyperparathyroidism that could impair quality of life and increase health care costs. We must improve systems of diagnosis and referral to ensure timely treatment of hyperparathyroidism.
Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome

Abstract Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by full or partial triplication of chromosome 21 (HSA21). Key genes related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology reside on HSA21, causing lower life expectancy due to dementia. Triplication of the amyloid precursor protein gene is associated with rapid accumulation of amyloid beta, one neuropathological feature of AD. Accumulation of amyloid beta promotes neurofibrillary tangle accumulation in the brain, the other feature of AD neuropathology. While virtually all individuals with DS have significant AD neuropathology by age 40, a clinical diagnosis for dementia is generally not made until the age of 55. This gap between accumulating neuropathology and clinical symptomatology represents a period of minimal or subtle symptoms not detectible by current clinical measures. Recent research has demonstrated possible contributions of cerebrovascular disease and possible early markers of prodromal disease. Improved diagnostic accuracy and earlier diagnosis are critical for developing future research and clinical trials to address AD in Down syndrome.
Simultaneous Monte Carlo analysis of parton densities and fragmentation functions

We perform a comprehensive new Monte Carlo analysis of high-energy lepton-lepton, lepton-hadron and hadron-hadron scattering data to simultaneously determine parton distribution functions (PDFs) in the proton and parton to hadron fragmentation functions (FFs). The analysis includes all available semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering and single-inclusive ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ annihilation data for pions, kaons and unidentified charged hadrons, which allows the flavor dependence of the fragmentation functions to be constrained. Employing a new multistep fitting strategy and more flexible parametrizations for both PDFs and FFs, we assess the impact of different datasets on sea quark densities and confirm the previously observed suppression of the strange quark distribution. The new fit, which we refer to as ``JAM20-SIDIS,'' will allow for improved studies of universality of parton correlation functions, including transverse momentum dependent (TMD) distributions, across a wide variety of process, and the matching of collinear to TMD factorization descriptions.
A partially diffusive cholera model based on a general second-order differential operator

Abstract We propose a new mathematical model for cholera transmission dynamics using a system of reaction-convection-diffusion equations. The model differs from previously published partial differential equations (PDEs) based cholera models in that the diffusion and convection processes are only incorporated into the bacterial dynamics, which are described by a general second-order differential operator. This feature allows us to perform a careful study on the movement and dispersal of the pathogenic bacteria in a heterogeneous aquatic environment and its impact on cholera transmission among human hosts. We rigorously analyze the well-posedness and stability of this partially diffusive system, and establish threshold results characterizing cholera transmission dynamics.
Evaluation of Relationship Between Post-injection Plume Stability and Leakage Risks

One of the critical questions for geologic CO2 storage is how long should a storage site be monitored after the injection is stopped. A storage site operator is required to demonstrate that the storage site is evolving towards long-term stability and the injected CO2 as well as reservoir pressure do not pose any threat including to the groundwater. Migration and evolution of injected CO2 plume depend on site-specific geologic structure, storage reservoir properties as well as operational conditions. While injected CO2 plume may continue to evolve after injection is stopped, its dynamic evolution does not directly imply imminent leakage risk. Leakage risks depend on multiple factors including not only CO2 presence but also reservoir pressure and the characteristics of potential leakage pathways. We performed a modeling based study to evaluate the relationship between post-injection plume migration and leakage risks. Our hypothetical case study is based on the Rock Springs Uplift in southwestern Wyoming in USA. We used a numerical model to perform multiple sets of reservoir simulations each with 29 equi-probable realizations of reservoir permeability heterogeneity, simulating different injection scenarios. We applied newly developed moment-based plume mobility metrics to characterize the migration and evolution of injected CO2 plume. The plume mobility metrics provided detailed analyses of the effect of reservoir permeability heterogeneity and CO2 injection rate on spatial and dynamic evolution of CO2 and overpressure plume. Next, we assessed the potential leakage risks using the integrated assessment modelling approach developed by US DOE’s National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP). The combined leakage risk assessment and plume mobility analyses results indicate that lack of CO2 plume stability (or non-zero plume mobility) may not directly imply groundwater aquifer endangerment and the leakage risks are dependent on multiple factors, including presence of wells and their locations and types. This paper is a condensed version of a peer-reviewed paper by Pawar et al [1] published in the International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control.
Efficacy of Vedolizumab in a Nationwide Cohort of Elderly Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

