cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High Influence: Identifying and Ranking Stability, Topological Significance, and Redundancies in Water Resource Networks

AbstractModeling water resources networks is often input-intensive because of network size and complexity. This paper introduces a ranking automation for networks (RANK) tool that weights node conn...
Pain Management for Sarcoma Patients

Fear is inevitable when one faces the threat of pain. When this feeling arises, it puts the patient’s treatment course in jeopardy. The undertreatment of cancer pain has been a global epidemic for a number of years. At the time of their diagnosis, approximately 30–50% of cancer patients have experienced pain. This percentage rises to 50–70% of patients during their cancer treatment, while 65–90% of patients with advanced cancer are burdened with inadequate control of their pain. Consequences of unrelieved pain include loss of autonomy, social isolation, suffering, psychological distress, and the diminished ability to comply with the cancer treatment. This chapter will discuss the causes of and treatment of cancer pain along with a discussion of phantom limb pain.
Biomechanics of Sports Injuries

Sports-related injuries are rarely fatal but are very common. They are more common in contact sports, such as American football, but are also seen in non-contact sports, such as basketball and baseball. The knee is the most commonly injured body region in sports because the joint is not well protected by bony structures and is heavily used. However, catastrophic injuries can occur due to impacts to the head, neck, and chest. Examples of such injuries include fatal heart injuries in baseball, head injuries in football (soccer), baseball and basketball and knee injuries in jogging and tennis. The topics covered in this chapter are mild traumatic brain injury in American football, catastrophic neck injuries due to crown impacts, cardiac injuries due to sternal impacts, and knee injuries due to a lateral impact.
Facile one-step synthesis of palladium tellurium alloy nanorods

Abstract A palladium-tellurium binary alloy nanomaterial was synthesized by a one-pot reaction of bis(4-methoxyphenyltelluro)methane [(4-CH3O-C6H4Te)2CH2](1) and allylpalladium (II)chloride dimer [(η3-C3H5)2Pd2(μ-Cl2)] (2) in 1:1 ratio using methylene chloride as solvent at ambient conditions. In addition to the Pd20Te7 alloy nanomaterial (3) generated, a palliadum (II) tellurolate complex [PdC1(μ-TeC6H4-OCH3)Te(C6H4-OCH3)2]2 (6), and other organic and organotellurim compounds were isolated as byproducts using column chromatography. The palladium-tellurium binary alloy nanomaterial and other byproducts from the reaction were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), NMR, GC-MS, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and single crystal X-ray diffractions (XRD) methods. The palladium-tellurium binary alloy nanomaterial was obtained as single-phase Pd20Te7 nanorods, under mild conditions. TEM results indicated that the nanorods are less than 15 nm in diameter and range from 40 to 200 nm in length. A nanomaterial mixture was isolated with two binary-phases Pd20Te7 and Pd10Te3 when benzene was used as solvent. Compound 6 was successfully tested for catalytic activity for the Heck Reaction and produced a mixture of PdTe2 with Pd13Te3 nanomaterials as byproducts.
Long-distance communication in synthetic bacterial consortia through active signal propagation

A synthetic cell-cell signaling circuit should ideally be (1) metabolically lightweight, (2) insulated from endogenous gene networks, and (3) excitable rather than oscillatory or bistable. To accomplish these three features, we propose a synchronized pulse-generating circuit based on the design of published synchronized oscillators. This communication module employs a pulse generator built using Lux-type quorum sensing components and an IFFL transcriptional circuit. Both the input and output of this module are AHLs, the quorum sensing signaling molecule. Cells bearing this module therefore act as an excitable medium, producing a pulse of AHL when stimulated by exogenous AHL. Using simulation and microscopy, we demonstrate how this circuit enables traveling pulses of AHL production through microcolonies growing in two dimensions. Traveling pulses achieve cell-cell communication at longer distances than can be achieved by diffusion of signal from sender to receiver cells and may permit more sophisticated coordination in synthetic consortia.
Dual-functional Ag@Au core-shell nanostructures for in situ SERS study of hydrogen peroxide decomposition (Conference Presentation)

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) integrates high levels of sensitivity and spectroscopic precision with tremendous potential for chemical and biomolecular sensing. On the other hand, metal nanoparticles have been employed in catalysis with great promise for future energy technologies. Interactions between oxygen and gold surfaces are of fundamental importance in catalysis and other multiple and diverse areas of science and technology. We propose to synergistically integrate the two aspects of metal nanoparticles in dual-functional Ag@Au core-shell nanostructures to take advantage of high SERS enhancement factor of Ag and unique catalytic property of Au. Pure Au nanoparticles with specific size are also prepared to be a comparison with Ag@Au core-shell structures in terms of SERS enhancement and catalytic properties by in situ Raman detection during the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
Combined inhibition of apoptosis and necrosis promotes transient neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells and partial-axon regeneration after optic nerve damage

Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death is the hallmark of glaucoma. Axonal injury is thought to precede RGC loss in glaucoma, and thus studies using an optic nerve (ON) crush model have been widely used to investigate mechanisms of cell death that are common to both conditions. Prior work has focused on the involvement of caspases in RGC death, but little is known about the contribution of other forms of cell death such as necrosis. In this study we show that receptor interacting protein (RIP) kinase-mediated necrosis normally plays a role in RGC death and acts in concert with caspase-dependent apoptosis. The expression of RIP3, a key activator of RIP1 kinase, as well as caspase activity, increased following ON injury. Caspase inhibition alone failed to provide substantial protection to injured RGCs and unexpectedly exacerbated necrosis. In contrast, pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of RIP kinases in combination with caspase blockade delayed both apoptotic and necrotic RGC death, although RGCs still continued to die. Furthermore, inhibition of RIP1 kinase promoted a moderate level of axon regeneration that was only minimal affected by caspase inhibition. In conclusion, multiple approaches are required for effective RGC death prevention and axonal regeneration. Further studies are needed to elucidate more effective long term strategies that can lead to sustained neuroprotection and regeneration.
When Doctors Disagree

“I think immediate amputation is needed to be sure that all the disease is removed and to guard against any possible late effects. This kind of tumor is nothing to fool around with.”
Positronium collisions with rare-gas atoms: Free-electron gas plus orthogonalizing pseudopotential model

Positronium collisions with rare-gas atoms are treated using the free-electron-gas approximation for exchange and correlation potential. The results confirm the absence of the Ramsauer-Townsend minimum in elastic scattering cross sections, but show lower cross sections in the lower-energy region when compared to previous pseudopotential calculations. This is explained by a more attractive ab initio correlation potential as compared to the previously used empirical potential. The results in the thermal-energy region agree very well with most swarm measurements for all rare-gas atoms. At higher energies, the results are compared with beam experiments and agreement for heavier rare-gas atoms Ar, Kr, and Xe is found to be very good. For He and Ne, some discrepancies with beam measurements are observed. This is explained by a poorer performance of the free-electron-gas potentials, based on the statistical Thomas-Fermi model, for systems with fewer electrons.
Re visitar la Reforma de 1918 a la luz de la historia argentina

The centenary of the University Reform (RU) of 1918 leads historians to try to answer the question of validity or the decline of the reformist ideas that so influenced the Argentine university. For this, the purpose of this article is to reflect on the connection between this nucleus of ideas, the university and politics in the different historical junctures, with the aim of remembering the project of university renewal, the reconfiguration of that matrix and the emergence of some intellectuals who assumed interesting contributions of political intervention during the twentieth century, in particular, until the democratic transition of the eighties. The writing aims to convey the concern of the social sciences in general, history in particular, in making contributions to the transformation of the link between university, society and politics at the current time.
Augmentation of root gravitropism by hypocotyl curvature in Brassica rapa seedlings.

Abstract Main Conclusion Root gravitropism of primary roots is assisted by curvature of the hypocotyl base. Root gravitropism is typically described as the sequence of signal perception, signal processing, and response that causes differential elongation and the establishment of a new gravitropic set-point angle. We describe two components of the graviresponse of Brassica seedlings that comprise a primary curvature of the root tip and a later onset but stronger curvature that occurs at the base of the hypocotyl. This second curvature is preceded by straightening of the tip region but leads to the completion of the alignment of the root axis. Curvature in both regions require a minimum displacement of 20 deg. The rate of tip curvature is a function of root length. After horizontal reorientation, tip curvature of five mm long roots curved twice as fast as 10 mm long roots (33.6 ± 3.3 vs. 14.3 ± 1.5 deg hr-1). The onset of curvature at the hypocotyl base is correlated with root length, but the rate of this curvature is independent of seedling length. Decapping of roots prevented tip curvature but the curvature at base of hypocotyl was unaffected. Endodermal cells at the root shoot junction show numerous, large and sedimenting amyloplasts, which likely serve as gravity sensors (statoliths). The amyloplasts at the hypocotyl were 3–4 μm in diameter, similar in size to those in the root cap, and twice the size of starch grains in the cortical layers of hypocotyl or elsewhere in the root. These data indicate that the root shoot reorientation of young seedlings is not limited to the root tip but includes more than one gravitropically responsive region.
The Pediatric Surgeon-Scientist: Succeeding in Today's Academic Environment.

