cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenomenological constraints on AN in p↑p → π X from Lorentz invariance relations

Abstract We present a new analysis of A N in p ↑ p → π X within the collinear twist-3 factorization formalism. We incorporate recently derived Lorentz invariance relations into our calculation and focus on input from the kinematical twist-3 functions, which are weighted integrals of transverse momentum dependent (TMD) functions. In particular, we use the latest extractions of the Sivers and Collins functions with TMD evolution to compute certain terms in A N . Consequently, we are able to constrain the remaining contributions from the lesser known dynamical twist-3 correlators.
On the Viscoelastic Properties of the Brain Tissue with Indentation Technique

Variety of methods have been used for characterization of the mechanical properties of the brain at the tissue level. Nevertheless, the obtained results from different researchers are extremely scattered and sometimes in contrast to one another. While brain tissue is extremely soft, its mechanical properties are quite a challenge to obtain them. In this study, the accurate analysis of the mechanical heterogeneity of the brain tissue is performed through dynamic and pseudo-static indentation techniques. This study is aimed at evaluating the viscoelastic response of the brain and presenting its anisotropy, inhomogeneity, and rate dependence. The results of this research could be used as input variables for computer simulations of this tissue in studying the traumatic brain injury, malformation of the brain folds, and other pathobiological conditions associated with the mechanical loading of the brain.
The molecular dialog between flowering plant reproductive partners defined by SNP-informed RNA-Sequencing

The molecular interactions between reproductive cells are critical for determining whether sexual reproduction between individuals results in fertilization and can result in barriers to interspecific hybridization. However, it is a challenge to define the complete molecular exchange between reproductive partners because parents contribute to a complex mixture of cells during reproduction. We unambiguously defined male- and female-specific patterns of gene expression during Arabidopsis thaliana reproduction using single nucleotide polymorphism-informed RNA-sequencing analysis. Importantly, we defined the repertoire of pollen tube-secreted proteins controlled by a group of MYB transcription factors that are required for sperm release from the pollen tube to the female gametes, a critical barrier to interspecific hybridization. Our work defines the pollen tube gene products that respond to the pistil and are required for reproductive success; moreover, we find that these genes are highly evolutionarily plastic both at the level of coding sequence and expression across A. thaliana accessions.
The dynamic plasticity and dynamic failure of a magnesium alloy under multiaxial loading

Abstract This paper examines the anisotropic and rate-dependent mechanical behavior of a rolled AZ31B magnesium alloy under multiaxial loading over a wide range of strain rates ranging from 10 − 4 to 10 5 s − 1 . It is shown that stress state, strain rate as well as loading orientation collectively influence the plastic flow. The rate dependence of the plastic flow in the material varies with the loading orientation. The texture-induced anisotropy, however, changes very little with the strain rate. The microstructures of the as-received and deformed specimens suggest that detailed analysis of initial spread in textures is necessary, especially under multiaxial stress states. The failure mechanisms are also observed to evolve with loading rate. Our results provide useful insights into the deformation and failure mechanisms in magnesium and extend the understanding of the mechanical properties of magnesium to the ultra-high strain rate regime ( 10 5 s − 1 ).
Optical Sensing of High pH Levels

Porphyrins, or more generally, porphyrinoids, have played a big role as chromophores in sensing applications. This is due to the intense absorption they exhibit over a wide section of the UV-vis spectrum, their large fluorescence yields, high chemical stability, and the multiple options for functionalization. Therefore, porphyrinoids and their metal complexes have been used as optical chemosensors for a range of analytes. This chapter provides some details on the characteristic of these indicators for sensing high pH levels, including options for tuning and matrix immobilization.
Electronic cigarette use patterns and reasons for use among smokers recently diagnosed with cancer.

Many patients with cancer use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), yet little is known about patterns and reasons for use. Using cross-sectional baseline data from a randomized controlled trial, we aimed to describe prevalence and correlates of e-cigarette use, frequency of use, and reasons for use among smokers recently diagnosed with cancer. Participants (n = 302) included adults (age ≥18 years) recently diagnosed with varied cancer types who smoked ≥1 cigarette within the past 30-d from two US academic medical centers. Participants reported ever and current e-cigarette use, and current e-cigarette users reported days of e-cigarette use and the main reason for use. We compared current, former, and never e-cigarette users by sociodemographics, cancer type, medical comorbidities, smoking behaviors, attitudes, and emotional symptoms, and described use among current e-cigarette users. Of smokers recently diagnosed with cancer, 49% (n = 149) reported ever e-cigarette use and 19% (n = 56) reported current use. Of current e-cigarette users, 29% (n = 16) reported daily use. Current e-cigarette users did not differ from former and never e-cigarette users by cancer type, smoking behaviors, or emotional symptoms. Women were more likely to be current users than never users, and current e-cigarette users had less education than former users. Most current e-cigarette users reported using them to help quit smoking (75%). One in five smokers with cancer report current e-cigarette use, but most are not using e-cigarettes daily. The majority report using e-cigarettes to quit smoking. E-cigarette use by patients with cancer appears to reflect a desire to quit smoking.
Anatomy and Physiology of Peripheral Nerves

This chapter describes the normal anatomy and function of somatic peripheral nerves and different forms of injuries that can occur from trauma and other forms of insults. Since ­intraoperative monitoring of nerves of the autonomic nerves has not found practical use, this topic is not covered in detail. Chapter 13 ­provides a description of the practical aspects of intraoperative monitoring and diagnosis of pathologies of peripheral nerves.
Employment Trends Among Public Health Doctoral Recipients, 2003-2015.

