cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlation of urinary albumin and β-2-microglobulin and growth hormone excretion in patients with diabetes mellitus and short stature.

We examined the correlation between urinary GH, urinary albumin, and beta-2-microglobulin excretion to determine how the excretion of GH relates to markers of renal glomerular and tubular function. Urinary albumin and GH excretion was determined in timed daytime and nighttime urine collections obtained from both subjects with diabetes mellitus and subjects with short stature. For subjects with diabetes, urinary GH excretion rate correlated highly with urinary albumin concentration and excretion rate in both the range of 0 to 1.6 g/L (r = 0.75), P less than 0.001) and in the microalbuminuria range, 0 to 0.4 g/L (r = 0.53, P less than 0.001). Changes in GH and albumin excretion occurred in parallel in 71% of the subjects with diabetes and elevated albumin excretion. The mean GH excretion rate was higher in the group with elevated albumin excretion rate (AER) during both day and night compared to the group with microalbuminuria during the day and normal AER at night. For subjects with short stature, the mean albumin excretion rate was 0.7 +/- 1.3 micrograms/min (range 0.05-8.3 micrograms/min) using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure albumin concentration. The correlation of GH and albumin excretion rates for the subjects with short stature was not statistically significant (r = 0.14, P less than 0.5). About half of the subjects with diabetes and elevated AER (greater than 10 micrograms/min) had a GH excretion rate within the range observed in subjects with short stature. The GH and albumin excretion rate were not correlated in this group. There was a positive correlation of both albumin and GH excretion rate with age in the subjects with diabetes. Urinary GH and beta-2-microglobulin excretion rates were determined in a larger group of subjects with diabetes and a separate group with short stature. Urinary GH and beta-2-microglobulin excretion were correlated both in subjects with diabetes (r = 0.46, P less than 0.001) and with short stature (r = 0.64, P less than 0.001). The association was present in urine collected either during the day or night. The mean GH excretion rate of the group with diabetes was greater than the group with short stature. In conclusion, there was an association of urinary GH and albumin excretion rate in subjects with abnormal glomerular function as indicated by elevated albumin excretion rate. An association of urinary GH and beta-2-microglobulin excretion was observed in subjects with normal tubular function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Sp1 and TAFII130 Transcriptional Activity Disrupted in Early Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of a polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin protein. Transcriptional dysregulation has been implicated in HD pathogenesis. Here, we report that huntingtin interacts with the transcriptional activator Sp1 and coactivator TAFII130. Coexpression of Sp1 and TAFII130 in cultured striatal cells from wild-type and HD transgenic mice reverses the transcriptional inhibition of the dopamine D2 receptor gene caused by mutant huntingtin, as well as protects neurons from huntingtin-induced cellular toxicity. Furthermore, soluble mutant huntingtin inhibits Sp1 binding to DNA in postmortem brain tissues of both presymptomatic and affected HD patients. Understanding these early molecular events in HD may provide an opportunity to interfere with the effects of mutant huntingtin before the development of disease symptoms.
Characteristics of deacetylation and depolymerization of β-chitin from jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) pens.

Abstract This study evaluated the deacetylation characteristics of β-chitin from jumbo squid ( Dosidicus gigas ) pens by using strongly alkaline solutions of NaOH or KOH. Taguchi design was employed to investigate the effect of reagent concentration, temperature, time, and treatment step on molecular mass (MM) and degree of deacetylation (DDA) of the chitosan obtained. The optimal treatment conditions for achieving high MM and DDA of chitosan were identified as: 40% NaOH at 90 °C for 6 h with three separate steps (2 h + 2 h + 2 h) or 50% NaOH at 90 °C for 6 h with one step, or 50% KOH at 90 °C for 4 h with three steps (1 h + 1 h + 2 h) or 6 h with one step. The most important factor affecting DDA and MM was temperature and time, respectively. The chitosan obtained was then further depolymerized by cellulase or lysozyme with cellulase giving a higher degradation ratio, lower relative viscosity, and a larger amount of reducing-end formations than that of lysozyme due to its higher susceptibility. This study demonstrated that jumbo squid pens are a good source of materials to produce β-chitosan with high DDA and a wide range of MM for various potential applications.
A soft-switched secondary-side post regulator

In a multiple output power supply with at least two relatively high power outputs, the first output is controlled by a soft-switched, phase-shifted resonant transition bridge (PSRB) in conventional feedback fashion. A second output is controlled by a secondary side post regulator that delays the leading edge of the PWM waveform to achieve regulation. By using a full-wave rectification arrangement with a controlled switch (a power FET) in series with each diode, there is negligible turn-on switching loss due to the transformer impedance and negligible turn off switching loss due to the reversal of the transformer voltage at the next half cycle. By obtaining the timing control signal from the proceeding falling edge of the PSRB switching cycle, the control of the second output is essentially decoupled from the control of the first output. High-frequency, multiple output power supplies based on the soft-switched PSRB are thus achievable.
Cardiac-generated prostanoids mediate cardiac myocyte apoptosis after myocardial ischaemia