Background The elderly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population has historically been under-represented in clinical trials, and data on the efficacy of biologic medications in elderly IBD patients are generally lacking. Our study aims to evaluate the efficacy of vedolizumab (VDZ) among elderly IBD patients and compare it with younger IBD patients in a nationwide population-based cohort of IBD patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients within the US national Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VAHS). Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on age at the time of starting VDZ (60 years of age and older or younger than 60 years of age) with outcomes compared between the 2 groups. The primary outcome was steroid-free remission during the 6- to 12-month period after starting VDZ therapy among those patients who were on steroids when VDZ was started. Results There were 568 patients treated with VDZ, of whom 56.7% had Crohn's disease and 43.3% had ulcerative colitis. Among them, 316 patients were on steroids when VDZ was started. The percentage of patients who were on VDZ and off steroids during the 6- to 12-month period after VDZ initiation was 46.8% and 40.1% for the younger and elderly groups, respectively (P = 0.2374). Rates of hospitalization for an IBD-related reason within 1 year of VDZ start among the whole cohort were nearly identical in the younger and elderly groups (11.2% vs 11.3%, P = 0.9737). Rates of surgery for an IBD-related reason within 1 year of VDZ start were also similar between the young and elderly (3.9% vs 3.9%, P = 0.9851). Conclusions In a nationwide real-world retrospective cohort study of elderly IBD patients, we found that the efficacy of VDZ was similar among younger and older IBD patients and comparable with the published data in clinical trials.
Concurrent Use of Prescription Opioids and Gabapentinoids in Older Adults.

Introduction Concurrent use of prescription opioids with gabapentinoids may pose risks of serious drug interactions. Yet, little is known about the trends in and patient characteristics associated with concurrent opioid–gabapentinoid use among older Medicare opioid users with chronic noncancer pain. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among Medicare older beneficiaries (aged ≥65 years) with chronic noncancer pain who filled ≥1 opioid prescription within 3 months after a randomly selected chronic noncancer pain diagnosis (index date) in a calendar year between 2011 and 2018. Patient characteristics were measured in the 6-month baseline before the index date, and concurrent opioid–gabapentinoid use for ≥1 day was measured in the 3-month follow-up after the index date. Multivariable modified Poisson regression hwas used to assess the trends and characteristics of concurrent opioid–gabapentinoid use. Analyses were conducted from January to June 2021. Results Among 464,721 eligible older beneficiaries with chronic noncancer pain and prescription opioids, the prevalence of concurrent opioid–gabapentinoid use increased from 17.0% in 2011 to 23.5% in 2018 (adjusted prevalence ratio=1.48, 95% CI=1.45, 1.53). Concurrent users versus opioid-only users tended to be non-Black, low-income subsidy recipients, and Southern residents. The clinical factors associated with concurrent opioid–gabapentinoid use included having a diagnosis of neuropathic pain, polypharmacy, and risk factors for opioid-related adverse events. Conclusions Concurrent opioid–gabapentinoid use among older Medicare beneficiaries with chronic noncancer pain and prescription opioids has increased significantly between 2011 and 2018. Future studies are warranted to investigate the impact of concurrent use on outcomes in older patients. Interventions that reduce inappropriate concurrent use may target older patients with identified characteristics.
Scattering in the atmosphere of Venus: III. Line profiles and phase curves for Rayleigh scattering