Objectives. To examine postgraduation employment trends among graduates of doctoral programs in public health from 2003 to 2015.Methods. We analyzed pooled cross-sectional data from a census of graduates receiving a research doctorate from US accredited institutions. The outcome of interest was employment status. Covariates included public health discipline, sociodemographic characteristics, and institutional attributes.Results. Of 11 771 graduates, nearly two thirds secured employment in either academic (34.8%) or nonacademic (31.4%) settings at the time of graduation. The proportion of those still seeking employment increased over time. Individuals who were White, younger, trained in either biostatistics or epidemiology, or from an institution with the highest level of research intensity were significantly more likely to secure employment. Academic employment was the most common setting for all 5 public health disciplines, but we observed differences in employment patterns (e.g., government, nonprofit, ...
Factors Associated With Head and Neck Cancer Hospitalization Cost and Length of Stay—A National Study

Objectives:The aim of the study was to estimate hospitalization cost, and factors associated with hospitalization costs and length of stay (LOS) of patients treated for head and neck cancer in the United States.Methods:Data on 71,440 weighted hospital admissions from the 2014 National Inpatient Samp
A Survey on Recent Advances of Medium Voltage Silicon Carbide Power Devices

Medium voltage (MV) Silicon Carbide (SiC) power devices have become available as engineering samples. Recent studies show that they outperform their Silicon (Si) counterparts regarding voltage blocking capability, specific on-state resistance, switching speed and maximum allowable junction temperature. It is projected that MV SiC power devices will bring revolutionary changes in medium and high voltage applications such as traction drives for locomotives, industrial motor drives, utility power transmission systems, etc. This paper presents a summary of recent advances in MV SiC power devices, including MOSFETs, IGBTs, GTOs and super-cascode devices. Technical challenges of their applications such as device packaging, gate drive design and gate drive auxiliary power supply design are discussed. Testing results of three state-of-the-art MV SiC devices, including a 4 kV, 5 A discrete SiC MOSFET, a 4.5 kV, 40 A SiC super-cascode device and a 10 kV, 40 A SiC MOSFET power module, are presented as examples.
The Evaluation of Pattern-Reversal Visual Evoked Potentials in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Asymtomatic santral nervous system disorder is frequently found in patients with diabetes. Neurophysiological tests were found to be objective and sensitive tool for detecting subclinical optic nerve and CNS disorders. Objectives: Our aim is to evaluate of the central nerve conduction changes using visual evoked potentials (VEP) and to demonstrate the effects of various risk factors on VEP parameters in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: Sixty children aged between 6 and 18 years and followed-up with a diagnosis of T1DM were enrolled in the study. Thirty healthy, age-matched children were enrolled as the control group. All patients and controls underwent the pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (PRVEP) test. Patients' HbA1c values, age, sex and duration of disease were evaluated from their hospital files. Results: Both right and left VEP latencies were significantly longer in the diabetic group than in the control group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). The mean duration of T1DM in the patient group was 5.5 years (min: 1 - max: 15). There was a positive correlation between longer VEP latency values and duration of DM, with coefficients of 0.49 for the right eye and 0.513 for the left eye (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: We found that optic nerve conduction diminished significantly in children with T1DM. Visual evoked potential datas showed a significant prolongation of the latency of P-100. We recommend that all diabetic children be scanned with neurophysiological tests such as PRVEP for optic neuropathy.
Bias and Precision of Lizard Occupancy Estimates Vary among Observers and between Methods

Heterogeneity in detection probabilities arises from many parts of a survey design and can introduce bias into estimates of site occupancy probability. We examined the effect of two important sources of heterogeneity, observer and survey method, on occupancy estimates in a lizard community in west Texas, with a special emphasis on Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus). Using line transects and visual encounter surveys, nine observers surveyed 72 sites. We detected 10 species of lizards in total; all 10 were detected using visual encounter surveys and only 4 were detected using transects. We determined observers to be an important variable in occupancy models for two of three species of lizards. Insufficient detections were made of the remaining seven species to reliably model occupancy. We conducted simulations to further investigate the impacts of observer variability on occupancy estimate bias and precision by using a range of known occupancy and detectability combinations. Precision in the occupancy estimate increased as the mean observer detection probability increased. Overall, bias was minimized by conducting surveys with either 1) observers with high detection probabilities or 2) using teams of observers with mixed (high and low) detection probabilities.Modeling observer detection probabilities explicitly provided marginal improvement to the occupancy estimate in the simulations. The consistent variability in detection probability among observers has implications for the precision and bias in occupancy estimates and decisions should be made at the experimental design phase about how to approach this problem.
Fit-in GFRP Liner for Retrofitting Corroded Metal Culverts