The objective of the present study is to elucidate the pathogenic role of eicosanoids in myocardial infarction (MI). The accumulation of eicosanoid metabolites in ischaemic myocardium has been demonstrated in animal models and patients with MI, and it occurs in parallel with the development of irreversible cardiac damage. However, the key question that remains unanswered is whether cardiac-generated eicosanoids are the cause or the consequence of cardiac cell damage in MI. Methods and results We used a clinically relevant animal model of MI and metabolic profiling to monitor the eicosanoid profile in ischae- mic myocardium. We demonstrate that ischaemia induces the generation of prostanoids mainly through the cycloox- ygenase (COX)-1 pathway in the myocardium. Cardiac-generated prostanoids, particularly prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), can directly induce apoptosis in cardiac myocytes. This effect involves the up-regulation of the pro-apoptotic gene, Fas ligand (FasL), in a D-type prostanoid receptor-independent manner. The treatment of the MI mice with low-dose aspirin effectively inhibits the ischaemia-induced prostanoid generation and FasL expression in the myocardium, leading to the reduction in cardiac apoptosis following cardiac ischaemia. Conclusions Cardiac ischaemia results in COX-1-mediated generation of prostanoids, which by inducing cardiac myocyte apop- tosis, contribute to the cardiac cell loss following MI. The benefits of low-dose aspirin treatment in MI may be attrib- utable, in part, to the inhibition of cardiac prostanoid generation and attenuation of apoptosis. Further understanding of the mechanisms underlying prostanoid-induced cardiac apoptosis may be of significant value in designing new therapeutic strategies to prevent aberrant cell loss following MI and subsequent progression to heart failure.
Silence and Solidarity across a Watershed of War: The Heritage of U.S. Complicity in Guatemala

Finger in the Wound: Body Politics in Quincentennial Guatemala. Diane M. Nelson. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999. 427 pp. Rigoberta Menchu and tile Story of All Poor Guatemalans. David Stoll. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1999. 336 pp.
Performance Comparison of Scene Matching Techniques

The problem of matching two images of the same scene, taken by different sensors under different viewing geometries, is a challenging problem in the field of image processing and pattern recognition. The scenes are usually transformed so drastically by the different viewing geometries and sensor characteristics that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to match the original images without the proper data processing. Geometric and intensity transformations must be performed to bring the matching elements and their intensity into a one-to-one correspondence. Objects of interest represented by subimages of one scene were located in the other using scene matching techniques with intensity difference and edge features as measurement features. Performance characteristics of the matches by these techniques are presented in terms of the probability of a match as a function of the probability of false fix.
Ethical Issues in Disclosure of Test Data

This article provides an overview of some of the ethical issues rehabilitation counselors may face relevant to the disclosure of test data. The authors discuss maintaining confidentiality of test data, preventing misuse of test data, releasing test data without impairing test security or copyright interests of third parties, and conforming to legal mandates and rules pertaining to test data. The authors also describe a number of strategies that practitioners may consider in addressing issues related to the disclosure of test data.
Incidence and outcomes of unexpected pathology findings after appendectomy

Abstract Purpose Pathologic evaluation of the appendix after appendectomy is routine and can identify unexpected findings. We evaluated our experience in children undergoing appendectomy to review the clinical course of patients with unexpected appendiceal pathology. Methods After IRB approval, a retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent appendectomy from January 1, 1995 to March 1, 2011. Patient demographics, diagnosis, pathological findings, disease outcomes, and treatment were collected only on patients with abnormal pathology. Results 3602 patients underwent appendectomy . 113 patients had normal appendices, and 86 patients had unexpected findings, including carcinoid tumor (n=9), pinworm (n=34), granuloma (n=14), eosinophilic infiltrates (n=18), and other (n=11). All cases of carcinoid tumor were completely resected, with no recurrence or need for reoperation. Of the 34 patients with pinworm infestation, 41.2% underwent antimicrobial therapy, and none had post-operative symptoms. One patient (7%) with an appendiceal granuloma developed Crohn's disease. Three patients (16.7%) with eosinophilia developed symptomatic intestinal eosinophilia. Conclusions Pediatric appendiceal carcinoid is an incidental finding; in this series, none required further intervention. Appendiceal granulomas are not commonly associated with developing Crohn's disease in the short term. Routine antibiotics for the treatment of pinworms are adequate. Patients with appendiceal eosinophilia may develop symptomatic intestinal eosinophilia.
Moving Beyond the Academic Community Transitional Stages in Professional Writing

This qualitative study examined the transitions that writers make when moving from academic to professional discourse communities. Subjects were six university seniors enrolled in a special “writing internship course” in which they discussed and analyzed the writing they were doing in 12-week professional internships at corporations, small businesses, and public service agencies in a major metropolitan area. Participant-observer and case-study data included drafts and final copies of all writing that the interns produced on the job (including texts and suggested revisions by other employees), an ethnographic log of data and speculations arising from the group discussions, written course journals from each intern, transcriptions of taped, discourse-based and general interviews with the interns, and a final 15-page retrospective analysis of each intern's writing on the job. Results showed a remarkably consistent pattern of expectation, frustration, and accommodation as the interns adjusted to their new writ...
The missing graphical user interface for genomics