Spectral line profiles, curves of growth, and curves for the equivalent width of a line as a function of Venus phase angle are computed for a Rayleigh scattering cloud and compared with those for a cloud of isotropic scatterers. The results are similar for the two kinds of scattering, with the exception for the curves of equivalent width as a function of Venus phase angle. These latter curves exhibit the inverse phase effect and rule out the possibility that the scale height of the clouds can be much less than half the scale height of the gas.
Modeling the Ripple Effects of IT-Based Incidents on Interdependent Economic Systems

The information technology IT sector is one of the most critically utilized infrastructures within the U.S. economic system. The IT sector is vulnerable to man-made attacks and it is challenging to assess the consequences of disruptions to the production and delivery of essential IT services to other economic systems. In this paper, we developed a dynamic model based on economic input-output analysis to assess time-varying disruptions on the IT sector over multiple periods. The model is applied in an ex post analysis of an actual denial-of-service DoS attack scenario on the IT infrastructure to estimate the consequences propagated to interdependent economic systems. The model uses Bureau of Economic Analysis data to simulate the effects of IT-based incidents and subsequently identify the critically affected economic sectors. Key results of the case study include assessments of ripple effects to vulnerable sectors in the form of inoperability and economic loss measures. An investigation of the DoS attack in year 2000 using the proposed dynamic model revealed significant losses that are consistent with the magnitude of losses from previous studies. Furthermore, the model is capable of depicting the breakdown of losses across various economic sectors, which is a significant improvement relative to previously published results. This research also extends into a multiyear trend analysis 1999-2009 to aid in developing policies for reducing the effects of IT risks across the interdependent sectors of the U.S. economy.
Balancing Issues and Overlapping Jurisdictions in the Global Electronic Marketplace: The UCITA Example

The Internet marketplace is global, technologically dynamic, information-rich, and network based. Policymaking tends to be nation bound, rules oriented, and issue dependent. One example of the tension that result between the economic environment and the policymaking venue is the interdependence between tax policy and international trade negotiations. Another is the changing balance between creator and user and between individual and society in rights to intellectual property and protection of personal information. How policymakers weight these issues against the backdrop of overlapping jurisdictions will materially affect whether individuals, firms, countries, and the world as a whole will benefit from the wealth of information and the possibilities of network externalities offered by the global Internet marketplace. UCITA offers one specific lens through which to trace the tensions created by a more global, digital, and information-based marketplace.
Rate of Metabolism of Retinol in Retinoic Acid-Maintained Rats after a Single Dose of Radioactive Retinol

The half-life and metabolism of vitamin A were determined in a group of vitamin A-deficient retinoic acid supplemented rats after a single dose of 340 mug of [6,7-14C2] retinol. The total daily urinary radioactivity, plotted semilogarithmically as a function of days after injection, revealed three pools for retinol and/or metabolites in the rat: (1) a rapidly declining pool with half-life of 0.75 day; (2) a slowly declining pool with a constant rate of decrease and (3) a pool with a half-life of 13 days which begins at approximately 6 weeks after dose. The total daily fecal radioactivity also indicated three pools with half-lives of 2,28.5 and 11.5 days. The effect of retinoic acid feeding was observed on the fifth day after supplementation, as indicated by a decrease in the total daily urinary radioactivity. Thus, retinoic acid is probably in the metabolic pathway of retinol. The half-life and metabolism time of liver vitamin A in these rats were determined as 7 and 10 days, respectively. The specific activities of liver retinyl esters and retinol determined at different intervals after dose indicated continuous mixing of radioactive retinol with a pool of endogenous retinol. Blood retinol levels indicated normal values at 1 week after dose. However, they decreased at 2 weeks after dose and remained constant until the sixth week. The specific activity of blood retinol did not change indicating rapid equilibration after initial mixing and no further dilution from endogenous source.
Combining form and function: static types for JQuery programs