Corrugated metal pipes (CMPs) have been used as culverts in North America since the 1950s. Today, corrosion of CMPs is a major problem that requires an urgent and efficient solution to retrofit thousands of corroded CMPs across the country. One potential solution gaining wide acceptance is to use a fit-in Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) liner inside the old CMPs and to connect them using polymer grout. In this paper, a methodology to retrofit corrugated metal culvert using a fit-in GFRP profile liner was developed and implemented. First, material characterization of the GFRP material and the epoxy grout were carried out for proper design of the retrofit system. Second, full-scale CMP-GFRP composite section was tested under three-point bending configuration to observe the retrofitted culvert behavior to failure. The new CMP-GFRP section develops full composite action and shows failure capacity of 75 kip with a deflection of 3.52 in at the end of the test. Post failure of the polymeric grout, GFRP pipe failure was observed at mid-span location starting on the tension side. A finite element model was developed to understand the behavior of the CMP-GFRP composite pipe and to allow for the efficient design of the proposed retrofitting system.
Shift in temporal and spatial expression of Hox gene explains color mimicry in bees

Few insects exhibit the striking color pattern radiation found in bumble bees ( Bombus ) (1, 2) and some wasps (3, 4). Bumble bees have diversified globally into an unusually wide range of color patterns, many of which converge into high-fidelity Mullerian mimetic complexes across a wide geographic range. Despite extensive documentation of color pattern diversification (1, 2, 5), including a quantitative analysis defining the 12 principal color pattern elements that comprise the phenotype array for all species (2) (Fig. 1 A ), there has been little understanding of the developmental genetic regulation of pattern formation in bumble bees, hindering progress toward a more general model of the evolution of color pattern mimicry. In PNAS, Tian et al. (6) describe the mechanism by which a bumble bee species can evolve intraspecific dimorphic red/black color patterns. They show that a cis -regulatory region between the Ho x genes abdominal-A ( abd-A ) and Abdominal - B ( Abd-B ) is responsible for the intraspecific divergence in the black form of the Pacific coastal bumble bee species Bombus melanopygus and the red form found in the intermountain west (Fig. 2). Fig. 1. ( A ) Diagrammatic representation of bumble bee pattern elements 1 to 12 and secondary elements a to e . Each element is labeled; T (tergite) refers to abdominal segments in the … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: sacamero{at}illinois.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
A Novel Dual-Frequency Deep Brain Stimulation Paradigm for Parkinson’s Disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) using high-frequency (130–185 Hz) stimulation (HFS) is more effective for appendicular than for axial symptoms. Low-frequency stimulation (LFS) of the STN may reduce gait/balance and speech impairment but can result in worsened appendicular symptoms, limiting its clinical usefulness. A novel dual-frequency paradigm (interleave–interlink, IL–IL) was created in order to reduce gait/balance and speech impairment while maintaining appendicular symptom control in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients chronically stimulated with DBS. Two overlapping LFS programs are applied to each DBS lead, with the overlapping area focused around the optimal electrode contact. As a result, this area receives HFS, controlling appendicular symptoms. The non-overlapping area receives LFS, potentially reducing gait/balance and speech impairment. Patients were separated into three categories based on their chief complaint(s): gait/balance impairment, speech impairment, and/or incomplete PD symptom control. The Clinical- Global Impression of Change scale (CGI-C) was completed retrospectively based on patient/caregiver feedback in patients who remained on IL–IL (at 3 months and at the last follow-up). Seventy-six patients were switched from optimized HFS to IL–IL. Fifty-five (72%) patients remained on IL–IL after 22 ± 8.7 months. The median (range) CGI-C for gait was 2 (1–5) at 3 months and 3 (1–4) at last follow-up, for dysarthria it was 4 (1–4) at 3 months and 4 (1–5) at last follow-up, and for PD motor it was 2 (1–3) at 3 months and 2 (1–3) at last follow-up. A substantial number of patients remained on IL–IL because of subjective improvements in gait/balance, speech, or PD symptoms. A prospective, double-blind, crossover study with objective/quantitative outcome measures is underway.
Analytical Evaluation of Sommerfeld Integral Tails Present in Two Layered Media Green's Functions

In this paper, a fast and reliable method of evaluating Sommerfeld integral (SI) tails is presented. The analytical evaluation method obviates using extrapolation methods and replaces the SI tail by an appropriate closed form expression. The result from analytical evaluation method has been compared against result from weighted averages method (WAM) and has displayed a good agreement. The proposed method also reduces the computational time by at least 45% when compared with WAM.
Advective-diffusive spreading of diffusiophoretic colloids under transient solute gradients.