The Galaxy package empowers regular users to perform rich DNA sequence analysis through a much-needed and user-friendly graphical web interface.
Criterion validity of lower extremity Motricity Index scores

Objective: To examine the criterion validity of lower extremity Motricity Index scores.Design: Retrospective cross-sectional comparison of lower extremity Motricity Index scores and hand-held dynamometer measurements obtained from 15 patients with stroke.Results: For individual actions (ankle dorsiflexion, knee extension and hip flexion) and all actions combined, Pearson correlations were good to excellent (r = 0.78–0.91), significant (p < 0.001), and of high power (9%).Conclusions: The findings of this study support the criterion validity of the lower extremity Motricity Index.
The AAE14 gene encodes the Arabidopsis o-succinylbenzoyl-CoA ligase that is essential for phylloquinone synthesis and photosystem-I function.

*Summary Phylloquinone is the one-electron carrier at the A 1 site of photosystem I, and is essential for photosynthesis. Arabidopsis mutants deficient in early steps of phylloquinone synthesis do not become autotrophic and are seedling lethals, even when grown on sucrose-supplemented media. Here, we identify acyl-activating enzyme 14 (AAE14, At1g30520) as the o-succinylbenzoyl-coenzyme A (OSB-CoA) ligase acting in phylloquinone synthesis. Three aae14 mutant alleles, identified by reverse genetics, were found to be seedling lethal, to contain no detectable phylloquinone (< 0.1 pmol mg)1 fresh weight) compared with 10 pmol mg )1 fresh weight in wild-type leaves, and to accumulate OSB. AAE14 was able to restore menaquinone biosynthesis when expressed in an Escherichia coli mutant disrupted in the menE gene that encodes the bacterial OSB-CoA ligase. Weak expression of an AAE14 transgene in mutant plants (controlled by the uninduced XVE promoter) resulted in chlorotic, slow-growing plants that accumulated an average of 4.7 pmol mg)1 fresh weight of phylloquinone. Inducing the XVE promoter in these plants, or expressing an AAE14 transgene under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter, led to full complementation of the mutant phenotype. aae14-mutant plants were also able to synthesize phylloquinone when provided with 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate, an intermediate in phylloquinone synthesis downstream of the OSB-CoA ligase reaction. Expression of an AAE14:GFP reporter construct indicated that the protein accumulated in discrete foci within the chloroplasts. This and other evidence suggests that the enzymes of phylloquinone synthesis from isochorismate may form a complex in the chloroplast stroma to facilitate the efficient channeling of intermediates through the pathway.
Family Firm Performance: Further Evidence

This article empirically investigates the competitiveness and stability of family-owned firms relative to firms owned by diverse shareholders. Founding families are present in about one-third of the S&P 500—the sample of this study. Data gathered over the 1992—2002 period confirm that family firms tend to experience higher employment and revenue growth over time and are more profitable. Regression analysis also supports that firm performance improves when founding family members are involved in management. Although evidence on the relative stability in employment among family firms over the long run is tenuous, data from the most recent recession support the role that founding families play in maintaining employment stability during temporary market downturns.
Regional turnover and fluctuation in populations of five plants confined to serpentine seeps

Spatial patterns in population turnover were analyzed for five plant species confined to a patchy and isolated habitat, serpentine seeps: annuals Helianthus exilis and Mimulus nudatus and perennials Senecio clevelandii , Astragalus clevelandii , and Delphinium uliginosum . A 3-year survey showed that, over a preceding 15-year period, 32 of 132 known populations in a 4200-ha area disappeared, and 65 new populations ap- peared. Populations that disappeared were significantly more isolated from conspecific populations than were surviving populations. Populations that disappeared were also marginally significantly closer to hu- man-caused disturbances than were populations that survived. Vacant sites in which new populations ap- peared were significantly less isolated from conspecific populations than sites remaining vacant. Spatial pat- terns in population density were analyzed for three of the species for 3 years at 50 sites in a 20 3 40 km region. From 1997 to 1998, population densities of each species changed synchronously throughout the re- gion. From 1998 to 1999, one species ( Mimulus nudatus ) again showed synchrony, and populations of the other two species ( Helianthus exilis , Delphinium uliginosum ) remained asynchronous and spatially uncorre- lated. The five species we studied all appear to be persisting well at the regional scale, despite recent distur- bance to the study region. These results suggest that for rare plants in isolated habitats, the spatial configura- tion of populations may have an important influence on local population persistence.
The Optical Spectrum of NO2: Is it or Isn't it Chaotic?