The jQuery library defines a powerful query language for web applications' scripts to interact with Web page content. This language is exposed as jQuery's api, which is implemented to fail silently so that incorrect queries will not cause the program to halt. Since the correctness of a query depends on the structure of a page, discrepancies between the page's actual structure and what the query expects will also result in failure, but with no error traces to indicate where the mismatch occurred. This work proposes a novel type system to statically detect jQuery errors. The type system extends Typed JavaScript with local structure about the page and with multiplicities about the structure of containers. Together, these two extensions allow us to track precisely which nodes are active in a jQuery object, with minimal programmer annotation effort. We evaluate this work by applying it to sample real-world jQuery programs.
Impact of glomerular filtration rate on clinical outcomes after carotid artery revascularization in 11,832 patients from the CARE registry.

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the association of kidney function with carotid artery revascularization outcomes in a large contemporary database. Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased mortality and adverse cardiovascular events after coronary intervention. There are limited data evaluating the association between CKD and adverse events among patients undergoing carotid artery revascularization procedures. Methods The Carotid Artery Revascularization and Endarterectomy (CARE) Registry® is a voluntary registry of 168 hospitals. Using data from the CARE Registry®, we examined registry patients undergoing carotid artery revascularization by either carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) from May 2005 through March 2010. Patients were divided into four groups according to their glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as estimated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Group equation using preprocedural serum creatinine levels. Results The analysis included 11,832 patients who underwent carotid revascularization (6,899 CAS and 4,933 CEA). Patients with lower GFR were older, more frequently female, had more comorbidities, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and reduced left ventricular function, and were more likely to undergo CAS than CEA. In the overall population, CKD was associated with higher unadjusted in-hospital and 30-day rates of the combined endpoint of death, stroke, and myocardial infarction and the individual endpoint of stroke. After adjustment for baseline and preprocedural characteristics, CKD was not an independent predictor of adverse events in either CAS or CEA. Conclusions Patients with CKD have a greater number of comorbidities and worse unadjusted in-hospital and 30-day outcomes; CKD was not, however, an independent predictor of in-hospital and 30-day outcomes after carotid artery revascularization. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Urban recharge beneath low impact development and effects of climate variability and change

[1] Understanding low impact development (LID) planning and best management practices (BMPs) effects on recharge is important because of the increasing use of LID BMPs to reduce storm water runoff and improve surface-water quality. LID BMPs are microscale, decentralized management techniques such as vegetated systems, pervious pavement, and infiltration trenches to capture, reduce, filter, and slow storm water runoff. Some BMPs may enhance recharge, which has often been considered a secondary management benefit. Here we report results of a field and HYDRUS-2D modeling study in San Francisco, California, USA to quantify urban recharge rates, volumes, and efficiency beneath a LID BMP infiltration trench and irrigated lawn considering historical El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability and future climate change using simulated precipitation from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamic Laboratory (GFDL) A1F1 climate scenario. We find that in situ and modeling methods are complementary, particularly for simulating historical and future recharge scenarios, and the in situ data are critical for accurately estimating recharge under current conditions. Observed (2011–2012) and future (2099–2100) recharge rates beneath the infiltration trench (1750–3710 mm yr−1) were an order of magnitude greater than beneath the irrigated lawn (130–730 mm yr−1). Beneath the infiltration trench, recharge rates ranged from 1390 to 5840 mm yr−1 and averaged 3410 mm yr−1 for El Nino years (1954–2012) and from 1540 to 3330 mm yr−1 and averaged 2430 mm yr−1 for La Nina years. We demonstrate a clear benefit for recharge and local groundwater resources using LID BMPs.
Training Undergraduates as Peer Instructors

ABSTRACT Large lecture classes can often be quite impersonal. Creating a teaching team, consisting of the instructor, graduate assistants, and a few undergraduates, is one of the ways the University of Arizona has adopted in order to make the large lecture class more personal. As members of the Department of Mathematics we train the undergraduates, who are part of the teaching team, in ways to help their peers. Here we share the background of the program established at the University of Arizona and the particulars about the training of undergraduates to help their peers in mathematics
Effect of steroids, including progestin and estrogen components of oral contraceptive drugs, on the esterase activity of thrombin.