We analytically calculate the one-dimensional advective-diffusive spreading of a point source of diffusiophoretic (DP) colloids, driven by the simultaneous diffusion of a Gaussian solute patch. The spreading of the DP colloids depends critically on the ratio of the DP mobility, M (which can be positive or negative), to the solute diffusivity, Ds. For instance, we demonstrate, for the first time, that solute-repelling colloids (M < 0) undergo long-time super-diffusive transport for M/Ds < −1. In contrast, the spreading of strongly solute-attracting colloids (M/Ds ≫ 1) can be spatially arrested over long periods on the solute diffusion timescale, due to a balance between colloid diffusion and DP under the evolving solute gradient. Further, a patch of the translating solute acts as a “shuttle” that rapidly transports the colloids relative to their diffusive timescale. Finally, we use numerical computations to show that the above behaviors persist for three-dimensional, radially symmetric DP spreading. The results presented here could guide the use of DP colloids for microscale particle sorting, deposition, and delivery.
Projecting the Most Likely Annual Urban Heat Extremes in the Central United States

Climate studies based on global climate models (GCMs) project a steady increase in annual average temperature and severe heat extremes in central North America during the mid-century and beyond. However, the agreement of observed trends with climate model trends varies substantially across the region. The present study focuses on two different locations: Des Moines, IA and Austin, TX. In Des Moines, annual extreme temperatures have not increased over the past three decades unlike the trend of regionally-downscaled GCM data for the Midwest, likely due to a “warming hole” over the area linked to agricultural factors. This warming hole effect is not evident for Austin over the same time period, where extreme temperatures have been higher than projected by regionally-downscaled climate (RDC) forecasts. In consideration of the deviation of such RDC extreme temperature forecasts from observations, this study statistically analyzes RDC data in conjunction with observational data to define for these two cities a 95% prediction interval of heat extreme values by 2040. The statistical model is constructed using a linear combination of RDC ensemble-member annual extreme temperature forecasts with regression coefficients for individual forecasts estimated by optimizing model results against observations over a 52-year training period.
Trends in Diet Quality Among Youth in the United States, 1999-2016.

Importance Prior studies of dietary trends among US youth have evaluated major macronutrients or only a few foods or have used older data. Objective To characterize trends in diet quality among US youth. Design, Setting, and Participants Serial cross-sectional investigation using 24-hour dietary recalls from youth aged 2 to 19 years from 9 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (1999-2016). Exposures Calendar year and population sociodemographic characteristics. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcomes were the survey-weighted, energy-adjusted mean consumption of dietary components and proportion meeting targets of the American Heart Association (AHA) 2020 continuous diet score (range, 0-50; based on total fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish and shellfish, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sodium). Additional outcomes were the AHA secondary score (range, 0-80; adding nuts, seeds, and legumes; processed meat; and saturated fat) and Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2015 score (range, 0-100). Poor diet was defined as less than 40% adherence (scores, Results Of 31 420 youth aged 2 to 19 years included, the mean age was 10.6 years; 49.1% were female. From 1999 to 2016, the estimated AHA primary diet score significantly increased from 14.8 (95% CI, 14.1-15.4) to 18.8 (95% CI, 18.1-19.6) (27.0% improvement), the estimated AHA secondary diet score from 29.2 (95% CI, 28.1-30.4) to 33.0 (95% CI, 32.0-33.9) (13.0% improvement), and the estimated HEI-2015 score from 44.6 (95% CI, 43.5-45.8) to 49.6 (95% CI, 48.5-50.8) (11.2% improvement) (P Conclusions and Relevance Based on serial NHANES surveys from 1999 to 2016, the estimated overall diet quality of US youth showed modest improvement, but more than half of youth still had poor-quality diets.
A Privacy-Aware Collaborative DDoS Defence Network

Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks can bring tremendous damage to online services and ISPs. Existing adopted mitigation methods either require the victim to have a sufficient number of resources for traffic filtering or to pay a third party cloud service to filter the traffic. In our previous work we proposed CoFence, a collaborative network that allows member domains to help each other in terms of DDoS traffic handling. In that network, victim servers facing a DDoS attack can redirect excessive connection requests to other helping servers in different domains for filtering. Only filtered traffic will continue to interact with the victim server. However, sending traffic to third party servers brings up the issue of privacy: specifically leaked client source IP addresses. In this work we propose a privacy protection mechanism for defense so that the helping servers will not be able to see the IP address of the client traffic while it has minimum impact to the data filtering function. We implemented the design through a test bed to demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed design.
Personalized asthma management in pediatric patients based on treatment response

Asthma is the most common chronic illness in the pediatric population and is characterized by substantial heterogeneity in phenotypes and treatment response. A precision medicine approach is requir...
Malaria Infection Is Common and Associated With Perinatal Mortality and Preterm Delivery Despite Widespread Use of Chemoprevention in Mali: An Observational Study 2010 to 2014.