Abstract Background Pediatric surgeons have long been advocates of basic science research. However, new challenges facing the scientific community have threatened the success of academic surgeons pursuing basic science careers. The purpose of this study was to compare academic pediatric surgeons’ perceptions of their ability to effectively conduct basic science research to those of other surgical subspecialties. Methods An online survey was distributed to all members of the Association for Academic Surgery and Society of University Surgeons. A total of 1033 members (41%) responded, and 137 (13.3%) were pediatric surgeons. Comparisons were made between the five most-represented surgical subspecialties. Data are presented as reporting percentage and P values by Student's t-test. Results Among the specialists studied, pediatric surgeons are those most likely to believe that surgeons can succeed as basic scientists in today's research environment. Pediatric surgery reported the highest rates of National Institutes of Health funding of all surgical specialties and the lowest rates of perceived external pressures related to clinical demands, hospital administrative duties, and work–life balance concerns than their surgical peers. Conclusions Pediatric surgeons have a more optimistic perspective on the state of basic science research in surgery while exhibiting an enhanced ability to overcome the challenges that surgeon–scientists currently face. Our findings suggest that pediatric surgery may provide a model for succeeding in basic science in today's challenging surgical research environment.
Endorsement of Feminist Beliefs, Openness, and Mindful Acceptance as Predictors of Decreased Transphobia

The inclusion of transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals in feminist theory, discourse, and activism is fraught with controversy. Given this historical tension within various femini...
An exploration of a new superintendent’s transition team as a facilitator of organizational socialization of senior district administrators

Superintendents serve as the primary strategists and leaders for school divisions across the United States. Yet, organizational socialization to the community and to the district is one of the grea...
Stewardship-Hospitalist Collaboration.

Hospitalists represent a rapidly emerging specialty group that treats a large proportion of hospitalized patients with infections. Antimicrobial stewardship programs and hospitalist groups that focus on building a collaborative approach have been extremely successful in optimizing antimicrobial prescribing and improving patient outcomes. We discuss the tools needed to build collaborative relationships, summarize published examples of successful stewardship-hospitalist collaboration, and provide guidance on developing collaborative interventions
Self-adapting J-type air-based battery thermal management system via model predictive control

Abstract Battery thermal control plays an indispensable role in terms of the safety and performance for electric vehicles. For air-based cooling technologies, one of the most pressing challenges is to balance the temperature uniformity and constrain the maximum temperature simultaneously under varying driving conditions. This paper proposes a self-adaptive intelligent neural network-based model predictive control strategy for a J-type air-based battery thermal management system. The J-type structure is first optimized through surrogate-based optimization to improve the temperature uniformity before control. Based on the optimized J-type configuration, an operation mode switching module is developed to mitigate the temperature unbalance. The thermal control approach is tested using an integrated driving cycle, and its evaluations are threefold: (i) the neural network-based control without mode switching fails to meet the thermal requirements; (ii) the control with mode switching succeeds in constraining the maximum temperature and maintaining the temperature uniformity within 1.33 K; (iii) the added model predictive control approach slightly enhances the thermal performance but improves the energy efficiency significantly by 15.8%. The results show that the J-type structure with its appropriate control strategy is a promising solution for light-duty electric vehicles using an air-cooling technology.
Targeted 595-gene genomic profiling demonstrates low tumor mutational burden in olfactory neuroblastoma.

Background Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare skull-base malignancy associated with delayed local recurrence. Treatment options in recurrent disease are few and unreliable. We undertook analysis of the ONB exome and immune environment in order to identify potential future immunotherapy treatment options. Methods Retrospective chart review and next-generation targeted 595-gene genomic profiling was performed on a cohort of 14 ONB cases utilizing Tempus proprietary DNA and RNA sequencing technology. Tempus analysis provided a measurement of tumor mutational burden (TMB) and composition of the immune cell infiltrate present in tumor samples. Clinically relevant genomic alterations and associated targeted therapies were identified using cancer.gov and clinicaltrials.gov. TMB was tested by univariate analysis against clinical stage, pathologic grade, recurrence risk, and immune cell infiltration. Results The mean age for the subjects was 50 years (range, 13 to 76 years) with a male:female ratio of 1:1. TMB for ONB samples ranged from 1.3 to 9.6 mutations/megabase (Mb) with mean of 3.8 mutations/Mb. Univariate analysis showed no association between TMB and tumor stage, pathologic grade, risk of recurrence, or immune cell infiltration. Genomic profile revealed that 6 of 13 tumors had genetic alterations with targeted therapies in clinical trials, whereas 1 tumor demonstrated KRAS Q61R mutation with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved targeted therapies. Conclusion TMB is a novel biomarker guiding the classification of neoplasms in the emerging era of immunotherapy. The characterization of ONB as a low-TMB pathology contributes to the overall taxonomy of all cancers and suggests limited utility of immunotherapy treatment.
Uterine clear cell carcinoma arising from cystic adenomyosis: a case report.

Adenomyosis is a common gynaecological condition that is characterised by the abnormal presence of endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium (Struble et al. 2016). Rarely, adenomyosis ser...
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Versus Influenza in Hospitalized Adult Patients in the United States: Differences in Demographic and Severity Indicators.