Abstract TAME esterase activities of bovine and human thrombin are accelerated in the presence of certain steroids. Steroids of the androstane series are the most active, those of the pregnane series are less acceleratory, and the natural estrogens are not acceleratory. However, some progestin and estrogen analogs, utilized as components of oral contraceptives, significantly increase the TAME esterase activity of thrombin. The conformation of the steroid nucleus and the nature and configuration of substituent groups are important in determining whether a steroid is acceleratory or non-acceleratory in the thrombin esterase assay system.
An Economist's View of Demand Projections Considering Conservation

: This report places the engineering estimates of water conservation made by Sonnen and Evenson into the supply demand form used by most economists. Clarification is made concerning evaluation of conservation elasticities.
Identifying Formal Intergovernmental Organizations

Scholarship on intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) has mushroomed, especially studies involving quantitative analyses of state involvement in IGOs and the effects of IGOs on the behavior of state members. Yet, little of that literature enumerates IGOs using conceptually based definitions of what are formal intergovernmental organizations. Here, the authors develop a new database on IGOs, based on a definition focusing on three dimensions: formal organizations that demonstrate ongoing decisionmaking and oversight by states; evidence bureaucratic organization; and demonstrate organizational autonomy. The authors conceptualize these organizations as FIGOs. Using these dimensions, they identify the population of FIGOs at three points in time: 1975, 1989, and 2004. In addition, they generate data on state membership in FIGOs, offering not only a simple frequency of number of organizations in which a state participates, but also another measure of state involvement through the creation of a denominator of ‘opportunity’, allowing for an analysis of the number of organizations joined versus the number of organizations a state is capable of joining. Finally, the authors compare the results from their efforts with the IGO COW database and suggest some advantages to using their data for a number of theoretical questions.
Visual detectability gradients: effect of illiteracy.

Abstract When subjects are required to detect a target pattern presented simultaneously with a number of similar non-target patterns in a brief exposure, marked differences of target detectability are observed as a function of the spatial location of the target ( Efron, Yund, & Nichols, 1987 Efron, Yund, & Nichols,1990a Efron, Yund, & Nichols, 1990b Efron, Yund, & Nichols, 1990c; Efron, Yund, & Nichols,1990a Efron, Yund, & Nichols,1990b Efron, Yund, & Nichols,1990c . These differences in detectability as a function of retinal locus, referred to collectively as a “detectability gradient,” have been attributed to a central serial processing mechanism, which scans the decaying neural representation of the image. There also is evidence suggesting that, at least in some circumstances, this gradient may be influenced by the direction in which subjects normally read ( Heron, 1957 Mishkin & Forgays, 1952 Efron et al., 1987 . The object of the present experiment was to determine whether the detectability gradient obtained with the non-linguistic stimuli used in our previous experiments would differ as a function of previous reading experience. The experiment was performed on a group of 60 illiterate subjects and on a socioeconomic-matched group of 60 literate subjects. While the overall accuracy of target detection was identical in the two groups, there were significant differences between the detectability gradients of the literate and illiterate subjects. The nature of these differences indicates that reading, or learning to read, causes the scanning mechanisms of literate subjects to adopt more consistent scan paths, from subject to subject, than they would have adopted without this reading experience.
Effects of errors in velocity tilt on maximum longitudinal compression during neutralized drift compression of intense beam pulses: II. Analysis of experimental data of the Neutralized Drift Compression eXperiment-I (NDCX-I)