BACKGROUND In malaria-endemic areas, pregnant women and especially first-time mothers are more susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria diagnosis is often missed during pregnancy, because many women with placental malaria remain asymptomatic or have submicroscopic parasitemia, masking the association between malaria and pregnancy outcomes. Severe maternal anemia and low birthweight deliveries are well-established sequelae, but few studies have confirmed the relationship between malaria infection and severe outcomes like perinatal mortality in high transmission zones. METHODS Pregnant women of any gestational age enrolled at antenatal clinic into a longitudinal cohort study in Ouelessebougou, Mali, an area of high seasonal malaria transmission. Follow-up visits included scheduled and unscheduled visits throughout pregnancy. Blood smear microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis were employed to detect both microscopic and submicroscopic infections, respectively. Intermittent preventative treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) was documented and prompt treatment regardless of symptoms given upon malaria diagnosis. RESULTS Of the 1850 women followed through delivery, 72.6% of women received 2 or more IPTp-SP doses, 67.2% of women experienced at least 1 infection between enrollment up to and including delivery. Malaria infection increased the risks of stillbirth (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-12.71) and preterm delivery (aHR 2.41, 95% CI: 1.35-4.29) in primigravidae, and early neonatal death (death within 7 days) in secundigravidae and multigravidae (aHR 6.30, 95% CI: 1.41-28.15). CONCLUSIONS Malaria treatment after diagnosis, alongside IPTp-SP, is insufficient to prevent malaria-related stillbirth, early neonatal death and preterm delivery (PTD). Although IPTp-SP was beneficial in Mali during the study period, new tools are needed to improve pregnancy outcomes. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT01168271.
Piezoelectric rod sensors for scour detection and vortex-induced vibration monitoring

As extreme events increase in frequency, flow-disrupting large-scale structures become ever more susceptible to collapse due to local scour effects. The objective of this study was to validate the ...
THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE IN GLOBAL WARMING IMPACTS

A recent article in Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change by Fankhauser and Tol makes monetary estimates of potential global warming damages that assign higher value to each life lost in wealthy countries as opposed to poor ones. Regardless of how much sense such a procedure may make to GDP-oriented economists, it is morally unacceptable to most of the world and needlessly damages efforts to build support for any global warming mitigation and adaptation strategies that may be proposed. A better solution would be to use a money value of zero for human life losses and report separately the monetary and human life costs of warming (and benefits of mitigation).
Model for microemulsions: II. Hydrophile—lipophile balance (HLB)—salinity—oil molar volume phase maps

Abstract The previously described model for microemulsions (10) has been expanded to generate theoretical phase maps defining the boundaries for transitions in microemulsion types. Winsor's I a III a II transition boundaries (lower a middle a upper phase microemulsions) are defined for alkyl o-xylene sulfonates with simultaneously varying cation size, chain length, and aqueous phase salinity. Variation in cation size and chian length is reduced to a single variable, the hydrophile/lipophile ( H L ) volume ratio (Vr), which also includes interfacial water and oil. Interfacial water and oil is shown to depend on the packing area of surfactant molecules in the interface relative to the areas occupied by surfactant heads and chains, respectively. Theoretical 1 a m and m a u transition boundaries are evaluated and plotted in H L ratio-salinity phase space together with the locus of optimal salinities. Trajectories crossing these phase boundaries are evaluated and plotted for specific surfactants. This theoretical phase map, when used with the model equations, contains all the information necessary to calculate water ( V w V s ) and decane ( V o V s ) uptakes at constant surfactant concentration with varying salinity and H L ratio for the entire homologous series of alkyl o-xylene sulfonates containing ethanol amine cations of varying size. The concepts embodied in the H L ratio-salinity phase map are qualitatively expanded to describe transitions and water and oil uptakes in multidimensional phase space, e.g., H L ratio-salinity-oil alkane carbon number space.
Expression of the bile acid transport protein during liver development and in hepatoma cells

The expression of the hepatocyte Na(+)-dependent bile acid transport protein during liver development and in hepatoma cells has been characterized using a monoclonal antibody (mAb 25D-1) which specifically recognizes this 49-kDa carrier system. mAb binding studies demonstrated a greatly reduced concentration of this transport protein on the surface of hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells, a result consistent with the greater than 95% reduction in bile acid transport capacity when compared with normal adult hepatocytes. Immunoprecipitation procedures with 25D-1 were utilized to quantitate the presence of this transport protein in HTC cells as well as in adult hepatocytes that had been labeled with [35S]methionine or Na125I. These studies indicate that the 49-kDa transport protein is not expressed either on the surface or in any intracellular compartment in HTC cells. mAb binding to fetal cells (day 17) also indicated a greatly decreased number of transport molecules in the plasma membrane. Total cell content of this carrier protein during the next 7 weeks of liver development, as measured by immunoprecipitation, increased in a linear fashion reaching 92% of the adult level at 4 weeks after birth, which parallels the increase in transport function. These results demonstrate that bile acid transport capacity is directly related to the level of expression of this 49-kDa membrane protein.
Susceptibility of dinucleotides bearing either 3'- or 5'-monophosphate to micrococcal nuclease.