BACKGROUND: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is frequently compared with influenza. The Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (HAIVEN) conducts studies on the etiology and characteristics of U.S. hospitalized adults with influenza. It began enrolling patients with COVID-19 hospitalizations in March 2020. Patients with influenza were compared with those with COVID-19 in the first months of the U.S. epidemic. METHODS: Adults aged ≥ 18 years admitted to hospitals in 4 sites with acute respiratory illness were tested by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing COVID-19. Demographic and illness characteristics were collected for influenza illnesses during 3 seasons 2016-2019. Similar data were collected on COVID-19 cases admitted before June 19, 2020. RESULTS: Age groups hospitalized with COVID-19 (n = 914) were similar to those admitted with influenza (n = 1937); 80% of patients with influenza and 75% of patients with COVID-19 were aged ≥50 years. Deaths from COVID-19 that occurred in younger patients were less often related to underlying conditions. White non-Hispanic persons were overrepresented in influenza (64%) compared with COVID-19 hospitalizations (37%). Greater severity and complications occurred with COVID-19 including more ICU admissions (AOR = 15.3 [95% CI: 11.6, 20.3]), ventilator use (AOR = 15.6 [95% CI: 10.7, 22.8]), 7 additional days of hospital stay in those discharged alive, and death during hospitalization (AOR = 19.8 [95% CI: 12.0, 32.7]). CONCLUSIONS: While COVID-19 can cause a respiratory illness like influenza, it is associated with significantly greater severity of illness, longer hospital stays, and higher in-hospital deaths.
Long-Term Increases in Mental Disorder Diagnoses After Invasive Mechanical Ventilation for Severe Childhood Respiratory Disease: A Propensity Matched Observational Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate neurodevelopmental and mental disorders after PICU hospitalization in children requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for severe respiratory illness. DESIGN Retrospective longitudinal observational cohort. SETTING Texas Medicaid Analytic eXtract data from 1999 to 2012. PATIENTS Texas Medicaid-enrolled children greater than or equal to 28 days old to less than 18 years old hospitalized for a primary respiratory illness, without major chronic conditions predictive of abnormal neurodevelopment. INTERVENTIONS We examined rates of International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision-coded mental disorder diagnoses and psychotropic medication use following discharge among children requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for severe respiratory illness, compared with general hospital patients propensity score matched on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics prior to admission. Children admitted to the PICU for respiratory illness not necessitating invasive mechanical ventilation were also compared with matched general hospital patients as a negative control exposure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Of 115,335 eligible children, 1,351 required invasive mechanical ventilation and were matched to 6,755 general hospital patients. Compared with general hospital patients, children requiring invasive mechanical ventilation had increased mental disorder diagnoses (hazard ratio, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.26-1.64]; p < 0.0001) and psychotropic medication use (hazard ratio, 1.67 [1.34-2.08]; p < 0.0001) following discharge. Seven-thousand seven-hundred eighty children admitted to the PICU without invasive mechanical ventilation were matched to 38,900 general hospital patients and had increased mental disorder diagnoses (hazard ratio, 1.08 [1.02-1.15]; p = 0.01) and psychotropic medication use (hazard ratio, 1.11 [1.00-1.22]; p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS Children without major comorbidity requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for severe respiratory illness had a 43% higher incidence of subsequent mental disorder diagnoses and a 67% higher incidence of psychotropic medication use. Both increases were substantially higher than in PICU patients with respiratory illness not necessitating invasive mechanical ventilation. Invasive mechanical ventilation is a life-saving therapy, and its application is interwoven with underlying health, illness severity, and PICU management decisions. Further research is required to determine which factors related to invasive mechanical ventilation and severe respiratory illness are associated with abnormal neurodevelopment. Given the increased risk in these children, identification of strategies for prevention, neurodevelopmental surveillance, and intervention after discharge may be warranted.
What Parents Want Doctors to Know: responses to an open-ended item on an asthma questionnaire.

ABSTRACT Objective : Unstructured parental comments could solicit important information about children's asthma, yet are rarely captured in clinical asthma questionnaires. This mixed-methods study describes parents’ written responses to an open-ended question in a validated asthma questionnaire. Methods : The Pediatric Asthma Control and Communication Instrument (PACCI) asthma questionnaire was administered to parents of children with asthma symptoms presenting to 48 pediatric primary care offices (PPCP), 1 pediatric pulmonology office, and 1 emergency department (ED). Responses to the question, “Please write down any concern or anything else you would like your doctor to know about your child's asthma” were analyzed using a phenomenological approach until thematic saturation was achieved for each site. Logistic regressions tested whether sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were associated with responding to the open-ended question. Results : Of 7,988 parents who completed the PACCI, 954 (12%) responded to the open-ended question - 2% in PPCP, 31% in the ED and 50% in the pulmonary setting. More severe asthma was associated with higher odds of responding (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.42-2.84). Based on responses provided, we identified three communication types: 1) clarifying symptoms; 2) asking questions; and 3) communicating distress. Responses also covered five asthma-related themes: 1) diagnostic uncertainty; 2) understanding asthma etiology and prognosis; 3) medication management; 4) impact on child function; and 5) personal asthma characteristics. Conclusion : Parents of children with severe asthma provided clarifying details, asked questions, and relayed health concerns and distress. All of these topics may not be easily captured by closed-ended asthma questionnaires. What's New : The thematic analysis in this study suggests that open-ended questions may make unique contributions to content of closed-ended asthma questionnaires, particularly for severe asthmatics seen outside of the primary care setting.
Tradeoffs Between Stream Regulation and Point Source Treatments in Cost-Effective Water Quality Management