We have used the technique of microwave detected, microwave-optical double resonance to study the optical absorption spectrum of NO2 in the region near 17000 cm−1 above the ground state [1 – 3]. Spectra were recorded from ten lower states, ranging in rotational excitation from the 20.2 through the 101.9 states. Each lower state was scanned between 150 and 300 cm−1, and between 54 and 510 lines were observed in each spectrum. The method of double resonance uniquely identified the lower state of the observed transitions. Because the optical spectrum is dominated by a parallel transition and all of the observed lower states are K = 0 or 1, most of the observed transitions belong to either a qR or qP branch. For two pairs of lower states, states differing in J by two were studied, which allowed at least a partial assignment of transitions between P and R branches. Also, by studying spectra that have the same value for J and overall symmetry, but different values for N (the rotational angular momentum of the molecular frame), the extent of the breakdown of N selection rules could be quantified.
Truncated Photosystem Chlorophyll Antenna Size in the Green Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii upon Deletion of the TLA3-CpSRP43 Gene

The truncated light-harvesting antenna size3 ( tla3 ) DNA insertional transformant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a chlorophyll-deficient mutant with a lighter green phenotype, a lower chlorophyll (Chl) per cell content, and higher Chl a / b ratio than corresponding wild-type strains. Functional analyses revealed a higher intensity for the saturation of photosynthesis and greater light-saturated photosynthetic activity in the tla3 mutant than in the wild type and a Chl antenna size of the photosystems that was only about 40% of that in the wild type. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western-blot analyses showed that the tla3 strain was deficient in the Chl a/b light-harvesting complex. Molecular and genetic analyses revealed a single plasmid insertion in chromosome 4 of the tla3 nuclear genome, causing deletion of predicted gene g5047 and plasmid insertion within the fourth intron of downstream-predicted gene g5046. Complementation studies defined that gene g5047 alone was necessary and sufficient to rescue the tla3 mutation. Gene g5047 encodes a C. reinhardtii homolog of the chloroplast-localized SRP43 signal recognition particle, whose occurrence and function in green microalgae has not hitherto been investigated. Biochemical analysis showed that the nucleus-encoded and chloroplast-localized CrCpSRP43 protein specifically operates in the assembly of the peripheral components of the Chl a/b light-harvesting antenna. This work demonstrates that cpsrp43 deletion in green microalgae can be employed to generate tla mutants with a substantially diminished Chl antenna size. The latter exhibit improved solar energy conversion efficiency and photosynthetic productivity under mass culture and bright sunlight conditions.
Movements and Migration

As has been indicated, dispersal is a permanent exodus from place of birth and may lead to an expansion of a species geographic range. Most movements, however, involve a return to the place of origin and may be confined to a small area. The concepts of territory, home range, movements within a home range, dispersal and migratory movements are generally considered to be distinct. In nature the distinctions are sometimes temporary and difficult to define. The overlap of these concepts in theory and their actual overlap in nature require that they be discussed together.
A variety of (3+1)-dimensional KdV equations derived by using the KdV recursion operator

A new variety of (3+1)-dimensional Korteweg–de Vries equations are developed. The recursion operator of the Korteweg–de Vries equation is used to derive these higher dimensional integrable models. We establish a generalized dispersion relation and a generalized form for the one soliton solutions. The new equations generate distinct solitons structures and distinct dispersion relations as well.
Exposita Notes: Bayesian Learning and Convergence to Nash Equilibria Without Common Priors

Consider an infinitely repeated game where each player is characterized by a "type" which may be unknown to the other players in the game. Suppose further that each player's belief about others is independent of that player's type. Impose an absolute continuity condition on the ex ante beliefs of players (weaker than mutual absolute continuity). Then any limit point of beliefs of players about the future of the game conditional on the past lies in the set of Nash or Subjective equilibria. Our assumption does not require common priors so is weaker than Jordan (1991); however our conclusion is weaker, we obtain convergence to subjective and not necessarily Nash equilibria. Our model is a generalization of the Kalai and Lehrer (1993) model. Our assumption is weaker than theirs. However, our conclusion is also weaker, and shows that limit points of beliefs, and not actual play, are subjective equilibria.
The Famine Irish and the Irish-American Press: Strangers in a Hostile Land

Abstract This article examines the role of two Irish-American newspapers from 1846–1879, the years during and after the Great Irish Famine. When blight destroyed successive potato harvests in Ireland, one million people died of starvation or fever. Another one-and-a-half million fled to North America. The Boston Pilot and the New York Irish World defended the immigrant Irish against nativist attacks and offered competing strategies by which the Irish could win acceptance. The Pilot emphasized the Catholic dimension of Irish identity and promoted accommodation with the Anglo-Saxon majority The Irish World advocated solidarity with other oppressed groups and urged resistance against Anglo-Saxon domination in both the new country and the old.
Functional expression of the cDNA encoded by the human ATP1AL1 gene