Abstract A new simplified procedure for preparation of micrococcal nuclease (Staphylococcus aureus strain "foggi") in good yield is described. The method consists of (a) chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose, (b) fractionation with ammonium sulfate, (c) gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-100, and (d) chromatography on phosphocellulose. The product obtained contains no more than 2 x 10-6 unit of monophosphatase per unit of nuclease. Specific activity of nuclease across the chromatographic peak of the last step is constant. In agreement with other laboratories, the purified nuclease shows one major and one minor band on acrylamide gel electrophoresis. When this preparation of micrococcal nuclease was used in concentrations approaching saturation, deoxyribodinucleotides, which up until now have been considered resistant, were all digested. Of 12 dinucleotides of the type d-NpNp, the most susceptible was d-TpTp, the most resistant d-TpGp. The extremes in susceptibility are of the order of 100-fold and depend primarily on the base in the β position. Dinucleoside monophosphates are also digestible but are more resistant than their 3'-monophosphoryl analogues. The 5'-dinucleotides are the most resistant of all. The magnitude of inhibition by 5'- and of enhancement by 3'-phosphoryl groups is no greater than the effect exerted by the base.
Packaging Predictable Assembly

Significant economic and technical benefits accrue from the use of pre-existing and commercially available software components to develop new systems. However, challenges remain that, if not adequately addressed, will slow the adoption of software component technology. Chief among these are a lack of consumer trust in the quality of components, and a lack of trust in the quality of assemblies of components without extensive and expensive testing. This paper describes prediction-enabled component technology (PECT). A PECT results from integrating component technology with analysis models. An analysis model permits analysis and prediction of assembly-level properties prior to component composition, and, perhaps, prior to component acquisition. Analysis models also identify required component properties and their certifiable descriptions. Component technology supports and enforces the assumptions underlying analysis models; it also provides the medium for deploying PECT instances and PECT-compliant software components. This paper describes the structure of PECT. It discusses the means of establishing the predictive powers of a PECT so that consumers may obtain measurably bounded trust in both components and design-time predictions based on the use of these components. We demonstrate these ideas in a simple but illustrative model problem: predicting average endto-end latency of a 'soft' real time application built from off-the-shelf software components.
Dynamics and function of a CA1 model of the hippocampus during theta and ripples

The hippocampus is known to be involved in spatial learning in rats. Spatial learning involves the encoding and replay of temporally sequenced spatial information. Temporally sequenced spatial memories are encoded and replayed by the firing rate and phase of pyramidal cells and inhibitory interneurons with respect to ongoing network oscillations (theta and ripples). Understanding how the different hippocampal neuronal classes interact during these encoding and replay processes is of great importance. A computational model of the CA1 microcircuit [3], [4], [5] that uses biophysical representations of the major cell types, including pyramidal cells and four types of inhibitory interneurons is extended to address: (1) How are the encoding and replay (forward and reverse) of behavioural place sequences controlled in the CA1 microcircuit during theta and ripples? and (2) What roles do the various types of inhibitory interneurons play in these processes?
Intestinal epithelial cells-derived exosomes provide a bridge between the gut and the liver that prevents liver inflammation through prostaglandin E2 induction of NK T cell anergy (49.11)

The in vivo regulation/induction of NTK anergy has been associated with inhibition of autoimmune and anti-tumor response, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that exosomes released from intestinal epithelial cells migrated into liver and induced liver NKT anergy. Unexpectedly, these effects were mediated by an exosomal PGE2 , which were demonstrated in a NKT-mediated liver injury model induced by ConA. Consistent with these findings, blocking PGE2 synthesis attenuated intestinal epithelial cells exosomes mediated inhibition of induction of IFN-γ and IL-4 of α-GalCer stimulated liver NKT cells as a PGE2 receptors mediated and PKA dependent manner. Pro-inflammation condition increased permeability of intestine and thus enhanced accumulation of intestinal epithelial cells exosomes migrated into liver where PGE2 induced NKT anergy in response to subsequently α-GalCer stimulation. Thus, these findings demonstrate a previously unappreciated role for intestinal epithelial cell exosomes served as immune modulator between liver and intestine and maintaining liver NKT homeostasis. Our findings have also important implications for the development of NKT cell-based vaccines and immunotherapies.
Phenomenology of Light Gauginos

I advocate the virtues of a very economical version of the minimal supersymmetric standard model which avoids cosmological problems often encountered in dynamical SUSY-breaking and solves the SUSY-CP problem. Imposing $m_Z=91$ GeV and $m_t \sim 175$ GeV implies that scalar masses are generally $100-200$ GeV. The gluino and photino are massless at tree level. At 1-loop, the gluino mass is predicted to be in the range $m_{\gluino}: 100 - 600$ MeV and the photino mass can be estimated to be $m_{\photino}: 100 - 1400$ MeV. New hadrons with mass $\sim 1 \frac{1}{2}$ GeV are predicted and described. The ``extra'' flavor singlet pseudoscalar observed in two experiments in the $\iota(1440)$ region, if confirmed, is naturally interpreted as the state which gets its mass via the QCD anomaly. Its superpartner, a gluon-gluino bound state, generally has a lifetime longer than $5~10^{-11}$ sec and would not have shown up in existing searches. Search strategies and other consequences of the scenario are discussed.
Jointly Optimal Congestion and Medium Access Control in Ad Hoc Wireless Networks