In some heavily developed areas, treatment of municipal and industrial wastewaters to desired effluent standards still does not allow stream water quality criteria to be met. If the water resource in these areas is developed with upstream reservoirs capable of streamflow regulation, a number of management alternatives may be available in addition to more stringent controls on point source waste discharges. This paper addresses the significant role that unsteady water quality models can play in evaluating tradeoffs between improvement strategies involving stream flow regulation and point sources effluent control.
Social Support in Its Cultural Context

Understanding social support within a cultural context requires knowledge of the culture in which support is given and received. This chapter focuses on cultural factors that shape giving and receiving social support among African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, and Native American families. Although these groups are a part of American society, they also function within distinct cultural boundaries that define and provide them with an identity that is uniquely different from the identity of those who are not a part of their group’s culture. Findings suggest that their history, social position, minority group status, and entrance into American society have played major roles in shaping their cultural definition and identity.
New relaxation processes in diluted Ho2Ti2O7

Abstract We have studied the spin relaxation in diluted spin ice Ho 2 - x R x Ti 2 O 7 ( R = La or Y ) by means of neutron scattering. Remarkably, doping with nonmagnetic ions does not relieve the geometrical frustration and the dynamics of the freezing is unaltered whilst the cubic unit cell is maintained. When the nonmagnetic substitution starts to distort the lattice, a new relaxation process is revealed. We present new data from several diluted spin ice samples where Arrhenius behaviour observed in the parent compound, Ho 2 Ti 2 O 7 is superseded by other processes including a quantum tunnelling process.
Volumetric estimates of ancient water on Mount Sharp based on boxwork deposits, Gale Crater, Mars

While the presence of water on the surface of early Mars is now well known, the volume, distribution, duration, and timing of the liquid water have proven difficult to determine. This study makes use of a distinctive boxwork-rich sedimentary layer on Mount Sharp to map fluid-based cementation from orbital imagery and estimate the minimum volume of water present when this sedimentary interval was formed. The boxwork structures on Mount Sharp are decameter-scale light-toned polygonal ridges that are unique compared to previous observations of Martian fractured terrain because they are parallel-sided ridges with dark central linear depressions. This texture and the sedimentary setting strongly imply that the ridges are early diagenetic features formed in the subsurface phreatic groundwater zone. High-resolution orbital imagery was used to map the volume of light-toned cemented ridges. Based on the cemented volume, a minimum of 5.25 × 105 m^3 of cement was deposited within the fractures. Using a brine composition based on observations of other Martian cements and modeling the degree of evaporation, each volume of cement requires 800–6700 pore volumes of water, so the mapped boxwork ridge cements require a minimum of 0.43 km^3 of water. This is a significant amount of groundwater that must have been present at the −3620 m level, 1050 m above the current floor of Gale Crater, providing both a new constraint on the possible origins of Mount Sharp and a possible future science target for the Curiosity rover where large volumes of water were present, and early mineralization could have preserved a once-habitable environment.
A murine model for the development of melanocytic nevi and their progression to melanoma

Acquired melanocytic nevi are commonly found in sun exposed and unexposed human skin, but the potential for their transformation into invasive melanoma is not clear. Therefore, a mouse model of nevus initiation and progression was developed in C3H/HeN mice using a modified chemical carcinogenesis protocol. Nevi develop due to DNA damage initiated by dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA) followed by chronic promotion with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Dysplastic pigmented skin lesions appeared in 7–9 wk with 100% penetrance. Nests of melanocytic cells appeared in a subset of skin draining lymph nodes (dLN) by 25 wk, but not in age matched controls. Immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and flow cytometric analyses confirmed their melanocytic origin. Transformed cells were present in a subset of nevi and dLNs, which exhibited anchorage-independent growth, tumor development, and metastasis in nude mice. Approximately 50% of the cell lines contained H-Ras mutations and lost tumor suppressor p16Ink4a expression. While most studies of melanoma focus on tumor progression in transgenic mouse models where the mutations are present from birth, our model permits investigation of acquired mutations at the earliest stages of nevus initiation and promotion of nevus cell transformation. This robust nevus/melanoma model may prove useful for identifying genetic loci associated with nevus formation, novel oncogenic pathways, tumor targets for immune-prevention, screening therapeutics, and elucidating mechanisms of immune surveillance and immune evasion. © 2015 The Authors. Molecular Carcinogenesis, published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A scalable genetic algorithm for the rectilinear Steiner problem