Abstract Neutralized drift compression offers an effective means for particle beam focusing and current amplification with applications to heavy ion fusion. In the Neutralized Drift Compression eXperiment-I (NDCX-I), a non-relativistic ion beam pulse is passed through an inductive bunching module that produces a longitudinal velocity modulation. Due to the applied velocity tilt, the beam pulse compresses during neutralized drift. The ion beam pulse can be compressed by a factor of more than 100; however, errors in the velocity modulation affect the compression ratio in complex ways. We have performed a study of how the longitudinal compression of a typical NDCX-I ion beam pulse is affected by the initial errors in the acquired velocity modulation. Without any voltage errors, an ideal compression is limited only by the initial energy spread of the ion beam, Δ E b . In the presence of large voltage errors, δU ⪢Δ E b , the maximum compression ratio is found to be inversely proportional to the geometric mean of the relative error in velocity modulation and the relative intrinsic energy spread of the beam ions. Although small parts of a beam pulse can achieve high local values of compression ratio, the acquired velocity errors cause these parts to compress at different times, limiting the overall compression of the ion beam pulse.
Image repair in President Bush's April 2004 news conference

Abstract As the war in Iraq heated up in March and April of 2004 and casualties continued to climb, President George W. Bush's reputation continued the downward spiral it had experienced during the past year (from 71% approval to 49%) as more and more voters questioned his policies and fitness for office. He responded to this situation by holding only his third prime time press conference on April 13, 2004. This essay applies image repair theory to the president's persuasive discourse in this event. Bush created the impression that he was resolved and compassionate. On the other hand, he repeatedly denied making any mistakes and so refused to apologize for anything. This may have created the impression with many that his resolve actually represented inflexibility and a refusal to face facts. His use of transcendence raised more questions than it answered. Understandably, audience reaction was largely split, presumably along party lines. Still, his discourse did little to improve his image; clearly he was unable to return his approval rating to the levels he had enjoyed in the past. Not surprisingly, his approval rating did not improve after this persuasive discourse.
Role of the primate orbitofrontal cortex in mediating anxious temperament.

Background Excessive behavioral inhibition during childhood marks anxious temperament and is a risk factor for the development of anxiety and affective disorders. Studies in nonhuman primates can provide important information related to the expression of this risk factor, since threat-induced freezing in rhesus monkeys is a trait-like characteristic analogous to human behavioral inhibition. The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and amygdala are part of a circuit involved in the processing of emotions and associated physiological responses. Earlier work demonstrated involvement of the primate central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) in mediating anxious temperament. This study assessed the role of the primate OFC in mediating anxious temperament and its involvement in fear responses. Methods Twelve adolescent rhesus monkeys were studied (six lesion and six control monkeys). Lesions were targeted at regions of the OFC that are most interconnected with the amygdala. Behavior and physiological parameters were assessed before and after the lesions. Results The OFC lesions significantly decreased threat-induced freezing and marginally decreased fearful responses to a snake. The lesions also resulted in a leftward shift in frontal brain electrical activity consistent with a reduction in anxiety. The lesions did not significantly decrease hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). Conclusions These findings demonstrate a role for the OFC in mediating anxious temperament and fear-related responses in adolescent primates. Because of the similarities between rhesus monkey threat-induced freezing and childhood behavioral inhibition, these findings are relevant to understanding mechanisms underlying anxious temperament in humans.
Extending the table of stages of normal development of the axolotl: Limb development

The existing table of stages of the normal development of the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) ends just after hatching. At this time, the forelimbs are small buds. In this study, we extend the staging series through completion of development of the forelimbs and hindlimbs.
Synthesis of Water-Based Polystyrene−Nanoclay Composite Suspension via Miniemulsion Polymerization

A stable water-based polystyrene nano-saponite composite suspension was synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization. The stability of the suspension and the intercalation degree of clay were strong...
Laser-induced retinal shock waves and bubbles and their dependencies on the thermomechanical properties of melanosomes