We study joint end-to-end congestion control and per-link medium access control (MAC) in ad-hoc wireless networks. We use a network utility maximization formulation, in which by adjusting the types of utility functions, we can accommodate multi-class services as well as exploit the tradeoff between efficiency and fairness of resource allocation. Despite the inherent difficulties of non-convexity and non-separability of the optimization problem, we show that, under readily-verifiable sufficient conditions, we can develop a distributed algorithm that converges to the globally and jointly optimal rate allocation and persistence probabilities. A key contribution is that our results can accommodate general concave utility function rather than just the logarithmic utility function in existing results.
The Parallel March of the Ginis: How Does Taxation Relate to Inequality and What Can Be Done About it?

The United States currently has one of the highest levels of inequality among industrialized economies. In addition, numerous scholars have shown that social mobility in the United States is significantly lower than it was in the period between 1945 and 1970, when inequality was also declining. The combination of these trends is dangerous because it risks transforming the US into a society where small elites capture most of the gains, a pattern in which growth cannot be sustained over time (Acemoglu and Robinson 2012, Zingales 2012). The level of inequality in the US after taxes and transfers are taken into account is much lower, but it is still higher than in most OECD countries and the trend is still for inequality to increase. This paper explores how the US tax system can be used to counter these trends and concludes that the key is not to increase taxes on the rich (although some reforms in this direction can be adopted), but instead to adequately fund and even strengthen the social safety net. The only way to do this in the medium to longer term is to adopt a broad-based federal consumption tax.
Rashba Spin–Orbit-Coupled Atomic Fermi Gases in a Two-Dimensional Optical Lattice

The collective-mode excitation energy of a population-imbalanced spin–orbit-coupled atomic Fermi gas loaded in a two-dimensional optical lattice at zero temperature is calculated within the Gaussian approximation, and from the Bethe–Salpeter equation in the generalized random-phase approximation assuming the existence of a Sarma superfluid state. It is found that the Gaussian approximation overestimates the speed of sound of the Goldstone mode. More interestingly, the Gaussian approximation fails to reproduce the roton-like structure of the collective-mode dispersion which appears after the linear part of the dispersion in the Bethe–Salpeter approach. We investigate the speed of sound of a balanced spin–orbit-coupled atomic Fermi gas near the boundary of the topological phase transition driven by an out-of-plane Zeeman field. It is shown that the minimum of the speed of sound is located at the topological phase transition boundary, and this fact can be used to confirm the existence of a topological phase transition.
T‐Cell Receptors

In order to combat a wide array of pathogens, the immune system must be able to generate cells with the ability to recognise virtually any pathogen while at the same time balancing this diversity with the maintenance of sufficient numbers of cells specific for each pathogen in order to mount an effective response. T cells, which are important for both the direct elimination of infected cells as well as providing support for other immune responses to pathogens, generate immunologic diversity by imprecise joining of gene segments to generate either α/β or γ/δ heterodimeric receptors during development. Although the potential diversity of rearranged T-cell receptors (TCR) is many orders of magnitude greater than the number of T cells in any given individual, highly regulated steps in development, as well as restrictions in the specificity of TCR, facilitate the generation of sufficient numbers of T cells with each TCR to ensure efficacy in pathogen control. Key Concepts The T-cell repertoire must balance diversity of antigen recognition with sufficient numbers of each specificity to elicit protection. T cells may express either αβ or γδ T-cell receptors, which have different roles in immunity. T-cell receptor diversity arises mainly through the process of somatic recombination. Somatic recombination, the process of reorganisation of T-cell receptor genes, is a highly ordered and regulated process. T-cell development includes checkpoints to ensure both self-MHC restriction and negative selection to remove any autoreactive T cells. T-cell receptors recognise processed antigen displayed on self-MHC complexes presented by antigen-presenting cells. T-cell receptors signal intracellularly through the CD3 signalling complex. TCR:pMHC activation with appropriate costimulation results in differentiation of effector T cells . Keywords: T-cell receptor; somatic recombination; immunologic diversity; TCR recognition; TCR signalling
The extent of polysynaptic responses in the dorsal spinocerebellar tract to stimulation of group I afferent fibers in gastrocnemius-soleus