The rectilinear Steiner problem seeks the shortest tree made up of horizontal and vertical line segments that connects a set of points in the plane. The extra points where the segments meet are called Steiner points. Evolutionary algorithms for this problem have encoded rectilinear Steiner trees by extending codings of spanning trees to specify Steiner point choices for the spanning tree edges. These algorithms have been slow and have performed poorly on larger problem instances. The genetic algorithm presented here searches only the space of Steiner point assignments to the edges of a minimum rectilinear spanning tree. In tests on 45 instances of the rectilinear Steiner problem, it returns good, though never optimal, trees. The algorithm scales well; it evaluates chromosomes in time that is linear in the number of points, and its performance does not deteriorate as that number increases.
Quantitative Comparison of cis-Regulatory Element (CRE) Activities in Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster

Gene expression patterns are specified by cis-regulatory element (CRE) sequences, which are also called enhancers or cis-regulatory modules. A typical CRE possesses an arrangement of binding sites for several transcription factor proteins that confer a regulatory logic specifying when, where, and at what level the regulated gene(s) is expressed. The full set of CREs within an animal genome encodes the organisms program for development1, and empirical as well as theoretical studies indicate that mutations in CREs played a prominent role in morphological evolution2-4. Moreover, human genome wide association studies indicate that genetic variation in CREs contribute substantially to phenotypic variation5,6. Thus, understanding regulatory logic and how mutations affect such logic is a central goal of genetics. Reporter transgenes provide a powerful method to study the in vivo function of CREs. Here a known or suspected CRE sequence is coupled to heterologous promoter and coding sequences for a reporter gene encoding an easily observable protein product. When a reporter transgene is inserted into a host organism, the CREs activity becomes visible in the form of the encoded reporter protein. P-element mediated transgenesis in the fruit fly species Drosophila (D.) melanogaster7 has been used for decades to introduce reporter transgenes into this model organism, though the genomic placement of transgenes is random. Hence, reporter gene activity is strongly influenced by the local chromatin and gene environment, limiting CRE comparisons to being qualitative. In recent years, the phiC31 based integration system was adapted for use in D. melanogaster to insert transgenes into specific genome landing sites8-10. This capability has made the quantitative measurement of gene and, relevant here, CRE activity11-13 feasible. The production of transgenic fruit flies can be outsourced, including phiC31-based integration, eliminating the need to purchase expensive equipment and/or have proficiency at specialized transgene injection protocols. Here, we present a general protocol to quantitatively evaluate a CREs activity, and show how this approach can be used to measure the effects of an introduced mutation on a CREs activity and to compare the activities of orthologous CREs. Although the examples given are for a CRE active during fruit fly metamorphosis, the approach can be applied to other developmental stages, fruit fly species, or model organisms. Ultimately, a more widespread use of this approach to study CREs should advance an understanding of regulatory logic and how logic can vary and evolve.
Adaptive Hybrid Surrogate Modeling for Complex Systems

This paper explores the effectiveness of the recently developed surrogate modeling method, the Adaptive Hybrid Functions, when applied in conjunction with different sampling techniques and different sample sizes. The Adaptive Hybrid Functions is a hybrid surrogate modeling method that seeks to exploit the advantages of each component surrogate. To explore its effectiveness, the Adaptive Hybrid Functions is applied to model four disparate complex engineering systems, namely: 1) wind farm power generation, 2) product platform planning (for universal electric motors), 3) three-pane window heat transfer, and 4) onshore wind farm cost estimation. The effectiveness of the following three distinct sampling techniques is investigated: 1) Latin hypercube sampling, 2) Sobol’s quasi-random sequence, and 3) the Hammersley sequence sampling. Cross-validation is used to evaluate the accuracy of the resulting surrogate models. It was observed that the Sobol’s sequence and the Latin hypercube sampling techniques provided...
Cardiokines Recent Progress in Elucidating the Cardiac Secretome

The sets of proteins secreted from cells, ie, secretomes, play crucial roles in intercellular and intertissue communication during tissue development and growth and in response to various pathological stresses. The secretomes produced by the heart encompass a group of proteins that have been referred to as cardiokines. In today's era of molecular sophistication, the number of identified cardiokine candidates is steadily increasing as a result of the desire to identify new biomarkers and targets for cardiovascular disease treatment. It is widely recognized that the cells of the heart, including myocytes, fibroblasts, vascular cells, and progenitor cells, secrete various subsets of regulatory proteins in response to changes in the cardiac environment.1–5 These secreted proteins are required for the maintenance of normal cardiac function, and they control pathological remodeling of the myocardium in response to injury through their ability to modulate myocyte death, fibroblast activation, inflammation, and vascular growth and regression. In addition, some of these factors function systematically, influencing kidney function or cachectic processes. Examples of well-known cardiokines include atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide, which are synthesized mainly in the myocardium and upregulated in response to myocardial stretching.6,7 Both atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide exert beneficial actions on cardiac remodeling by directly affecting cardiac cells in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner. In addition, atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide influence electrolyte and water excretion in the kidney and regulate vascular tone and vascular cell growth via endocrine mechanisms.7 Cardiac cells produce tumor necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-β1 in pathological states, and these factors can promote pathological myocardial remodeling by promoting the recruitment of inflammatory cells or by facilitating hypertrophic growth and fibrosis.8,9 Under conditions of stress, the heart also produces angiotensin II, contributing to cardiac …
mtDNA mutations confer cellular sensitivity to oxidant stress that is partially rescued by calcium depletion and cyclosporin A