The human ATP1AL1 gene encodes a protein expressed in brain, kidney, and skin and that is highly homologous to the recently cloned nongastric isoforms of H-K-adenosinetriphosphatase (H-K-ATPase). We have generated polyclonal antibodies against the protein encoded by ATP1AL1 and used them to monitor the protein's expression and distribution in transfection studies. The protein was retained in the endplasmic reticulum when it was transiently expressed alone in COS cells. In COS cells cotransfected with ATP1AL1 plus gastric H-K-ATPase β-subunit cDNAs (ATP1AL1-gH-Kβ), both proteins reached the surface. Stably transfected lines of HEK 293 cells expressing both of these proteins demonstrate a 86 Rb + uptake activity sensitive to both 2-methyl,8-(phenylmethoxy)imidazo(1,2-a)pyridine 3-acetonitrile (SCH-28080) and ouabain (inhibitory constants of ∼131 and 42 μM, respectively). Outward proton fluxes were measured in the same cells as the spontaneous intracellular pH (pH i ) recovery in cells loaded with a pH-sensitive dye [2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)- 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein] and subjected to acid loading through an NH 4 Cl pulse. The cells expressing both the ATP1AL1- encoded protein and the gastric H-K-ATPase β-subunit possess a net acid extrusion activity that can be inhibited by 1 mM ouabain. Comparison of the 86 Rb + influx and proton efflux, however, does not support equal H + /Rb + exchange mediated by this pump under the conditions of pH i -monitoring experiments. Moreover, whereas the acid extrusion activity mediated by the pump shows a marked pH dependence, the 86 Rb + uptake activity present in the cells expressing the ATP1AL1-gH-Kβ complex cannot be stimulated by acute lowering of pH i . These data suggest that the ATP1AL1- encoded protein is the catalytic α-subunit of a human K + - dependent ATPase. The possible implications of the discrepancy between 86 Rb + uptake and pH i monitoring data are discussed.
CYCLOTOMIC POLYNOMIALS AND FACTORIZATION THEOREMS

For example, when f(x) =9x 2+x+ 1 = 3(x) and a =2, we find from Theorem 1 that a necessary condition for 4r + 2r + 1 to be prime is that r be a power of 3. A similar result, which has been applied by Liu, Reed, and Truong [1] based on f(x) = x2x+1= 16(x), and a = 2, is that a necessary condition for 4r 2r + 1 to be prime is that r > 1 be a multiple of 4 with no prime factor greater than three, i.e., that r = 2a3ft with a > 2, ,B > 0. When r is of this form, it can be shown (Theorem 4) that every prime q which divides 4r 2r + 1 is of the form 6rk + 1. Thus, in attempting to factor 412-212+1 =16,773,121, it suffices to look only for prime factors of the form q=72k+ 1. (In fact, the factors are q1 = 433 = 72 x 6 + 1 and q2= 38,737 = 72 x 538 + 1, where 433 is only the second prime number in the sequence 72k + 1.) The techniques introduced in this paper involve the factorization of Dn(x r) over the rational field, the factorization of tDn(a) over the integers, and, for comparison and completeness, the factorization of tDn(x) and Dn (Xr) over the integers modulo q.
Reform or Retrenchment: Changes in SSI

This article traces the history of supplemental security income (SSI) as it relates to children with disabilities. From the passage of the Supplemental Social Security Income Act in 1972, through t...
Peginesatide for the treatment of anemia in the nephrology setting.

Anemia is a major complication in patients with chronic kidney disease, as the damaged kidney is unable to produce enough erythropoietin. Peginesatide (formerly known as Hematide™) is a synthetic, peptide-based erythropoiesis-stimulating agent linked to polyethylene glycol. Based on extensive preclinical and clinical data substantiating the efficacy and safety of this agent, it was approved in the U.S. in March 2012 for the treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease in adult patients on dialysis. Peginesatide (Omontys) was launched in the U.S. in April 2012.
Effect of non-nutritive and nutritive suck on gastric emptying in premature infants

Ten healthy preterm infants were studied to determine if non-nutritive and nutritive suck significantly altered gastric emptying patterns when compared with gavage feeding alone. We used a 10% dextrose meal with phenol red marker and a double sampling technique to determine gastric emptying at 10-min intervals over a 30-min test period. A crossover study design compared the effects of the three feeding methods in each infant. The gastric residual volumes expressed in milliliters per kilogram did not differ significantly when comparisons were made among groups at 10, 20, and 30 min following the test meal. Non-nutritive suck and nutritive suck and swallow of a liquid dextrose meal do not significantly improve gastric emptying in healthy preterm infants. The beneficial effects of non-nutritive and nutritive sucking on the nutritional status of preterm infants, demonstrated by others, are not related to improved gastric evacuation of feeds. Alternative explanations for these beneficial effects require further investigation.
Effect of ethanol on cholecystokinin-stimulated zymogen conversion in pancreatic acinar cells

Exocrine pancreatic zymogens are proteolytically processed to active forms after they are secreted into the small intestine. However, intracellular conversion of zymogens to active forms can be stimulated by treating pancreatic acinar cells with high doses of cholecystokinin (0.1 microM) or carbamylcholine (0.1 mM). The high doses of cholecystokinin are unlikely to be achieved physiologically. The ability of ethanol to sensitize the acinar cell to zymogen conversion Induced by cholecystokinin or carbamylcholine was examined. Ethanol (10-200 mM) had no effect alone or when combined with carbamylcholine. However, ethanol (25 mM) added with low-dose cholecystokinin (0.1 nM) generated zymogen conversion that was 1) sixfold higher than cholecystokinin alone and 2) equivalent to that generated by highdose cholecystokinin (10 microM). The ability of ethanol to enhance cholecystokinin-induced zymogen conversion was dependent on the dose of ethanol and the duration of ethanol treatment. The cholecystokinin receptor antagonist, L-364,718, blocked the conversion stimulated by the addition of ethanol with cholecystokinin. This effect of ethanol did not change the affinity or number of cholecystokinin receptors, suggesting an effect more distal in the stimulus-activation cascade. These findings demonstrate that ethanol selectively sensitizes the pancreatic acinar cell to cholecystokinin-stimulated zymogen proteolysis.
The Shape of Mobility: Measuring the Distance Decay Function of Household Mobility