We have developed a detailed theoretical model that allows for the prediction of the shockwave strength and bubble size that are expected to result in the retina as a result of a laser pulse of any pulse duration or energy. The results of the calculations for the shockwave and bubble size depend on the absorption coefficient and unknown thermo-mechanical properties of the absorbing melanosomes. We discuss how the shock strength and bubble size depend on melanosome parameters such as absorption coefficient, thermal coefficient of expansion and bulk modulus. We also describe experiments that could be performed to measure these coefficients in spite of the difficulty presented by the small size of the melanosomes.
Activation of cartilage stromelysin-1 at acid pH and its relation to enzyme pH optimum and osteoarthritis

Stromelysin-1 was purified from human articular cartilage and compared to synovial fibroblast enzyme and to recombinant enzyme. If the latent enzyme was incubated at pH 5.5 with substrates such as aggrecan, it spontaneously became active. Incubation of latent zymogen alone at pH 5.5 gave increasing activation over a periodof at least 5 hours. However, this activation process was not accompanied by any shift in molecular weight even after continued incubation for 18 hours. Maximum activity observed was 45–60% of that seen with APMA activation. Stromelysin-1 has a pH optimum of 5.5–6.5 on various macromolecular and peptide substrates. Interaction with TIMP is reduced at pH 5.5 relative to that at 7.5. The hypothesis is presented that osteoarthritis may be initiated by acid activation of stromelysin-1.
Generalization of norcocaine to the discriminative stimulus properties of cocaine

Abstract In rats trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg cocaine from 1 ml/kg saline, norcocaine, the N-demethylated metabolite, at doses of 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, produced a dose response curve similar to that of cocaine and generalized to cocaine at the two higher doses. As with cocaine, the discriminative stimulus produced by the norcocaine was partially attenuated by the dopaminergic antagonist pimozide and the amine depletor reserpine. Benzoylecgonine, benzoylnorecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester in doses of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg did not generalize to cocaine.
Mortality of Arctic Fox Pups in Northern Alaska

Reports of mortality among arctic foxes, Alopex lagopus, generally consist of isolated incidents of predation by bald eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, snowy owls, Nyctea scandiaca, red foxes, Vulpes vulpes, and dogs, Canis familiaris. This is a report of observations made on mortality of arctic fox pups observed at dens in the Prudhoe Bay and Colville River Delta areas of northern Alaska during summers of 1975 to 1978 and 1976 to 1979, respectively. Pup mortality was noted amng 15 (19%) of 79 families whose dens we visited. Evidence of at least 20 dead pups was found with remains ranging from intact carcasses to a few bone fragments and tufts of hair. Undoubtedly, researchers failed to detect some dead pups, as predators sometimes carry small pups away from the den before consuming them and adult foxes were observed to dispose of bodies of dead pups within den burrows.
Organization of inputs to motoneurons during fictive respiration in the isolated lamprey brain.

The intracellular activity of motoneurons during ‘fictive’ respiration in the isolated lamprey brain was investigated. In association with each respiratory cycle three distinct PSP phases were observed: an early, low amplitude EPSP phase; a large, brief EPSP phase that drove action potentials; and a subsequent IPSP phase (Fig. 1). Selective midline and trigeminal lesions, and trigeminal stimulation, demonstrated that the large excitatory and inhibitory phases were generated by a previously described pair of central pattern generators located in the trigeminal region of the medulla (V) (Figs. 3, 4). Lesion studies further showed that the low amplitude excitatory input could be produced independently of the trigeminal pacemakers (Figs. 3, 5), near the region of the medulla that contains the respiratory motoneurons (VII, IX, and X).
Reliable ultra-low voltage cache with variation-tolerance

In this paper, an ultra-low voltage cache with improved variation-tolerance is proposed. A fast and stable adaptive mechanism, able to dynamically adjust error control strength, is designed to make the cache more resilient to supply voltage variations. Our proposed method shows a 10X improvement in residual error rate at ultra-low voltage, compared to an adaptive ECC method. It also reduces residual error rate by 3X compared to variable strength ECC method at low voltage operation and has less storage overhead.