The complete mechanism by which pathogenic mtDNA mutations cause cellular pathophysiology and in some cases cell death is unclear. Oxidant stress is especially toxic to excitable nerve and muscle cells, cells that are often affected in mitochondrial disease. The sensitivity of cells bearing the LHON, MELAS, and MERRF mutations to oxidant stress was determined. All were significantly more sensitive to H2O2 exposure than their nonmutant cybrid controls, the order of sensitivity was MELAS > LHON > MERRF > controls. Depletion of Ca2+ from the medium protected all cell lines from oxidant stress, consistent with the hypothesis that death induced by oxidant stress is Ca(2+)-dependent. A potential downstream target of Ca2+ is the mitochondrial permeability transition, MPT, which is inhibited by cyclosporin A. Treatment of MELAS, LHON, and MERRF cells with cyclosporin A caused significant rescue from oxidant exposure, and in each case significantly greater rescue of mutant than control cells. The pronounced oxidant-sensitivity of mutant cells, and their protection by Ca2+ depletion and CsA, has potential implications for both the pathophysiological mechanism and therapy of these mitochondrial genetic diseases.
Generalizability in Item Response Modeling

An approach called generalizability in item response modeling (GIRM) is introduced in this article. The GIRM approach essentially incorporates the sampling model of generalizability theory (GT) into the scaling model of item response theory (IRT) by making distributional assumptions about the relevant measurement facets. By specifying a random effects measurement model, and taking advantage of the flexibility of Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimation methods, it becomes possible to estimate GT variance components simultaneously with traditional IRT parameters. It is shown how GT and IRT can be linked together, in the context of a single-facet measurement design with binary items. Using both simulated and empirical data with the software WinBUGS, the GIRM approach is shown to produce results comparable to those from a standard GT analysis, while also producing results from a random effects IRT model. As measurement models, item response theory (IRT) and generalizability theory (GT) seem, on the surface at least, incompatible. Brennan (2001a), for example, writes “Generalizability Theory is primarily a sampling model, whereas IRT is principally a scaling model.” Nonetheless, because each approach can provide information fundamental to the design and analysis of measurement instruments, one might expect to see IRT and GT applied in tandem, both in large-scale testing and smaller scale efforts (see, for example, Bock, Brennan, & Muraki, 2002). In practice, the use of IRT alone seems considerably more prevalent in the measurement literature than the sequential use of both IRT and GT. In this article we introduce an approach we call “Generalizability in Item Response Modeling” (GIRM). The GIRM approach essentially incorporates the sampling model of GT into the IRT “scaling model” by making distributional assumptions about the relevant measurement facets. Given these assumptions, and taking advantage of the flexibility of Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimation methods, it becomes possible to estimate GT variance components within the same framework, and simultaneously, with traditional IRT parameters. The underlying model of the GIRM approach comes from IRT, but the results from this model are used as the basis for a GT analysis. In essence, what we are calling the GIRM approach performs a GT analysis on a matrix of expected, rather than observed, item responses. It is our
Hybrid simulated moving bed and chromatography systems for center-cut separation from quaternary mixtures : Linear isotherm systems

Three simulated moving bed (SMB) cascade systems with two trains are studied to separate only one of the intermediate retained components from a quaternary mixture. The three systems are a cascade with two four-zone SMBs (4 + 4), a cascade with a two-zone SMB/chromatography and a four-zone SMB (2 + 4), and a cascade with a single-column analogue and a four-zone SMB (1 + 4). To reduce desorbent use, an unwanted product containing desorbent is recycled from the second train to the first train. The minimum Dtotal/F is calculated with the local equilibrium model. Optimum operating conditions are determined with a binary coded genetic algorithm for separation of a model system of nucleosides. In the optimization, purity and recovery were simulated by Aspen Chromatography. Compared to the system 4 + 4, the separation constraints of systems 1 + 4 and 2 + 4 were more restrictive, but they used less desorbent at the same product purity and same productivity. For example, for a product purity of 95.0%, desorbent to...
Investigation of chemical looping combustion by solid fuels. 1. Process analysis