A well-known challenge to studies examining the distance of residential mobility patterns is that the estimates are often constrained to patterns only within a particular metro area or between metro areas. Thus, studies are unable to estimate the entire distance decay functional form. Using a unique data set on the distance of the most recent move for a large sample of households in twenty-three metropolitan areas in the United States over three waves, we flexibly estimate the distance decay function for the entire sample, as well as for a series of subpopulations based on key demographic information.
Study and application of nanometer blocking agent in high pressure injectors in Henan Oilfield

After many years of water flooding in Jianghe area of Henan Oilfield,separate water injection shows a trend of multi-stage development.Multi-stage separate injection has low acceptance rate,and it is difficult to control invalid injection.Hence,a nanometer blocking agent has been developed for the simplified string of high pressure injectors by making the advantage of inorganic nanometer active functional material and using laboratory experiment method to perform optimization and evaluation.Field application shows that nanometer blocking agent is a new method for the simplified string of knotty injectors in high-temperature high-pressure and low permeability reservoirs.
A scalable approach to using DNN-derived features in GMM-HMM based acoustic modeling for LVCSR.

We present a new scalable approach to using deep neural network (DNN) derived features in Gaussian mixture density hidden Markov model (GMM-HMM) based acoustic modeling for large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR). The DNN-based feature extractor is trained from a subset of training data to mitigate the scalability issue of DNN training, while GMM-HMMs are trained by using state-of-the-art scalable training methods and tools to leverage the whole training set. In a benchmark evaluation, we used 309-hour Switchboard-I (SWB) training data to train a DNN first, which achieves a word error rate (WER) of 15.4% on NIST-2000 Hub5 evaluation set by a traditional DNN-HMM based approach. When the same DNN is used as a feature extractor and 2,000-hour “SWB+Fisher” training data is used to train the GMM-HMMs, our DNN-GMM-HMM approach achieves a WER of 13.8%. If per-conversation-side based unsupervised adaptation is performed, a WER of 13.1% can be achieved.
Synthesis and characterization of some binary and ternary zirconium iodides

Studies of binary ZrI/sub 4/-Zr and ternary CsI-Zr-ZrI/sub 4/ systems have produced several new compounds. The new binary compounds include two polymorphs of ZrI/sub 2/ (..cap alpha.. and ..beta..) as well as a phase described earlier as ZrI/sub 1/ /sub 8/. ..cap alpha..-ZrI/sub 2/ forms as black lath-like crystals by vapor phase transport reactions between Zr and ZrI/sub 4/ from 700 to 825/sup 0/C. Its structure is monoclinic space group P2/sub 1//m with a = 6.821(2), b = 3.741(1), c = 14.937(3) A and ..beta.. = 95.66(3)/sup 0/, Z = 4 (R = 0.064). ..beta..-ZrI/sub 2/ is formed as black gem-like crystals between 800 to 975/sup 0/C, crystallizing in the trigonal space group R anti 3 with hexagonal axes a = 14.502(2) and c = 9.996(2) A, Z = 18 (R = 0.109). This phase contains a Zr/sub 6/I/sub 12/ cluster. Guinier x-ray powder diffraction data previously reported for ZrI/sub 1/ /sub 8/ has now been found to arise from ..cap alpha..-ZrI/sub 2/ intergrown with an orthorhombic ZrI/sub 2/ phase (perhaps isostructural with WTe/sub 2/ plus an unknown phase. The ternary compounds include Cs/sub 2/ZrI/sub 6/, Cs/sub 3/Zr/sub 2/T/sub 9/ and CsZr/sub 6/I/sub 14/. The first is isostructural with K/submore » 2/PtCl/sub 6/. Cs/sub 3/Zr/sub 2/I/sub 9/ is formed from the reaction of CsI, ZrI/sub 4/ and Zr between 700 to 900/sup 0/C as black gem-like crystals which crystallize in the space group P6/sub 3//mmc with a = 8.269(1) and c = 19.908(3) A, z = 2. This phase was found to have a Cs/sub 3/Cr/sub 2/Cl/sub 9/-type structure, d/sub Zr-Zr/ = 3.134(4) A (R = 0.087). CsZr/sub 6/I/sub 14/ forms both rod and gem crystals by the same reaction with more metal between 900 to 950/sup 0/C. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Ccmb with a = 14.275(4), b = 15.880(4) and c = 12.953 (4) A (R = 0.062). This phase also contains a Zr/sub 6/I/sub 12/ cluster.« less
Reconstructing and Augmenting Architecture with Image-Based Modeling, Rendering, and Lighting