We investigated the extent of the distribution of polysynaptic connections to the dorsal spinocerebellar tract (DSCT). Recording from a randomly selected population of DSCT units, we found that over 60% responded to maximal stimulation of group I afferent fibers in the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle nerve. Most of the responses had a time course or latency consistent with polysynaptic activation. The extensive distribution of this input into the pool of DSCT neurons suggests that input from muscle nerves in general is widely distributed to these neurons. The results further imply that the DSCT plays a more integrative role in the transmission of information from the hindlimb to the cerebellum than has been previously supposed.
Effect of Estuarine Wetland Degradation on Transport of Toxoplasma gondii Surrogates from Land to Sea

The flux of terrestrially derived pathogens to coastal waters presents a significant health risk to marine wildlife, as well as to humans who utilize the nearshore for recreation and seafood harvest. Anthropogenic changes in natural habitats may result in increased transmission of zoonotic pathogens to coastal waters. The objective of our work was to evaluate how human-caused alterations of coastal landscapes in California affect the transport of Toxoplasma gondii to estuarine waters. Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that is excreted in the feces of infected felids and is thought to reach coastal waters in contaminated runoff. This zoonotic pathogen causes waterborne toxoplasmosis in humans and is a significant cause of death in threatened California sea otters. Surrogate particles that mimic the behavior of T. gondii oocysts in water were released in transport studies to evaluate if the loss of estuarine wetlands is contributing to an increased flux of oocysts into coastal waters. Compared to vegetated sites, more surrogates were recovered from unvegetated mudflat habitats, which represent degraded wetlands. Specifically, in Elkhorn Slough, where a large proportion of otters are infected with T. gondii, erosion of 36% of vegetated wetlands to mudflats may increase the flux of oocysts by more than 2 orders of magnitude. Total degradation of wetlands may result in increased Toxoplasma transport of 6 orders of magnitude or more. Destruction of wetland habitats along central coastal California may thus facilitate pathogen pollution in coastal waters with detrimental health impacts to wildlife and humans.
Anxiety and depressive disorders are associated with smoking in adolescents with asthma.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the association between mental health indicators (including meeting criteria for one or more DSM-IV [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—fourth edition] anxiety or depressive disorders) and susceptibility to smoking or current smoking among youth with asthma and to evaluate the impact of smoking on asthma symptoms and self-management. Methods We conducted telephone interviews with a population-based sample of 11- to 17-year-old youth and their parents (n = 769). Interview content included questions on smoking behaviors, asthma symptoms and treatment, externalizing behavior, and a structured psychiatric interview to assess DSM-IV anxiety and depressive disorders. Results Five percent of youth were smokers and 10.6% indicated that they were "susceptible to smoking." Smoking was more common among youth with mental health disorders. Anxiety/depressive disorders were present in 14.5% of nonsmokers, 19.8% of susceptible nonsmokers, and 37.8% of smokers. After controlling for important covariates, youth with more than one anxiety and depressive disorder were at over twofold increased risk for being a smoker. Similarly, for each one-point increase in externalizing disorder symptoms, youth had a 10% increase in likelihood of being a smoker and a 4% increase in risk for "susceptibility to smoking." Youth who were smokers reported more asthma symptoms, reduced functioning due to asthma, less use of controller medicines, and more use of rescue medications. Conclusions Comorbid mental health disorders are associated with increased risk of smoking in youth with asthma. Smoking is associated with increased asthma symptom burden and decreased controller medication use. Interventions for youth with asthma should consider screening for and targeting these behavioral concerns.
Population analysis of a 24-h paclitaxel infusion in advanced endometrial cancer: a gynaecological oncology group study.

Aims To examine determinants of paclitaxel disposition and the association between paclitaxel exposure and toxicity or survival in patients with advanced stage or recurrent endometrial cancer treated with doxorubicin plus paclitaxel. Methods A limited sampling scheme was used to examine the population pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel in 160 patients from one arm of a randomized Phase III trial of doxorubicin plus paclitaxel or cisplatin. Four plasma samples per patient were collected at approximately 0, 3, 22 and 27 h after the first 24-h infusion of paclitaxel and submitted to the Gynecological Oncology Group (GOG) Pharmacology Core Laboratory. Total paclitaxel concentrations were quantified by LC/MS and paclitaxel disposition was examined using NONMEM. Paclitaxel exposure was evaluated for associations with toxicity or survival. Results Patient weight, age and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase level were determinants of paclitaxel clearance (clearance increased 0.437 l h−1 kg−1; decreased 0.223 l h−1 year−1 and 0.105 l h−1 IU−1). Bayesian shrinkage was minimal for this parameter. In different measures of paclitaxel exposure, AUC was most predictive of toxicity, with higher AUC associated with granulocytopenia [probability of 1% at AUC = 1 to 22% at AUC = 4 µg l−1 h−1 for performance status (PS) = 0]. PS was more strongly associated with survival than disease stage and higher paclitaxel AUC was associated with worse survival irrespective of PS and stage. Conclusions Paclitaxel AUC is an independent predictor of granulocytopenia and survival in patients with advanced stage or recurrent endometrial cancer. Future studies are needed to validate the latter finding. This study confirms the appropriateness of evaluating pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in multicentre oncology trials.