To concentrate CO2 in combustion processes by efficient and energy-saving ways is a first and very important step for its sequestration. Chemical looping combustion (CLC) could easily achieve this goal. However, only limited references are available that use coal as the energy resource in a CLC process even though the development of CLC of solid fuels follows the trend of energy utilization. This paper is the first in a series of two, where we present the concept of a CLC process of solid fuels using a circulating fluidized bed with three loop seals. The riser of this circulating fluidized bed was used as the oxidizer of the oxygen carrier; one of the loop seals was used as the reducer of the oxygen carrier and the separator for ash and oxygen carrier, and the other two loop seals were used for pressure balance in the solid recycle process. Pressure profiles of recycled solids using this process are presented in detail. For the development of an oxygen carrier, we focused on the establishment of a theoret...
A methodology for predicting impact-induced acoustic noise in machine systems

A methodology for predicting noise and vibration of machines and their support structures is presented. Included is a heuristic energy-based criterion to assess the importance of dynamic coupling between a mechanism and its support structure based on a simplified analysis of a mechanism operating on a rigid base, which neglects the coupling. Also included is an analysis method that considers the coupling and to be used when the criterion reveals important coupling. The methodology is implemented using highly idealized closed form and more elaborate numerical descriptions and is checked against vibration and sound measurements of a plate subjected to periodic impacts by balls and a beam that rattles within a clearance bearing. The energy-based criterion is found to indicate situations in which mechanism-support coupling affects noise radiation. In some cases the coupling is observed to significantly affect vibration and noise radiation of the support structure, while having a relatively minor effect on mechanism response. Both the simple closed form and numerical descriptions are found to predict noise trends due to variations in machine speed and bearing clearance, and the numerical descriptions more accurately predict overall and band levels of noise radiation.
'Our Town.' Children as Advocates for Change in the City.

In the ‘Our Town’ project, 20 urban children designed and built an intervention in their neighborhood. The process involved extensive collaboration with the community at large and resulted in a park. This construction was developed in direct contrast to a more typical adult conception of a playground. Children’s concerns in their design included issues of intergenerational interaction, safety, comfort and visual delight. The success of the project speaks to the depth of knowledge, and lack of political agenda, which may permit children to be designers and advocates for change in their neighborhoods. This article seeks to identify and address questions regarding the inclusion of children as effective and appropriate resources for input in design and advocacy for change in their built environment.
Joint action of benzoic hydrazide and β-aminopropionitrile on Xenopus embryo development

Abstract Binary mixtures of the osteolathyrogens benzoic hydrazide and β-aminopropionitrile were tested to determine the joint action for these chemicals, by evaluating induction of malformation and osteolathyrism in developing frog embryos. Exposures, starting with late-blastula stage embryos, were for 96-h with solution renewal every 24-h. Five treatments were examined, each chemical alone (i.e., 1:0 and 0:1 solutions) and three mixtures (i.e., 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3). Following exposure, embryos were evaluated grossly and the incidences of all types of malformations and osteolathyrogenic lesions were determined. Toxic unit analysis and isobole diagrams indicated these chemicals were concentration additive in inducing malformations and osteolathyrism. Therefore, benzoic hydrazide and β-aminopropionitrile induce osteolathyrism, in Xenopus embryos, in a similar manner.
Temporary Cardiac Pacing: Technique and Indications

Experience with 200 consecutive patients who received temporary pacemaker treatment during a 14-month period demonstrated that aside from complete heart block, this mode of therapy can be effective in sinus bradycardia, in S-A arrest, block or standstill, in A-V conduction defects, in ventricular tachycardia, and in the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia. Forty-two percent (83 of 200) ultimately required permanent units. There was no mortality associated with this mode of temporary pacemaker therapy and the only morbidity encountered was catheter malposition in 5 percent of the cases which merely required repositioning.
Improving Visibility Near Airports During Periods of Fog

Abstract Liquefied propane, released from ground-based dispensers, was used to seed twelve fogs during the period 6 October 1964 to 24 July 1965. Six of these tests were conducted at Camp Century, Greenland. Five were successful, i.e., glaciation of the supercooled droplets and subsequent precipitation occurred. The sixth test was made on an ice fog which was not amenable to this type of modification. The remaining six tests were made in the Hanover-Lebanon, N.H. area. Five of these tests were successful. The sixth experiment, conducted under a low stratus cloud, yielded no reaction. It is concluded that propane is safe and economical to use as a fog dispersing agent when used as described.
THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF SODIUM BICARBONATE

The thermal decomposition of sodium bicarbonate, a candidate material for Hue gas desulfurization, has been investigated over the temperature range of 225-350°F (380-450K) and over the particle size range of 51 -140 μm. The shrinking core model, with chemical reaction as the rate controlling step, provides a good fit to the data in the temperature range investigated. However, caution should be exercised in extrapolating these results into the range of about 600°F (about 590K) where sintering of this material is reported to occur. The activation energy of the decomposition reaction is 20.5 kcal/mol (85.7 kj/mol)