This abstract presents techniques and creative projects that use digital photographs of the real world to create realistic 3D models and virtual cinematography of architectural scenes. In these projects, images are used to determine the structure, appearance, and lighting conditions of the scenes. An important component of this work is Facade, an interactive photogrammetric modeling system that uses geometric primitives to model the scene. Subsequent work has been done to recover lighting and reflectance properties of real scenes and to illuminate synthetic objects with light captured from the real world. The projects presented include Facade (1996), Rouen Revisited (1996), The Campanile Movie (1997), and Fiat Lux (1999).
Determination of the electrical junction in Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 and Cu 2 ZnSnSe 4 solar cells with 20-nm spatial resolution

We located the electrical junction (EJ) of Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) and Cu 2 ZnSnSe 4 (CZTS) solar cells with ∼20-nm accuracy using a scanning capacitance spectroscopy (SCS) technique. A procedure was developed to prepare the cross-sectional samples and grow critical high-quality insulating layers for the SCS measurement. We found that CIGS has a buried homojunction with the EJ located at ∼40 nm inside the CIGS/CdS interface. An n-type CIGS was probed in the region 10–30 nm away from the interface. By contrast, the CZTS/CdS cells have a heterointerface junction with a shallower EJ (∼20 nm) than CIGS. The EJ is ∼20 nm from the CZTS/CdS interface, which is consistent with asymmetrical carrier concentrations of the p-CZTS and n-CdS in a heterojunction cell. The unambiguous determination of the junction locations helped explain the large open circuit voltage difference between the state-of-the-art devices of CIGS and CZTS.
Theory and methods for partitioned Gini coefficients computed on post-stratified data

ABSTRACTThe Gini coefficient is used to measure inequality in populations. However, shifts in the population distribution may affect subgroups differently. Consequently, it can be informative to examine inequality separately for these segments. Consider an independently and identically distributed sample split based on ranking and compute the Gini coefficient for each partition. These coefficients, calculated from post-stratified data, are not functions of U-statistics. Therefore, previous theoretical and methodological results cannot be applied. In this article, the asymptotic joint distribution is derived for the partitioned coefficients and bootstrap methods for inference are developed. Finally, an application to per capita income across census tracts is examined.
Molecular Pathways: Mucins and Drug Delivery in Cancer.

Over the past few decades, clinical and preclinical studies have clearly demonstrated the role of mucins in tumor development. It is well established that mucins form a barrier impeding drug access to target sites, leading to cancer chemoresistance. Recently gained knowledge regarding core enzyme synthesis has opened avenues to explore the possibility of disrupting mucin synthesis to improve drug efficacy. Cancer cells exploit aberrant mucin synthesis to efficiently mask the epithelial cells and ensure survival under hostile tumor microenvironment conditions. However, O-glycan synthesis enzyme core 2 beta 1,6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GCNT3/C2GnT-2) is overexpressed in Kras-driven mouse and human cancer, and inhibition of GCNT3 has been shown to disrupt mucin synthesis. This previously unrecognized developmental pathway might be responsible for aberrant mucin biosynthesis and chemoresistance. In this Molecular Pathways article, we briefly discuss the potential role of mucin synthesis in cancers, ways to improve drug delivery and disrupt mucin mesh to overcome chemoresistance by targeting mucin synthesis, and the unique opportunity to target the GCNT3 pathway for the prevention and treatment of cancers. Clin Cancer Res; 23(6); 1373–8. ©2016 AACR.
Design, realization and field results of an inductive casing collar locator

During well logging operations, the depth of a logging tool is usually obtained from measuring the length of the wireline cable that suspends the tool in the well. In some cases, a secondary depth reference is obtained by detecting the collars along the casing pipe which lines the well. For small, untethered sensor platforms neither method is practical. This paper describes an inductive sensor which detects the fine gap on the inside of the casing where two pipe joints come together within a collar. The detector consists of two identical short solenoid coils with a common axis. A wired prototype tool was designed, built and tested in the field. Results from the field trial show clear a signal for the casing collars and are agreement with the results from simulations. The signal trend is in agreement with pipe inspection trends published in the literature.
Estimation of Risk Factors for Cardiogenic Shock in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Presentation of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy(TCM) widely varies amongst the patients, ranging from asymptomatic patients to cardiogenic shock or even cardiac arrest. The underlying risk factors inherent to the patient that predispose to a catastrophic presentation have not been delineated well in the past. Objective: To distinguish risk factors and presenting characteristics of patients diagnosed with cardiogenic shock from TCM. Methods: Total 51 angiography-confirmed TCM patients admitted in Upstate Hospital from 2010 – 2014 were compared retrospectively, 13 presenting with cardiogenic shock. Results: While TCM was predominantly common in elderly females, four of the total six male TCM patients presented with shock (Odds ratio= 8.0, p=0.027). TSH was higher in cardiogenic shock group. Patients with shock had significantly higher incidence of ST elevations on EKG and higher peak troponins. Moreover, ST elevations were predominantly in the inferior, anteroseptal and lateral leads in the shock group as compared to only the septal leads in the control group. Echocardiography revealed lower LV ejection fraction, LV outflow tract obstruction and concomitant significant mitral regurgitation in shock patients. No correlation was found with age, BMI, coronary disease risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, smoking), coincident infection, electrolyte imbalance, QTc interval length. Conclusion: Risk factors and pathophysiology for cardiogenic shock in TCM were identified. TCM in males is rare, but male gender is a risk factor for shock.
On the Stability of Identity Interacting with the Impermanence of Time

Though we are connected, you are independently you and I am independently me. The question of “Who are you?” or “Who am I?” is complicated. Because we might say that who we are depends on any number of variables, we intimate that who we are changes from time to time. How the change happens is not agreed upon by the people who study it, though agreement is found on the idea that malleability of identity can be both adaptive and damaging. The chapter explores whether identity can be considered more stable versus more flexible, and considers how memory can be the mechanism to settle the debate. What is offered is a way to conceptualize stable versus flexible identity in terms of external and internal levels of identity. At the end I will posit that internal identity feels stable because it is held together in time by memory.
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare myeloid progenitor disorder that occurs in young children. The RAS/Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway plays a key role in pathogenesis of JMML. Somatic and/or germline mutations affecting at least one of five commonly involved genes belonging to this signaling cascade are present in 85–90% of patients. Many recent discoveries using genomic profiling methods have further advanced our understanding of the genetic landscape of this aggressive neoplasm. This chapter discusses genetic heterogeneity of JMML and associated prognostic implications that guide treatment and management choices in affected children.
CD15+ granulocyte and CD8+ T lymphocyte based gene expression clusters for ischemic stroke detection

Using whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, microarray-derived gene expression profiles have shown promise for the detection of acute ischemic stroke. Circulating leukocytes contain multiple cellular subsets of highly specific functions that may provide more powerful and more specific stroke detection than whole blood based expression profiles. The objectives of this study were to determine the cellular sources of gene expression changes in whole blood in ischemic stroke and the utility of leukocyte subset profiles for stroke detection. Using high-throughput reverse transcription real time PCR, the absolute expression of 41 stroke-related transcripts identified in whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells was quantified in 6 major leukocyte subsets – CD15+ granulocytes, CD14+ monocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes, γδTCR+ cells and CD20+ B lymphocytes. Hierarchical cluster analyses were used to identify clusters of cell subset specific gene expression patterns for ischemic stroke detection. CD15+ granulocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes were found to be the major sources of the expression changes in ischemic stroke, with 14 and 16 genes up-regulated respectively. None of the genes were significantly altered in CD14+ monocytes or CD20+ B lymphocytes. Multiple clusters of transcripts were identified that discriminated between ischemic stroke and control, most notably in CD15+ granulocytes (p=2.88e-5) and CD8+T lymphocytes (p=1.71e-5). A CD15+ granulocyte-derived 3 gene cluster (CA4, MMP9, NAIP) showed high accuracy for ischemic stroke detection (AUC=0.813) and was 100% sensitive in a validation cohort. We conclude that transcripts identified in microarray studies in circulating leukocytes in stroke are predominantly expressed in CD15+ granulocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Leukocyte subset specific gene expression clusters show promise for ischemic stroke detection.
On The Moral Structure Of White-Collar Crime

Book review of "Lying, Cheating, and Stealing: A Moral Theory of White Collar Crime" by Stuart P. Green
Real options, false choices: A final word

The articles in this book have been fascinating, and for several reasons. The first is the authors — their quality, diversity, readability, and engaging combativeness. The articles contained here were written by some of the most creative thinkers on the subject of the economics of telecommunications, theorists with a practical bent and practitioners at home with economic thinking.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis–induced IFN-β production requires cytosolic DNA and RNA sensing pathways

RNA sensing pathways are key elements in a host immune response to viral pathogens, but little is known of their importance during bacterial infections. We found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) actively releases RNA into the macrophage cytosol using the mycobacterial SecA2 and ESX-1 secretion systems. The cytosolic M.tb RNA induces IFN-β production through the host RIG-I/MAVS/IRF7 RNA sensing pathway. The inducible expression of IRF7 within infected cells requires an autocrine signaling through IFN-β and its receptor, and this early IFN-β production is dependent on STING and IRF3 activation. M.tb infection studies using Mavs-/- mice support a role for RNA sensors in regulating IFN-β production and bacterial replication in vivo. Together, our data indicate that M.tb RNA is actively released during an infection and promotes IFN-β production through a regulatory mechanism involving cross-talk between DNA and RNA sensor pathways, and our data support the hypothesis that bacterial RNA can drive a host immune response.
Genomic Sequencing Expansion and Incomplete Penetrance.

BACKGROUND: Genetic data have the potential to impact patient care significantly. In primary care and in the ICU, patients are undergoing genetic testing. Genetics is also transforming cancer care and undiagnosed diseases. Optimal personalized medicine relies on the understanding of disease penetrance. In this article, I examine the complexity of penetrance. METHODS: In this article, I assess how variable penetrance can be seen with many diseases, including those of different modes of inheritance, and how genomic testing is being applied effectively for many diseases. In this article, I also identify challenges in the field, including the interpretation of gene variants. RESULTS: Using advancing bioinformatics and detailed phenotypic assessment, we can increase the yield of genomic testing, particularly for highly penetrant conditions. The technologies are useful and applicable to different medical situations. CONCLUSIONS: There are now effective genome diagnostics for many diseases. However, the best personalized application of these data still requires skilled interpretation.